As you’re planning your wedding, you’ve probably heard heard the phrase “but it’s tradition!” like a hundred times. While some wedding traditions will never go away, we think it’s time to break some of these silly long-standing wedding traditions. Here ...
So, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has finally granted us the right to marry. What do we do next?! Planning a wedding can be a very stressful event, and one of the biggest wedding details many couples worry about is the ...
Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here to celebrate another step together towards full equality. History is in the making as same sex couples across our area join together in marriage. Holy matrimony! We are delighted to share stories with you ...
Chelsea Zahn has learned about herself and her gender presentation just by discussing and supporting the process her roommate has gone through. “She’s a really authentic person, which I can really appreciate and understand,” Zahn says. When Zahn, 22, of ...
It’s a relaxing summer day at the pool. The sun is shining, the drinks are cold, a campy top 40 pop song is playing on the radio and life is nearly perfect. That is, until later in the evening when ...
“Into the Wild” is about living your life without any attachments to our materialistic world. Just being free and as close with god, nature, and yourself as much as possible. The character Christopher McCandless abandoned all belongings and set off ...
It has been an exciting year for advancements in LGBT rights. The Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in United States v. Windsor in June 2013, and with that, the floodgates seemed to have ...
Different cultures represent gendered restrooms differently, but the ubiquitous figures denoting men’s and women’s restrooms are, at least, problematic and at worst, dangerous for some gender nonconforming people. Incidents of transgendered people facing harassment in public places or disciplinary action ...
Europe is the world’s number one tourist destination and every year millions of gay people flood to our cities, beaches and countryside. London has some of the world’s best gay nightlife. Paris is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. ...
Robert “Lucky” Johns passed away peacefully on the morning of June 18th, 2014. He was born to Italian-American parents in Pittsburgh’s Northside in 1935, at which time his mother nicknamed him “Fortunato.” “I’ve been Lucky all my life,” he said. ...
Summer is synonymous with entertaining and for good reason. Warm summer days and long summer evenings make the perfect backdrop for gatherings with friends and family on the deck with some delicious cocktails. How do you take a simple picnic ...
Dear Friends: Welcome to the July issue of Equal Magazine. We kick off this month’s issue with an important cover story that affects every LGBT person living in Pennsylvania…discrimination in the orkplace. Yes, while history was just made last month ...
While Lazaro Arbos didn’t become the next “American Idol” during season 12, he did accomplish a dream: he inspired. The Naples, Florida resident who placed sixth was lauded by the stuttering community for his bravery. Richard Hudson, a work-at-home operations ...
The Pegasus Lounge on Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh has a long and storied history. According to Ancient Greek Mythology, the Pegasus was born from the blood spilled by Medusa, the most beautiful of the three sisters, who would live ...
Founded in May 2012, the Pittsburgh Queer History Project (PQHP) is an ongoing oral history and media preservation initiative, founded by Harrison Apple. Beginning with the excavation of an abandoned East Liberty after-hours club, the PQHP grew in scope to ...
Steve Grand burst onto the American music scene with his YouTube sensation, “All American Boy,” a country/western song about a gay man and his unrequited love for his best friend who is straight. The video went viral garnering 2.75 million ...
Quality ingredients = quality product. As a chef, I have several rules I live by. One is to take pride in your food. That rule however, is not exactly how you make it, but what you make it with. The ...
Are you a jock, otter, bear, cub, or wolf? No, it’s not the latest Buzzfeed survey on Facebook. But rather, these descriptive terms are often used by gay men to identify and label other gays within the wide community. Here ...
Ball culture, the house system, and the ballroom community are terms used to describe an underground LGBT subculture in the United States in which people “walk” or compete for trophies and prizes at events known as balls. Founded in NYC ...
According to legend, monks from the southern region of France brought the method for making sparkling wine north to the Champagne region. They learned that the combination of the chalky soil and climate produced a bright, bubbly wine that is ...
The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh is thrilled to bring the sultry “Queen of Funk,” R&B Diva, and iconic music legend, Chaka Khan to Pittsburgh’s largest dance party on Saturday, June 14. The timeless singer/songwriter is bringing her full touring band ...
Brandi Glanville puts the “real” in the Real Housewives. Her honesty and frequent “word vomiting,” makes her seem like your best friend or worst enemy. We’ve all stalked our ex-lovers on Facebook or twitter, and Glanville is no exception as ...
According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) of 2011, trans individuals experience more than double the national rate of unemployment and trans individuals of color experience up to four times the national unemployment rate. Forty-seven percent (47%) report encountering ...
Whether it’s your first time visiting our magnificent city or whether you’re returning, we want to welcome you and offer you a glimpse into Pittsburgh’s gay scene. One thing’s for sure…there’s something here for everyone. While you’ll want to take ...
Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco AKA Charice is starting a new chapter and part of that is to perform in Pittsburgh at the Equality on Ellsworth event, the official kickoff to Pittsburgh Pride, on Sunday, June 8. Charice is thrilled to ...
It has been a momentous year for marriage equality in our country. The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark June 2013 decisions overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and upholding the ruling on Proposition 8’s unconstitutionality opened the proverbial floodgates, ushering in ...
Spring and “springtime” refer to the season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth. It’s time to let go of certain items hiding in the closet; such as your ex-girlfriend, old Timberlands and used sex toys. ...
Pittsburgh is no stranger to cinema. From Night of the Living Dead to Mothman Prophecies and The Dark Knight Rises, Pittsburgh has a long history of movies being filmed here. And Pittsburghers love the silver screen back with a plethora ...
It has become somewhat cliché for a gay man to be seen walking his dog down the street. Clad in doggy designer clothes, or in some other adorable ensemble, it is the subject of many a joke. Until recently, I ...
As winter is finally coming to an end, we anxiously await the blooms of spring which bring us to the first of the top 10 trends of Spring 2014: BLOOMS As in flowers. All types of flowers of every color ...
For years, John Ryan felt sick. To him, the way he felt about himself and his sexuality were an illness that needed healing, but he didn’t think he could find the cure until he reflected on his spirituality. “I was ...
Separated by the meandering Seine River, Paris is divided into two parts, the Rive Droite (Right Bank) on the North side and Rive Gauche (Left Bank) on the South side. Spiraling out from the center of the city, Paris is ...
Easter has always had a close association with food. The word comes from the name for the Anglo-Saxon goddess of light and spring, Eostre, and special dishes were cooked in her honor so that the year would be endowed with ...
“Happiness exists on Earth, and it is won through a prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and the constant practice of generosity.” Jose Marti The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, the leading LGBT organization in Western ...
Spring is on its way and, whether you believe it or not, Pittsburgh is about to be met with the sun’s warm embrace once more. This season is all about growth and renewal, and the transition from winter to spring ...
Nobody wins in a fight, especially when it’s directed at a member of the LGBT community and fueled by discrimination and fear. In a training facility in the Strip District with matcovered floors and walls, about 20 people took part ...
We are sad to announce the sudden passing of Rohn Neugebauer, co-owner and CFO of Studio Raw in Ross Township, who died suddenly Sunday, March 16 of an apparent heart attack. Rohn owned Studio Raw, located at 3185 Babcock Boulevard, ...
Spring is in the air – finally! This means it’s time to get back out into your garden and get to work. While you won’t want to start actually digging in the soil until it dries out a bit (to ...
#GirlsLikeUs. The first time that I saw this hashtag, I glazed over it. Then, I saw it time and time again and just had to take notice. Personally, I think that was the intent of the creator, Janet Mock. A ...
Like most chefs, making and baking bread can often be a challenge. What seems like a simple philosophy of basic ingredients like flour, water, yeast and salt, often proves to be a sticky mess accompanied by a tsunami of flour. ...
Often, in the gay community, because of its overemphasis on sexuality, there’s a disconnect. Lust can lead to love, but is it possible to be in love with someone and not lust after them? Let’s think of desire as the ...
Veruca la’Piranha FAVORITE MOVIE “Mermaids” FAVORITE SONG “After All” FAVORITE LOOK Dark Lady FAVORITE CHER ERA “Believe,” which is when I came out at age 14 FUN FACT I’ve “done” Cher twice: once for a going away party as a ...
With Easter on the horizon, religious people all around the world are flocking to their local churches to celebrate Lent. Amidst the festive baskets, chocolate bunnies, incense, and holy water, LGBT people of faith often struggle to find their place ...
Recently, I was among the last to leave a party thrown by a good friend of mine when I noticed a young damsel in distress. I asked my friend why this girl was tucked away in the corner, scowling at ...
Pittsburgh has been finding its way on “Most Livable City” lists recently, although I don’t know why. Pittsburgh is a great city to live in if you’re NOT black and gay. Here the white and black gay communities are two ...
Born in Douglassville in Berks County, Michelle Holsopple’s parents raised her to be involved in church and school functions, the goal being to help others and that upbringing has followed her all her life. After graduating from Slippery Rock University ...
A visit to Puerto Rico, or the “Spanish Virgin Islands,” immerses you in a rainbow of color. From the pinks and yellows of the dawn’s morning sky to the sinewy reds and purples of twilight, each day holds the promise ...
After having four children, Pattie and Tim Gabriel divorced after 15 years of marriage. Surprisingly they still go on family vacations together – the only difference now is Tim often brings his partner. “His partner’s family has just become an ...