Whether it’s your first time coming to university in Pittsburgh or you’re entering your final year of study, QBurgh is here to tell you how to get more involved in the local queer community. Each university in Pittsburgh has its own LGBTQ+ club. Information on each club can be found on your institution’s website.
LGBTQ+ Owned Coffee Shops and Businesses
Outside of your institution’s LGBTQ+ club, Pittsburgh has a wealth of queer happenings. What is the university experience without spending hours in a coffee shop trying to meet that deadline for your term paper or cramming for the afternoon’s exam? Here in Pittsburgh, we have LGBTQ+ owned places for you to get your caffeine fix: Square Cafe, Pigeon Bagels, and The Muddy Cup Coffee House. If coffee is not quite what you are looking for but still want to support LGBTQ+ owned businesses check out our directory here. Under the LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses section, there is a range of places from galleries to bookstores.
Maude’s Paperwing Gallery in Millvale offers a wide variety of queer and spiritual gifts and goodies and Eons Fashion Antique in Shadyside, steps away from 5801 Video Lounge, offers everything you need to add a touch of vintage to your style.
Health & Wellness
Your physical and mental health and wellbeing are vitally important. Your campus student health center offers a variety of services. For LGBTQ+ focused and competent care, check-in with Central Outreach Wellness Center on the north shore of Pittsburgh. They also have offices in Washington, Beaver, and Erie counties. Central Outreach offers a range of services including free STI testing, HIV testing and treatment, PrEP, Hep C testing, and the cure if you need it, transgender care, mental health, holistic care, addiction and recovery resources, housing, laser hair removal, medical marijuana certification, the vaccine and treatment for monkeypox, and more. They’ll get you fixed up and back out there.
Museums
Pittsburgh is often known for its wide variety of museums. Of course, we have your classic natural history, childrens, and art museums. To highlight a couple especially LGBTQ+ friendly museums look no further than The Warhol and The Mattress Factory. As some of you may know Pittsburgh is the birthplace of Andy Warhol. Located on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, the Warhol features work from Warhol and is one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world and the largest in North America. While some of your institutions already offer a student discount to The Warhol, the museum itself offers half-priced admission on Fridays after 5 pm.
The Mattress Factory offers a very unique experience to visitors. The museum features installations, video, and performance art. The philosophy of the museum allows the artists to design site-specific art that is often one of a kind by nature. If you attend Carnegie Mellon University, Point Park University, CCAC Allegheny Campus, or the University of Pittsburgh Main Campus you are lucky enough to get free admission to the museum!
Sports and Recreation
Perhaps you’re more of the active type. If that’s the case Stonewall Sports might suit your fancy. The national organization is an LGBTQ & Ally community-based, non-profit sports organization. Here in Pittsburgh, they offer kickball, dodgeball, bocce, bowling, sand volleyball, yoga, and soon ultimate frisbee. Even if you’ve never played a sport in your life but just want to find a community of other LGBTQ+ folks while getting some exercise Stonewall Sports is the place for you!
Arts
For those who are more arts and entertainment inclined, True T PGH celebrates Queer People of Color through Creative Art, Entertainment, Community Resource Sharing, and Activism.
Volunteer!
Another excellent way to be a part of the Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ community is through volunteering. Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation is focused on improving the Health of the LGBTQ+ and HIV Communities. They host a variety of events throughout the year that can help you get involved and have volunteer opportunities throughout the week. Similarly, Shepherd Wellness Community is a HIV/AIDS community. They have been serving the Pittsburgh community for over 35 years and offer a variety of volunteer opportunities from cooking dinner to bingo nights.
Gay for Good Pittsburgh partners with a non-LGBTQ organization every month on a volunteer project.
Bars & Clubs
For students who are 21 and over, Pittsburgh has several LGBTQ bars and clubs for you to check out to unwind and let loose. 5801 Video Lounge in Shadyside offers three floors and an outdoor patio with weekly events including drag shows, dart leagues, and trivia nights. The newly-renovated Brewer’s is Pittsburgh’s oldest gay bar with events nearly every night. Blue Moon on Butler Street is famous for being the favorite haunt of many fierce and famous drag queens. P Town on Baum Boulevard offers two bars, weekly karaoke, and monthly dance parties. The Real Luck Cafe, but everyone calls it Lucky’s, offers DJs and dancers every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. And last but certainly not least, Club Pittsburgh is a private club for the queer community located in the Strip District.
But where’s Pittsburgh’s “gayborhood”?
Your Safety
For many, new or returning students, this might be your first time in a city or urban environment. While Pittsburgh is welcoming of our LGBTQ+ community, we must also be vigilant about our safety in these tumultuous times.
QBurgh has compiled some safety tips to follow to keep you and your friends safe while exploring our wonderful city. QBurgh community safety whistles have been distributed around the city at LGBTQ+ spaces, carry one with you on your key ring, lanyard, or bag. We’ve ordered more whistles to offer more individual requests.
Keep Pittsburgh Queer!
Be sure to always check our calendar for upcoming LGBTQ+ events in Pittsburgh. We hope that you are able to find your place and flourish here in Pittsburgh. Wishing you all the best, QBurgh.
More resources, organizations, and groups are available in our directory.