As Mayor of Pittsburgh, I am honored to stand with our LGBTQIA+ community in celebration of Pride. Pittsburgh Pride is more than a festival, it’s a powerful expression of visibility, resilience, and love. It reflects the strength and spirit of a community that has helped shape our city’s identity and continues to inspire progress.
This year, our celebration carries even deeper meaning. Across the country, we are witnessing a troubling rise in policies and rhetoric from elected officials that target and ostracize some of our most vulnerable neighbors, especially transgender and nonbinary people. These attacks are not only unjust, but they are also dangerous. They aim to erase identities and undermine the fundamental rights of individuals simply for being who they are.
In Pittsburgh, we reject that kind of hatred. We believe in building a city where everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, is welcome, safe and given the opportunity to thrive. That means uplifting the voices of trans and nonbinary people, investing in inclusive resources, and standing up against discrimination in all its forms.
Pride is protest. Pride is celebration. But most of all Pride is community. Let’s continue to lead with love, stand in solidarity, and commit to the ongoing work of creating a truly equitable Pittsburgh for all. Happy Pride, Pittsburgh. You are loved, you belong, and this city stands with you.
Ed Gainey
Mayor
City of Pittsburgh
