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Use code QBURGH for 20% off tickets for QBurgh night on Tuesday, November 10!
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Hey, Pittsburgh!
Well, babes, we survived and thrived Election Week. The campaign ads have stopped, the yard signs are coming down, and somewhere, a political consultant is finally getting eight hours of sleep.
But while election season might be over, the work of building a world where queer people can thrive is very much ongoing.
And this week? We’ve got plenty to talk about.
Three out LGBTQ+ lawmakers from the Pittsburgh area are returning to Harrisburg. Pennsylvania’s changing political landscape is opening new possibilities for civil rights legislation. We’re getting mysterious at the theater, and QBurgh has a brand-new column reminding us that some love stories deserve more than a spot in our streaming history.
Queer history isn’t just something we look back on. It’s something we’re making right now.
In the laws we debate. The stories we tell. The spaces we fill. And yes, even the Blu-rays we proudly display on our shelves.
So grab your coffee, straighten your crown, and let’s get into this week’s good news and slay the week!
SLAY OF THE WEEK: Three Queer Voices Are Heading Back to Harrisburg!
First they made history. Now they’re making sure queer voices stay in the room.
Three out LGBTQ+ state representatives from the Pittsburgh area won reelection on November 3, securing another two years of representation in the Pennsylvania House!
Jessica Benham, who represents District 36, is returning for her fourth term. First elected in 2020, Benham made history as Pennsylvania’s first out LGBTQ woman and first openly autistic state legislator. Her work has included LGBTQ+ protections, disability rights, public health, and consumer advocacy.
La’Tasha D. Mayes, representing District 24, is also heading back to Harrisburg. Pennsylvania’s first out lesbian state legislator, Mayes has continued her longtime work on reproductive freedom, racial justice, maternal health, and economic equity.
And Abigail Salisbury, who represents District 34, secured another term after first making history in a 2023 special election. Her legislative work has focused on community development, local government, infrastructure, and strengthening neighborhoods.
What makes these victories especially meaningful is that all three lawmakers have moved beyond the milestone of being the first.
They’re now continuing the everyday work of public service, bringing their perspectives and experience to issues affecting people across Pennsylvania.
Three lawmakers. Three more terms. And another chapter of LGBTQ+ representation in Western Pennsylvania.
Read the full story on QBurgh.com
A New Chapter for LGBTQ+ Equality in Pennsylvania?
And speaking of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s political landscape has changed in a big way.
Following the November 3 election, Democrats are set to control the governor’s office and both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the first time in more than three decades.
That new governing trifecta could create opportunities to revisit LGBTQ+ civil rights legislation that has stalled for years.
What’s on the table? Potentially, quite a lot.
We took a deeper look at the legislation, the history, and what could come next.
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Queer Joy in the World: The Play Is Full of Secrets. The Ticket Discount Isn’t!
A 911 call. A house full of secrets. A past that refuses to stay buried.
Oh, we’re getting dramatic this week, Pittsburgh! And this time, it’s intentional.
QBurgh Night is heading to Quantum Theatre for radio island on Tuesday, November 10, at 7:30 p.m.!
This world-premiere gothic thriller, written by Liza Birkenmeier and directed by Katie Brook, follows an international hostage negotiator who returns to her childhood home and discovers that some family secrets refuse to stay hidden.
Expect psychological suspense, complicated relationships, shifting perspectives, and a theatrical space designed to keep you guessing.
The production also explores its central character’s relationship with her girlfriend and features local performer Treasure Treasure.
It’s all happening at Rockwell Park in Pittsburgh’s North Point Breeze neighborhood.
And because we love a little queer culture and a good deal, QBurgh readers can save 20% on tickets using promo code QBURGH!
QBurgh Night is about more than discounted tickets. It’s about connecting our LGBTQ+ community, friends, families, and allies with welcoming spaces to experience Pittsburgh’s arts and entertainment scene together.
The show may be full of unsettling mysteries, but one thing is perfectly clear: a night out with your queer community is always a good idea.
Join us Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. for QBurgh night with Quantum Theatre’s radio island
Get tickets here and use code QBURGH for 20% off!
Special Shout-Out: Let’s Get Physical!
Streaming is convenient, but some things are worth holding on to. And we’re not just talking about your ex’s hoodie. We’re talking about physical media!
QBurgh has a brand-new column called Let’s Get Physical, celebrating the movies, music, restorations, reissues, and special editions that deserve a permanent place in your collection.
The debut installment serves up four releases worth exploring. From coming out at 75 to finding tenderness beneath the leather, the stories remind us how many ways there are to be an outsider, find connection, and make a life on your own terms.
And sometimes, you just want a movie you can actually take off the shelf.
Here’s what I keep coming back to this week, Pittsburgh.
There’s something powerful about a community that refuses to be confined to one kind of story.
We’re in the halls of government, helping shape public policy. We’re in theaters, experiencing art that challenges us. We’re on screens, in record collections, and in stories that remind us who we are.
And none of those things exists in isolation.
The people who fought for queer visibility helped make today’s representation possible. The artists telling our stories are building a cultural record for the people who come after us. And every time we show up for something that matters to us, we’re adding another little piece to that history.
Not every possibility becomes reality overnight. Not every story has a tidy ending. And not every movie needs a sequel. But we get to keep writing what comes next.
So this week, celebrate the milestones, support the art, hold on to the stories you love, and remember that your presence matters.
Stay loud. Stay curious. Stay fabulous. We’ll see you on Tuesday for radio island!
Keep slaying, Pittsburgh!
Talk soon.
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Use code QBURGH for 20% off tickets for QBurgh night on Tuesday, November 10!
