My cousin Graham and his partner, Francis, were deep in the planning stages for their wedding when the United States Supreme Court issued its June ruling legalizing federal benefits for couples in same-sex marriages. For them, the court’s decision was ...
When it’s quiet at the Rusty Dory Pub in Avalon, owner Joanne Teti says she hears some of the longtime residents of the building moving chairs, arranging silverware, closing doors or leaving pennies on the bar. “They’re good ghosts,” says ...
Fall has arrived and so has Pumpkin season. As one of the most popular crops in the United States, 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced each year in the top pumpkin-producing states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, California, and Pennsylvania. ...
A wise woman once said, “Life isn’t all diamonds and rosé, but it should be.” That woman was Lisa Vanderpump from the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and she was 100% correct. Life can be diamonds and rosé, if you ...
With the recent Supreme Court ruling against DOMA and more and more states across the U.S. making same-sex marriage legal, the traditional face of a wedding has given same-sex couples the opportunity to embrace—and tinker with— established tradition. Whatever traditional ...
Growing up, my brother and I loved to watch the sitcom – Golden Girls. The late actress Estelle Getty portrayed Sophia Petrillo, my favorite character. Prior to telling any story she would start it with the words “Picture it, Sicily” ...
With the fall semester quickly approaching, many students are looking to add more extracurricular activities to their plate. Whether freshmen or upperclassmen, the universities in Pittsburgh offer many safe havens and activist groups for LGBT students. Here is your guide ...
There is much that makes Pennsylvania stand out among its forty-nine sister-states. Not only is it home to Philadelphia, our nation’s birthplace (and whose cheesesteaks people willingly drive hours to devour), you will also find America’s most livable city, Pittsburgh—a ...
Before she decided she needed to become more comfortable talking about her personal life at work, Christine Crespo was introverted and kept people there at arm’s length. “I was always afraid of what people would think, what they would do ...
It’s ok to judge your food by its cover. ROYGBIV: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet should be a phrase and color scheme we’re all familiar with. Using that color palate should be a no brainer for picking ...
For the first time in 30 years, the “Queen of Motown” Diana Ross will be performing live in Pittsburgh. The concert comes, coincidentally, at a significant time in the career of Pittsburgh Drag Queen Miss Kierra Darshell, who many may ...
Young-adult fiction or young adult literature (often abbreviated as YA), is fiction written, published, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, although the “young” portion is getting more and more flexible all the time. According to the American Library Association, ...
Dr. John Tymitz and his wife Dixie have been spreading love and equality together for the last forty-four years and live by the philosophy that all are one. In 1976 John co-founded the Institute of Shipboard Education which operates the ...
Fiber Artist Amanda K. Gross and a few hundred people have knitted a bridge cozy (think tea cozy on a grand scale). Amanda, outreach coordinator for Fiberart International, and her team of volunteers will yarn bomb the Andy Warhol Bridge ...
In a remarkable career spanning over 40 years, Diana Ross has proven herself the consummate music artist as well as the most successful female singer of all time. Born on March 26, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, Diana Ross lived a ...
Kate Passarelli remembers the moment her four-year-old son realized there were other kids like him with two moms. He was telling her about how he liked playing with another boy he met while they were visiting with other children and ...
Dear Friends, Let the sun shine. I’m excited to offer you the perfect summer read… Equal Magazine has packed this issue with so many hot articles that you’ll need sunscreen when you open it. I recommend an SPF of at ...
Hello folks: I hope everyone is well rested after an exciting Pride month. Here are some shots from a few non-pride events. Rhinestone Steel held a strip show fundraiser (1) which was a huge success and got everyone excited for ...
“Tenth of December” by George Saunders is a collection of short stories that touches on themes from adolescent disobedience and post-conflict PTSD to suicide and death. The stories were often dark, perverse, and emotional. Due to the heavy content of ...
I’ve been called a lot of things in my life: flaming, trashy, cheesy, stupid, ghetto, talented, idealistic, brilliant, crazy and numerous other things. I have also been called a “bottom” several times and often it’s been intended as an insult. ...
Since 1994, The Andy Warhol Museum has become one of Pittsburgh’s most influential and important cultural organizations. Located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, The Warhol holds the distinction of being the largest museum in the United States dedicated to ...
A little more than fifty years ago, the world was quite different. It was a time before the March on Washington and before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s stirring words began to change the hearts and minds of a generation. ...
If during Fourth of July weekend you see human-sized stuffed animals roaming around town, know that you are not hallucinating due to the extreme heat. It simply means that Anthrocon, the world’s largest furry convention, is back in town. Since ...
For the past six years, Pittsburgh Pride has taken on a different look than it had previously. For one thing, it’s a lot bigger in size and scope, and is far better attended. The celebration’s presence now carries more weight ...
The organizers of an upcoming queer arts festival needed a name, so they created two lists, one of words associated with queerness and the other a list of words associated with Pittsburgh. And what a better combination for those two ...
Back in April, Issak Wolfe, a student at Red Lion Area High School near York, Pa. wanted to add his name to the running for prom king. But because he is transgender, he was instead placed on the prom queen ...
We all go through our “dream vacation check list” in our heads countless numbers of times as soon as the travel bug gets a hold of us. As I go down my list, 99% of the time I am looking ...
As a woman, I know that taking care of oneself can seem overwhelming. With so much to fit into our schedules, our health sometimes slips onto the back burner. What we don’t realize is that if we break it down ...
Are you paying attention? Can it be that history has been made? It almost doesn’t feel real, does it? The LGBT community has achieved the most amazing progress towards equality since Stonewall and it feels as though momentum is building. ...
Imagine leaving your favorite bar or club in the wee hours of the morning only to be greeted by a police raid. Imagine being assaulted, arrested, or even molested by an officer just for being in a gay club. This ...
A vacation is reason to get away, but a celebration is a reason to travel! As June rapidly approaches I realize I am not only thankful of the fact that I can live in a city where I am proud ...
At the intersection of Highways 156 and 159 in Ohio lies the real-life town of Knockemstiff. This “town” is nothing more than a few trailers, a handful of people, and a welcome sign. Now, turn this town over to Donald ...
“The women’s suffrage movement was successful because women and men who supported fairness stood shoulder-to-shoulder. The fight against Jewish defamation was successful because people of all faiths took stands against discrimination. The AfricanAmerican civil rights struggle was supported by people ...
The debate surrounding women in the workplace — why so few at the top, why is it so hard to “have it all” — hit a new decibel level recently when the COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandburg, released her book ...
In Sankskrit, the language of ancient India, yoga means union — Union of the Mind, Body and Spirit. What we traditionally think of as “yoga” in the West is really more accurately called “asana” or posture. Asana is only one ...
Each year, about 50,000 new HIV infections occur in the United States, a statistic that has not changed since 2006. Despite efforts to promote safer sex education and expand access to condoms, the number of new infections in gay men ...
Social media has changed how and what we share, how we interact and even how we come out of the closet. Coming out now can be as easy as one family member viewing your profile and seeing a full montage ...
Women, regardless of age or sexuality, have unique concerns when it comes to trekking the globe, but for a long time there was a void in information when it came to women-specific travel. Go! Girl Guides, publisher of the world’s ...
Amid national championships, new stadiums, and cheering fans, women’s sports teams like the Pittsburgh Passion, Steel City Roller Derby and Pittsburgh Angels are just three teams in town that build camaraderie and foster a positive atmosphere for gay and straight ...
For the past six years, BNY Mellon, the global leader in investment management and investment services, has scored a 100 percent rating in the 2013 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, this comprehensive Index has ...
Lady Bunny is perhaps best known as the larger than life drag queen that put Wig Stock on the map. The blonde bombshell has been best friends with RuPaul for more than 30+ years and frequently makes guest appearances on ...
“How can I get involved?” “I’d like to meet more people.” “It’s important for me to give back.” Getting involved seems simple, but sometimes people just aren’t sure how to do it. You want to help. You have the time. ...
With Spring quickly approaching, a common topic discussed in the halls at every high school is “who are you taking to the prom?” Yes, prom season is here again and the gorgeous gowns and sharp black tuxedos will be surfacing ...
Comedienne. Chanteuse. Feminist. Actress. Activist. These are just a few words that come to mind when you think of Sandra Bernhard. The legendary comedian is coming back to Pittsburgh for one night only in April for a night of sophisticated ...
Dear Friends: Welcome to Spring! Could it be that the snow has melted off of Mt. Washington and we are finally seeing signs of longer days and warmer nights? Our April issue is celebrating spring and the outdoors with our ...
Even though Kerri Angeletti has worked at Dancer’s Pointe in the Strip District for 11 years, she sees most of the silk ballet shoes go out the door with women. “Dancing on pointe really works different muscle groups than what ...
First Class seats, a private car with a driver, and a luxurious suite in the most opulent hotel…these are all things that comprise a fabulous vacation and NONE of the things that I had when I went cage diving with ...
I’m a girl, raised in the south. And I’m a lesbian. I moved to Pittsburgh almost five years ago. I was born and raised in a small redneck town in Georgia, just within the metro Atlanta area. Being out in ...
2012 was a watershed moment in American politics and gay and lesbian rights. The winds of change were fast and furious, and change came sooner than many expected. The President of the United States and the Vice President not only ...
If better health and a longer life aren’t motivating enough to get you to exercise, then maybe more and better sex will do the trick. Read on to find out how regular exercise promotes a rockin’ sex life. Research shows ...