Jim Sheppard

🚨 Queer News You Missed 🚨
Here are 3 LGBTQ+ stories making headlines in Pittsburgh and beyond this week. Catch up in under a minute with Michelangelo’s Bi-Weekly Queer News Update. More at qburgh.com

Don’t Be Erased – Take the 2026 Pennsylvania LGBTQIA+ Health Survey Now! In a time where LGBTQ+ history and health data are being erased off of federal websites, help us make sure the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ Pennsylvanians are not. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is dedicated to ensuring that our LGBTQIA+ community’s needs are not only recognized but to make sure they are met. But in order to make that happen we need your help – we need you to take the survey at…

Don’t be erased. 🏳️‍🌈 At a time when LGBTQ+ health data is disappearing from federal sites, Pennsylvania needs our voices more than ever.

Take the 2026 PA LGBTQIA+ Health Survey, it helps secure funding for community health and advocacy.

Artist Treasure Treasure reflects on childhood acting, identity, and turning life into art. Watch the newest episode of From Then to Now to When. qburgh.com/treasure-tre...

Pa. House panel advances package of bills to codify LGBTQ protections A state House committee advanced a package of bills intended to enhance and codify protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians Tuesday. The seven proposals would: Extend the states nondiscrimination laws to apply to LGBTQ people. Expand the statutory definition of a hate crime, currently referred to as ethnic intimidation, to include acts that target people because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

PA House committee advances bills to strengthen LGBTQ protections, including nondiscrimination laws, expanded hate crime protections, codifying same-sex marriage, and ending the “LGBTQ panic defense."

Saving Our Stories: Inside the Carnegie Library’s Recollection Studio The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is offering guests a unique experience: the chance to recollect memories they may have long forgotten. In the library’s do-it-yourself digitization lab, dubbed the Recollection Studio, everything from 8mm film and CDs to VHS and cassette tapes can be digitized and protected from the passage of time. Emily Kubincanek, digital community collections specialist at the library’s Main branch, said the space allows guests to uncover memories they may not have been able to access otherwise.

Old tapes. Lost voices. Forgotten moments. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Recollection Studio helps digitize old tapes, photos, & film preserving memories that might be lost. It’s also helping QBurgh expand the archives of Pittsburgh LGBTQ history.

Pittsburgh City Council Proclaims March 10 ‘Central Outreach Wellness Center Day’ Pittsburgh City Council officially declared March 10, 2026, “Central Outreach Wellness Center Day,” recognizing the organization’s decade of providing inclusive, patient-centered healthcare to comm…

Pittsburgh City Council has declared March 10 “Central Outreach Wellness Center Day,” recognizing a decade of inclusive healthcare serving LGBTQIA+ communities and others across Western PA. qburgh.com/central-outr...

Slay Weekly March 9, 2026 Listen on Spotify Happy Monday, besties. Daylight Saving Time rolled in this weekend and said, “Congratulations, it’s spring now. Also, we’re stealing an hour of your life.” We lost an hour of sleep. We lost an hour of afters. Somewhere in Pittsburgh, a vibe was just getting into its groove when the clock said, “Actually, it’s 3 a.m. now. Go home.” A crime.

Daylight Saving stole an hour of sleep (and an hour of afters) but the gays persist. This week’s Slay Weekly celebrates PFLAG Pittsburgh, previews a chaotic drag rivalry heading to a national stage, and rounds up queer happenings across the city.

We need brave institutions to support transgender youth in Pittsburgh This article first appeared on Pittsburgh’s Public Source. There are no medical providers in Pittsburgh openly offering gender-affirming care to individuals under 19, in a shift since President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to withhold funding early last year. Legal advocates argue the underlying executive order is unlawful and discriminatory, yet many institutions have preemptively complied. This compliance overrides the autonomy of parents and keeps healthcare providers from following best practices.

In the face of authoritarian crackdowns on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, we need bravery more than ever.

Did you know that QBurgh has editorial cartoons and crossword puzzles every weekend? qburgh.com/tag/puzzles-...

40+ Newsrooms, One Region: Why Pittsburgh’s Local Media Fight Is a Queer Issue On March 2, 2026, a coalition of more than 40 news organizations across Southwestern Pennsylvania launched a public awareness campaign with a bold message “40+ newsrooms. At Work. Every Day. For Yo…

When we talk about strengthening local news, let’s be specific about what that means on the ground. qburgh.com/40-newsrooms/

FIERCE in Pittsburgh: Ajamu X Captures the Beauty and Power of Black Queer Life Fine art photographer Ajamu X has his eyes fixed on the future. The Black British LGBTQ+ artist is archiving Black Queer images for future generations. X said, “Fierce is a lifelong unfolding global archive in perpetual evolution, and Pittsburgh is the latest iteration.” FIERCE: Pittsburgh, running from March 5th to May 2nd at the Silver Eye Center for Photography…

Black British photographer Ajamu X brings his global Black queer portrait project FIERCE to Pittsburgh, celebrating the city’s Black LGBTQ+ community. The exhibit runs through May 2 at Silver Eye Center for Photography.

Hilarious Rivalry: Two Pittsburgh Queens to Go Wig-to-Wig for Comedy Crown Two local competitors, JoeMyGosh and Snoozy Q, are taking comedy seriously as they prepare for the National Miss Comedy Queen pageant. National Miss Comedy Queen is a competition open to any femme-presenting queen who has qualified through a preliminary contest. JoeMyGosh won the City of Bridges Comedy Queen contest in October, and Snoozy Q placed First Alternate; both the winner and the first alternate qualify to compete in the national contest in Orlando, Florida.

Drag family rivalry! Pittsburgh’s JoeMyGosh and Snoozy Q, both from the Goon Squad, are headed to Orlando to compete wing-to-wing for the National Miss Comedy Queen title this month.

Condoms 101: The Classic That Still Delivers Welcome to The Quickie, Central Outreach Wellness Center’s monthly rundown of blogs, events, and health tips, served with sass and zero shame. It’s short, sexy, and gets right to the good stuff, and it’s delivered in part by QBurgh. Condoms are not boring. They are not outdated. They are not a “backup plan.” They are one of the most accessible, affordable, and effective tools we have for protecting ourselves and our partners, and they’ve been doing the job well for decades.

Condoms are not boring. They are not outdated. They are not a “backup plan.” They are one of the most accessible, affordable, and effective tools we have for protecting ourselves and our partners, and they’ve been doing the job well for decades.

Cleaning out a queer Pittsburgh nightclub unearthed forgotten stories from trash to crumpled notes saying "Fuck off." These fragments reveal glimpses into lives, reminding us that even in moments of perceived isolation, solidarity across movements has always existed. qburgh.com/holding-quee...

“It’s About Time” to be a Fashionably Fierce Farewell at Pittsburgh Opera The Pittsburgh Opera’s annual fashion show, titled “It’s About Time,” will take place on Monday, March 23, at the Bitz Opera Factory. The event will feature a few farewells. Pittsburgh Opera’s General Director, Christopher Hahn, announced his retirement to go into effect at the end of the 2025-2026 season, and the event’s curator, Richard Parsakian, owner of Eons Fashion Antique in Shadyside, announced that “It’s About Time” will be his final fashion show.

Richard Parsakian and Christopher Hahn to take their final bow in a glittering celebration of couture, community, and creative style at the Pittsburgh Opera's "It's About Time" Fashion Show on March 23.

A pride flag, a bathroom ban, a job change: LGBTQ+ federal workers challenge Trump in court This story was originally reported by Kate Sosin of The 19th. Sarah O’Neill loved her job as a data scientist at the National Security Agency (NSA). “The government before last year was what I would consider to be a model employer,” O’Neill said. She started the job in 2019, two years after she started her transition to living as a woman.

Over the past year, the administration has faced a number of high-profile lawsuits over the ban on LGBTQ+ pride expression and refusal to let transgender workers use bathrooms that align with their genders.

Federal Judge Slams DOJ’s Attempt to Seize Trans Youth Medical Records from UPMC A federal judge in Pittsburgh just handed the U.S. Department of Justice a very public, very pointed rejection, and the language she used? Not subtle. Chief U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon ruled Monday that the DOJ cannot force UPMC to hand over records, even anonymized ones, for minor patients who received gender-affirming care at UPMC. And in her four-page order, she didn’t mince words.

A federal judge in Pittsburgh blocked the DOJ from forcing UPMC to hand over records of trans youth who received gender-affirming care. The ruling called the government’s stance “callous” and warned of overreach.

For Interim President Patti Rice, PFLAG Means Family Meet Patti Rice, interim president of PFLAG Pittsburgh, the local chapter of the largest national nonprofit dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. This is the third PFLAG chapter she’s been a part of, and she first found PFLAG in Birmingham, Alabama. Joining a pro-LGBTQ group in Alabama sounds rough. But Patti, originally from the Johnstown, Pa., area, points out that Birmingham is progressive, “and getting even more so,” she says.

Her son came out. She was ecstatic. Now, Patti Rice is leading PFLAG Pittsburgh and building family, fighting for trans lives, and meeting parents exactly where they are.

Slay Weekly March 2, 2026 Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts You Survived February, Icon! Pause. Breathe. Look at you. You made it through February. The shortest month of the year somehow lasted 47 business days, contained three emotional plot twists, two fake springs, and at least one moment where you stared out the window like you were in a coming-of-age film set in Pittsburgh.

Survived February? Same. Now it’s leather leadership, queer bingo, trans joy, artist opportunities & gay crosswords. March = main character mode. Dive into this week’s Slay Weekly.

What’s Queer and Going on in March March in Pittsburgh queerland is coming in HOT, and it’s giving “choose-your-own-adventure” in the best way. Kicking off with fresh-air friendship, cozy skill-sharing, and sober all-ages sweetness, community support, book clubs, game nights, craft hangs, karaoke, and a whole constellation of drag: bingo, brunch, watch parties, and late-night shows. Add in art openings and archive-based making, jam sessions, queer youth performance, sapphic mingles and hikes, and a month that closes with Trans Day of Visibility, and you’ve got a calendar that's loud, tender, glittery, and mutual-aid-adjacent.

March is STACKED! Runs + hikes, sapphic mingles, craft & game nights, book clubs, karaoke, art openings, and so much drag: bingo, brunch, watch parties & more. Here’s what’s queer & going on this month in Pittsburgh:

How Kevin Williamson’s Queer Identity Shapes the ‘Scream’ Franchise Kevin Williamson knows fear. He’s been shaping it, scripting it and watching it slice through movie theaters for 30 years. But with “Scream 7,” he’s doing something new: directing it himself. For the first time, he’s revisiting the world he helped create in 1996 — when Neve Campbell introduced the world to the ultimate final girl, Sidney Prescott — and seeing it all through his distinctly queer perspective.

From queer-coded killers to openly gay characters like Mindy, Kevin Williamson reflects on 30 years of Scream and why Sidney Prescott still resonates 30 years later in Scream 7.

City of Pittsburgh Seeks Artists for 2026 Event Season, LGBTQ+ Creators Encouraged to Apply The City of Pittsburgh is expanding opportunities for local artists to participate in vendor markets at major city-wide events throughout 2026 and LGBTQ+ artists are encouraged to consider applying. The City’s Department of Parks and Recreation (CitiParks), in partnership with the Office of Special Events, is currently accepting applications for its Artist Market program. Selected artists will have the opportunity to vend at high-attendance public events including Farmers Markets, Concerts in the Parks, Independence Day celebrations, and the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting.

The City of Pittsburgh is expanding opportunities for local artists to participate in vendor markets at major city-wide events throughout 2026 and LGBTQ+ artists are encouraged to apply.

Steel City Leather Royalty: The Leather Leaders Building Inclusive Spaces Pittsburgh has a vibrant leather community with thriving social communities that will help you explore your leather-clad self and/or your kinkier side. Three Rivers Leather Club (TRLC), Barons of S…

Harness up. From Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather to pup titles and gear swaps, the Steel City’s leather leaders are building bold, inclusive spaces. Leather lives here. qburgh.com/steel-city-l...

Pedro Pascal saves Todd Haynes’ gay romance Do you remember when Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of Todd Haynes’ planned gay romantic drama? And he did it just days before filming was due to begin? Well, the project is back on. Just not with Phoenix. Pedro Pascal has stepped in to save the day. The film, currently called “De Noche,” will now star Pascal and “Top Gun: Maverick” co-star Danny Ramirez as a detective and a school teacher falling in love in 1930s Los Angeles.

Internet daddy Pedro Pascal saves a Todd Haynes gay drama. Colman Domingo takes on Nat King Cole. Riot Grrrl nostalgia rises. Rocky Horror gets freaky (again). We’re fed.

Shenango Valley Pride Alliance to Dissolve in June, Final Pride Picnic Set for May 23 The Shenango Valley Pride Alliance, located about 90 minutes north of Pittsburgh and serving as Mercer County’s first LGBTQIA+ community support center and organizer of the county’s only annual Pride Picnic, will dissolve on June 1, 2026, citing ongoing funding challenges impacting nonprofits nationwide. In a statement released February 25, the Alliance shared that its final event will be its annual Pride Picnic, scheduled for May 23, 2026, a full-circle closing moment for an organization that grew from grassroots support groups into a regional anchor for queer community.

About 90 minutes north of Pittsburgh, Mercer County’s only LGBTQIA+ community center is closing. The Shenango Valley Pride Alliance will dissolve June 1, 2026, with one final Pride Picnic on May 23. Rural queer spaces matter.

The Soft Spot Is Officially Open in Garfield, Bringing a Sober Sapphic Café to Pittsburgh A new sapphic-centered café is officially open in Garfield. The Soft Spot has opened its doors as a sober, accessibility-focused gathering space for queer community members in Pittsburgh. After months of anticipation and buildout updates, the café is now welcoming guests for regular hours and community programming. “We are over the MOOOOON!” the team shared on Instagram ahead of opening week, noting that their kickoff “Sleepover” event nearly sold out before doors officially opened.

The Soft Spot is officially open in Garfield. The new sober, accessibility-focused sapphic café offers coffee, community space, crafts, books, and gatherings; all built around queer safety and connection.

Podcast: Mayor O’Connor and Chief Lando Address LGBTQ Issues, ICE Policy, and Pride Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and newly appointed Police Chief Jason Lando joined QBurgh for a wide-ranging conversation on this latest episode of Pride Matters, discussing LGBTQ policy, public safety, ICE enforcement, and the future of Pride in the city. Recorded in the mayor’s office at the City-County Building downtown, the interview covered everything from the city’s LGBTQIA+ Commission to the controversy surrounding a…

Mayor Corey O’Connor and Chief Jason Lando sat down with QBurgh to discuss ICE, LGBTQ representation in policing, gender-affirming care, the P Town controversy, and more.

Pine-Richland Board Advances Reversal of Controversial Library Policy The Pine-Richland School Board voted Monday night to advance sweeping revisions to its controversial library policy, taking formal steps to reverse measures passed last year that critics said disproportionately targeted LGBTQ+ and Black authors. The proposed changes, approved for advancement in a 6–3 vote, would roll back 2025 revisions that expanded the board’s authority over book purchases, restricted librarians from acquiring materials deemed to contain “pervasive vulgarity or profanity” or “explicit sexual content,” and increased parental control over library access.

Pine-Richland’s school board voted to advance major revisions to its controversial library policy, rolling back restrictions critics said targeted LGBTQ+ and BIPOC books. Final approval is expected in the coming weeks.

Indifference to Fascism Is Not a Thing I had a post go viral on Bluesky recently. At least, viral for me. When I left Twitter (which you should definitely do) for Bluesky (which you should do if you want), I had it in my mind that I would use Bluesky solely for heavy metal. Talking about albums I love, getting and giving recommendations, keeping track of tours and album releases.

You don’t get to be neutral about fascism. Indifference is permission. If you have privilege, use it. If you’re antifascist, say it out loud. Silence is not safety.

Slay Weekly February 23, 2026 Listen on Spotify Pittsburgh really said, “Oh, you thought it was spring? That’s adorable.” Friday: 60 degrees.Saturday: sunglasses, iced coffee, delusions.Sunday: snow. Again. We were emotionally prepared to put on crop tops. We were spiritually ready for short shorts. We were mentally drafting outdoor brunch captions. And then winter came back like an ex who saw you glowing and got insecure.

We got fake spring. We got real winter. We got emotionally manipulated by 60 degrees and clear skies. And yet? We’re still here. Layered. Slightly dramatic. Fully moisturized. Talk soon.