advertisement
Listen on Spotify
We touched spring (and she touched us back)
Okay, Pittsburgh… that was real! This weekend? Spring showed up.
The sun was out. The air was warm. The streets were full of gays blinking in daylight like we’d just been released from seasonal captivity.
We wore the shorts. We considered the sleeveless. Some of us hovered over the crop tops… but ultimately chose wisdom (that’s growth!).
And maybe the biggest shift of all? We made plans… and actually kept them.
Patios were utilized. Walks turned into hangs. “Let’s do something this weekend” became we are actually outside and thriving.
Now, yes, we all know Pittsburgh will try something again. A rogue cold front. A windy betrayal. A 40-degree morning just to keep us humble. The draft? Ugh!
But it doesn’t matter. Because now we know.
Spring is coming. Joy is loading. And we are absolutely going back outside.
Let’s carry that energy into the week.
SLAY OF THE WEEK: Benjamin Luczak
This week’s Slay of the Week goes to Benjamin Luczak, a Greensburg native who’s returned home to lead the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, the very place where his love of the arts began.
Now serving as CEO, Luczak isn’t just running a historic institution like the Palace Theatre; he’s helping shape the future of arts, culture, and LGBTQ+ visibility in the region.
From advocating for arts funding at the state level to building inclusive spaces and expanding Pride programming in the Laurel Highlands, his work proves that the arts don’t just entertain.
They build community, drive impact, and create space for people to be seen.
Sometimes the biggest slay is coming home and making it better than you found it.
Read the full story on QBurgh.com
Reader Joy: Charmaine Steps Fully Into Herself
This week’s reader joy comes from Charmaine, who shared something powerful. After coming out to her family at 41, she’s now living fully and proudly as an out lesbian everywhere, not just at home or at Pride.
She wrote that for years, other people’s doubt and judgment tried to define her. But this year, she made a promise to herself: she would stop letting other people dictate her life.
And now? She’s out. She’s proud. She’s done shrinking.
Charmaine, that’s a huge slay. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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.
advertisement
Love Makes a Family. Visit AdoptPAKids.org or call 1-800-585-SWAN
QUEER JOY IN THE WORLD: Bright Young People, Bright Future
Pittsburgh’s future is looking very queer, very brilliant, and very busy.
Allies for Health + Wellbeing has announced its 2026 class of Bright Young People, honoring 12 individuals making real impact across the city from healthcare and advocacy to art, education, and community building.
These aren’t “ones to watch.” They’re already doing the work.
From organizers and artists to educators and drag performers, this year’s cohort reflects the many ways queer folks (and our allies) are shaping Pittsburgh right now and building what comes next.
And yes, there’s a celebration. A Bright Young People Dance Party is set for April 17, bringing DJs, community, and a well-deserved moment to honor the people making it all happen.
Check out the full list and read more on QBurgh.com
Community Call: Who Gets Their Flowers?
Pittsburgh Pride is once again asking the community:
Who should lead us forward this year? Nominations are open for the 2026 Pittsburgh Pride Parade Grand Marshal, an honor reserved for someone who has made a real, lasting impact on our LGBTQ+ community.
And this title carries history. Past Grand Marshals include Billy Porter (2022), State Rep. La’Tasha Mayes (2023), Richard Parsakian (2024), Jeff Freedman and Lydia B Kollins (2025), Dena Stanley, Dalen Michael, and Toy Slaughter (2021), State Rep. Dan Frankel and Wendi Miller (2009), Susan Haugh (2006), Kathi Boyle (2011), Herb Beatty (2007), Jim Huggins and Randy Forrester (2005).
…and so many others who have helped shape queer life in Pittsburgh across decades.
So think about it: Who’s been doing the work? Who’s been showing up again and again? Who deserves their flowers right now?
Submit a nomination and read more on QBurgh.com
Queer Recommendation: Devout by David Archuleta
If you grew up queer and religious (or just complicated), this one’s going to hit.
In Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself, David Archuleta traces his journey from Mormon boyhood to pop stardom and the long, painful process of reconciling his faith with his identity.
From American Idol fame to deeply personal reckonings with family, belief, and sexuality, Archuleta lays it all out with honesty and heart.
It’s raw. It’s reflective. And it’s about choosing your own life, even when it costs you everything you thought you knew.
Let’s take a second to reflect.
This weekend felt like a shift. Not just in the weather but in us. We went outside. We made plans. We showed up.
And across this week’s issue, you can see it everywhere. People coming home and building something bigger than themselves. People choosing to live fully out, no matter who doubts them. A new generation stepping forward. A community honoring its past while deciding its future.
It’s not just spring. It’s our movement, our community.
You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. But you do get to choose. Choose to show up, take up space, be honest about who you are, and keep going. Even when it’s messy. Even when it’s new. Even when it’s a little scary.
Because look around. There are so many people doing the same thing. Building lives, building community, building something better. And you’re part of that.
So keep going. Keep growing. Keep showing up. Spring didn’t just arrive this week. You did too.
Talk soon.