The LGBTQ+ in Team

The team at Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. Photo by G Michael Beigay.

Sarah Rosso, Executive Director of the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation is quick to point out, “It’s not me. It’s my team.”

Since 2020 Hugh Lane has intentionally grown, more than doubling their team to twenty-two, all of whom are LGBTQ+. The Hugh Lane team works across expanded service areas in the North Side, East Liberty, Beechview, Washington, and Erie.

The Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation has been providing nimble need-based services to raise health, cultivate joy and connection, and reduce isolation in LGBTQ+ communities in Western PA and beyond. Hugh Lane is partnering with funders to tackle LGBTQ+ health equity with a slate of community wellness services for LGBTQ+ individuals and families of all ages.

Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation works to raise health with LGBTQ+ and HIV communities by removing systemic barriers that block LGBTQ+ individuals from attaining health equity.

Programs like Hugh’s Kitchen provide nourishment to LGBTQ+ and HIV communities with necessities like food, hygiene products, and safer sex kits. The Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation offers free, need-based civil legal aid services for LGBTQ+ and HIV community members in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including cases involving identity document support, public benefits counseling, housing support, and civil expungement of criminal records.

There is a variety of youth-oriented programs, including a monthly self-care workshop led by the youth. For a full list of services can be found at HughLane.org.

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Michael Buzzelli is a stand-up comedian and sit-down author. As a comedian, he has performed all around the country, most notably, the Ice House, the Comedy Store and the Improv in Los Angeles. As a writer, Michael Buzzelli has been published in a variety of websites, magazines and newspapers. He is a theater and arts critic for 'Burgh Vivant,’ Pittsburgh's online cultural talk magazine. He is also a Moth Grand Slam storyteller and actor. His books, "Below Average Genius," a collection of essays culled from his weekly humor column in the Observer-Reporter, and his romantic comedy,  “All I Want for Christmas," are on sale at Amazon.com. He is working on a LGBTQ romantic comedy called, “Why I Hate My Friends.” You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter. (He / Him / His)