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You Survived February, Icon!
Pause. Breathe. Look at you. You made it through February.
The shortest month of the year somehow lasted 47 business days, contained three emotional plot twists, two fake springs, and at least one moment where you stared out the window like you were in a coming-of-age film set in Pittsburgh.
But guess what? You’re still here.
It’s March. A new month. New slays loading. The sun is clocking in earlier. The birds are testing their vocals. We are this close to retiring the heavy coat (emotionally, if not meteorologically).
Spring is almost here. The thaw is flirting. The crop tops are stretching in the drawer. If February was about survival, March is about soft launches. Reemerging. Texting back. Saying yes. Letting yourself want things again.
New month. New slays. Let’s go.
SLAY OF THE WEEK: The Steel City’s Leather Leaders
This week, we’re celebrating Pittsburgh’s leather community leaders. The titleholders, organizers, educators, and safe-space builders proving that leather isn’t just aesthetic, it’s infrastructure.
From Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2026 Gage Ryder bringing national shine back to Pittsburgh, to Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Bear Brad Dunlap building events like Bear Happy Hour and the Big Gay River Float, to Michael Tikili, centering sexual health and accessibility with gear swaps and events, this is leadership rooted in community.
Add in Princess Lavender creating safer on-ramps to explore, and Camilla Queen, Miss Pittsburgh Leather Fetish 2026, blending drag confidence with leather power, and you’ve got a full spectrum of queer leadership redefining masculinity, femininity, and everything deliciously in between.
The throughline? Inclusivity. Consent. No gatekeeping.
And maybe the hottest part: every single one of them said you don’t need a title to belong.
We’re just teasing it here, read the full feature on QBurgh.com and dive into how the Steel City’s leather leaders are building sex-positive, trans-inclusive spaces that feel like home.
READER JOY SUBMISSION from Jakob
Sometimes joy isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s not a parade or a title or a viral moment. Sometimes it’s as simple as a smile.
Jakob, a transgender social work student, wrote to us with this:
“I made a youth that I work with smile today! To all the youth out there: I know it’s tough sometimes, and also, please remember there are so many people you haven’t met yet who are just waiting to love you. Keep your head up!”
This is what community looks like. Showing up for young people. Choosing care. Choosing presence. Being the person they may have needed once.
“There are so many people you haven’t met yet who are just waiting to love you.” That’s not just advice for youth. That’s a manifesto for everyone.
Thank you, Jakob! And to every queer and trans young person: the future has more love in it than you can currently see. Keep going.
SHARE YOUR JOY
Did something gay and glorious happen this week?
✨ You wore your first binder out in public
✨ You finally asked them out (and they said yes)
✨ You slayed at karaoke
✨ You felt cute at Giant Eagle
✨ You just felt seen
We wanna hear it! Send us your queer joy, big or small, and we might feature it in next week’s issue. Because your joy? That’s newsworthy too.
Keep Queer Media Hot And Funded
Okay, bestie, real talk.
If you love getting queer joy, community news, archives, drag chaos, and soft feral affirmations in your inbox every week… consider putting your money where your glitter is.
For just $5 a month (that’s like… half a cocktail at happy hour), you can become a monthly supporter of QBurgh.
And because we love a thank-you gift moment, we’ll send you every issue of QBurgh Magazine in the mail. Yes, physically. Yes, gorgeously. Yes, for your coffee table so guests know you’re cultured.
Your support keeps local queer journalism alive. It funds real reporting. It preserves our history. It amplifies LGBTQ+ voices in Pittsburgh. It makes sure our stories don’t disappear.
Independent queer media doesn’t survive on vibes alone. Tragic, we know.
Become a supporter at QBurgh.com/support
Because if we don’t tell our stories, who will?
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QUEER JOY IN THE WORLD: Artists, This Is Your Moment
Pittsburgh’s queer creatives, this one’s for you.
The City of Pittsburgh is seeking artists for its 2026 event season through the CitiParks Artist Market program, and LGBTQ+ makers are encouraged to apply.
Selected artists can vend at high-attendance public events like Farmers Markets, Concerts in the Parks, Independence Day celebrations, and the Holiday Tree Lighting.
No application fee. Rolling deadline. Wide range of mediums accepted.
At a time when queer visibility is being challenged nationally, showing up in civic spaces, proudly and publicly, matters.
This isn’t just a vending opportunity. It’s visibility. It’s affirmation. It’s economic empowerment.
Head to QBurgh.com to read the full details and apply.
QUEER RECOMMENDATION: Yes, QBurgh has Queer Crosswords
Did you know QBurgh has interactive, queer-themed crossword puzzles?
Because we do.
New puzzles drop every Saturday, and you can solve them right on QBurgh.com. No printing. No pencil. Just you and your extremely specific LGBTQ cultural knowledge.
This week’s puzzle, Play Misty for Me, includes clues referencing Cole Porter, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Robert Mapplethorpe, and more.
If you’re the kind of person who casually knows who directed Lawrence of Arabia or can finish a Broadway lyric without hesitation, this is your moment.
Log off doom-scrolling. Start grid-filling.
THE QUEER AGENDA:
Three ways to get out of the house and into some queer joy this week:
Monday, March 2
Balls Out Bingo
7:00 PM at 5801 Video Lounge
Hosted by Dixie Surewood and Linnea Marie, expect bold questions, fun prizes, STI/HIV testing with Central Outreach Wellness Center, and absolutely zero shame about sex. Sexy and responsible? We love to see it.
Tuesday, March 3
QMNTY Game Night
4:00 PM at the QMNTY Center
A cozy midweek reset. Games, connection, and community.
Thursday, March 5
Drag Queens in Outer Space Bingo
6:00 PM at Space Bar in Market Square
Hosted by Luna Skye, this cosmic bingo night blends dazzling drag, stellar cocktails, and six full games of bingo in a brand-new intergalactic-themed bar.
Because honestly? Bingo hits different in outer space.
And as always, this is just a sampling — check out the full LGBTQ+ community calendar at QBurgh.com/events.
More events this week →
New month, who dis?
February? Never heard of her. We survived. We layered. We processed. We endured.
But it’s March now. New month. New slays. New group chats. New events. New delusions of consistent weather.
Here’s how to keep the magic going:
- Submit your queer joy → email us at slay@qburgh.com
- Forward this to your work crush
- Tag @QBurgh on Instagram with your Monday slay.
If February was survival mode, March is soft rebrand season.
Update the bio. Clean out the notes app drafts. Text the person. Apply for the thing. Buy the ticket. Try the bingo. Submit the art. Join the club. Do the crossword. Wear the harness. (Metaphorically or not.)
This is your official permission slip to emerge.
New month, who dis? It’s you. It’s always been you.
Let’s make it loud. Let’s make it queer. Let’s make it ours.
Talk soon.