Pennsylvania Republicans Recycle Trans Sports Ban for Election Season Late Friday afternoon, when most people were logging off for the weekend, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans quietly introduced Senate Bill 1293. There was no accompanying memo, no new policy argument, and no real warning. What they introduced instead was something much more familiar: a recycled attack. SB1293 is not new legislation. It is, word-for-word, the same bill as Senate Bill 9…

Copy. Paste. Campaign. PA Republicans reintroduced a trans sports ban on Friday that already passed the Senate in 2025. They didn’t change the bill. They changed the timing. Primary election is May 19. This is campaign content, not governance.

Christian John Wikane’s ‘A Night at the Disco’ explores disco music’s role in LGBTQ+ history In the summer of 1979, 16-year-old French Canadian singer France Joli stepped onto a stage on Fire Island as a last-minute replacement for Donna Summer. She had no idea what she was walking into. The crowd was filled with thousands of gay men gathered for a legendary beach concert known as Beach '79, and Joli was about to perform her debut single, "Come to Me," for the very first time in the United States.

Disco wasn’t just music. It was queer resistance in heels, sweat, and basslines. Before algorithms, we decided what hit. “A Night at the Disco” honors the dance floors that built everything.

Faces & Places: Bright Young People Dance Party at Velum Fementation Allies for Health + Wellbeing hosted its annual Bright Young People Dance Party at Velum Fermentation in the South Side on Friday night. With DJs Himboza, Formosa, and HUNY XO spinning, the space filled with movement, connection, and intention, honoring a new class of changemakers while raising energy on the dance floor. The event spotlighted Allies’ 2026 class of Bright Young People honorees, 12 individuals shaping the city through art, advocacy, healthcare, and community care, proving that the future of Pittsburgh is bright, bold, and unapologetically queer.

Bright and bold! Allies for Health + Wellbeing lit up Velum Fermentation with their Bright Young People Dance Party, celebrating 12 changemakers shaping Pittsburgh’s future. Check out all the pics!

Doctors can refuse to treat LGBTQ+ patients in several states. These religious exemption laws lead to drops in HIV testing An increasing number of U.S. states have passed laws that allow health care providers – including doctors, nurses and pharmacists – to refuse to treat patients based on their personal or religious beliefs. While these conscientious objection laws have long existed for issues such as abortion, their effects on LGBTQ+ people have not been well studied. As of April 2026, …

Doctors can legally refuse LGBTQ+ patients in 11 states and it’s already costing lives. New research shows a 28% drop in HIV testing and worsening health outcomes. This is what discrimination looks like in policy.

Trans TikToker Zaya Perysian on suing Trump and why visibility matters
 At 23, Zaya Perysian has brand deals, 5 million TikTok followers and an active lawsuit against the president of the United States. She is suing the Trump administration over her passport’s gender marker — a fight that grew out of the same TikTok presence where she shares unfiltered transition updates, biting political commentary and everyday moments, from surgery recovery to silk presses at Supercuts.

5M followers. One lawsuit against the president. Zaya Perysian is proudly loud, visible, and not backing down.

Trans Artist Esai Aliquo Finds Her Voice in Pittsburgh’s Jazz Legacy with Family at Her Side Esai Aliquo and her grandfather, Pittsburgh Jazz Legend Don Aliquo, Sr., are making music together on a new EP, “Inherited Groove.” On Friday, May 8, the EP will have a Release Party at 753 E. Warrington Avenue, in Pittsburgh. The EP will contain four jazz standards and two original songs, “You’re Thinking About Me!” and “The First Time.” “I started writing poetry at a young age, around thirteen years old,” Esai, a former CAPA student, said.

Three generations. One groove. Trans artist Esai Aliquo teams up with her grandfather for "Inherited Groove," a debut EP rooted in jazz, family, and queer creative community.

3 queer headlines you might’ve missed:

A trans-led resource center opens in downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Black Pride enters a new era. Local arts leadership brings Pride (and millions) to the region.

More on qburgh.com

Legendary Lucky’s Bartender Dana Brown has Died Pittsburgh lost a legend yesterday. Dana Brown, longtime bartender at Lucky’s (Real Luck Cafe), was the kind of person who didn’t just work behind the bar. She, in many ways, was the bar. The stories, the laughter, the side-eyes, the chosen family that formed night after night under dim lights and cheap beer, Dana held all of it together.

Pittsburgh lost a legend. From 1970s nightlife to decades at Lucky’s, Dana Brown helped shape queer Pittsburgh. Rest in power, Dana.

Pittsburgh Pride Faces Challenges as Corporate Sponsors Pull Back Pittsburgh’s annual Pride parade and festival is less than three months away, but miles from its funding goal as corporations step back from donating. Without enough money, organizers warn they will have to make big cuts. Pittsburgh Pride is scheduled for June 5-7 in Allegheny Commons Park West, located on the city’s North Side. The parade will take place on…

Pittsburgh Pride is facing a major funding gap as corporate sponsors pull back. Organizers warn cuts to performances, programming, and event services may be coming.

How gender-affirming care is becoming a political test for top medical groups This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler of The 19th. The largest medical association in the United States supports gender-affirming care — a stance it has reiterated in different ways over the last 10 years. But as Republicans press leading medical organizations on health care for transgender youth, the American Medical Association (AMA) is the latest group caught between political rhetoric and the complex realities of specialized care that few people receive.

The country’s largest organization representing doctors is being pressed by Republican attorneys general on health care for trans youth.

Slay Weekly April 6, 2026 advertisement Listen on Spotify Okay. Deep breath. It’s April. Which means we are officially entering the part of the year where we decide it’s spring, regardless of what the weather is doing. Rain? Wind? 38 degrees at night for no reason? Irrelevant. We’re committing to the bit. This is your soft reset. Not a full glow-up. Not a “new you.” Just… a gentle shift.

April = soft reset energy. This week’s Slay Weekly: Pittsburgh Black Pride’s next chapter, a new Stonewall space, and reminders that growth doesn’t have to be perfect.

Jessie Ware on bigger vocals, queer fans who lift her up and the joy of wigs For three albums, Jessie Ware has offered an escape hatch: a shimmering, 1970s-inspired fantasy, far removed from the world we live in. But with “Superbloom,” the likely closing chapter of a trilogy, Ware tries something trickier: She’s letting real life in. As she talks to me about that — about motherhood, about “just getting that balance right” — a knock interrupts us.

FedEx interruptions. Roman goddesses. Sauna raves. Just another day in the world of Jessie Ware! We talked queer fans, big vocals and living your most glamorous truth.

Seven Fingers and a Six Pack: Is AI Selling Queer Parties? Fists clenched, nipples mirrored like identical twins — their bodies are practically carbon copies. You could call them “boyfriend twins” or, if you’re feeling cheeky, “doppelbangers.” Or maybe it’s just AI. Because the next time you see an ad for your favorite gay club or bathhouse, that perfect pair might not even be real. I recently spotted this kind of questionable couple on Instagram, posted by Body Zone, the longstanding Detroit bathhouse.

That “hot daddy” in your party flyer? Babe… he might not exist. AI is flooding queer nightlife promos and flattening our culture in the process. Let’s talk about it.

John Cameron Mitchell is taking ‘Hedwig’ back on tour It’s been 25 years since that 2001 Sundance Film Festival where John Cameron Mitchell’s film adaptation of his hit stage musical, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” wowed audiences and began its new life…

Hedwig is going back on tour (!!), Gillian Anderson is entering her queer horror era, and Alexander the Great is getting the gay Netflix treatment. Oh, and Julia Fox is falling in love in a climate apocalypse. qburgh.com/hedwig-back-...

America Needs Saving from Republicans, not Transgender People There are plenty of things that America needs saving from. Things like fascism, war (currently with Iran, but who knows where the whims of our dear leader will have us bombing next), skyrocketing health care costs, environmental pollutants, gun violence, roving armed gangs kidnapping and killing people on our streets (a.k.a. ICE), voter suppression, racism and its accompanying violence (shout out to ICE), not to mention Trump and his administration of incompetents including, but not limited to, Pete "War Boner" Hegseth, Stephen "Bodies Buried in my Backyard" Miller, Pam "Stephen Miller is My Boss" Bondi, Marco "International Shame is My Kink" Rubio, and RFK "Measles are Actually Good" Jr.

America doesn’t need “saving” from trans people; it needs saving from fascism, voter suppression, and the politicians pushing both.

Not Every Rash is Harmless. TMVII, Explained. 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. You may have seen recent reports about an increase in cases of Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII), a strain of ringworm that spreads through close skin-to-skin contact and has been reported primarily among men who have sex with men.

Not every rash is harmless. TMVII, a sexually transmissible fungal infection, is showing up in the U.S. and often misdiagnosed. If something looks off, get it checked. No shame, just care.

“The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram: The Man Who Stared Down World War II in the Name of Love” by Ethelene Whitmire You couldn’t escape it. When you fell in love, that was it: you were there for good. Leaving your amour’s side was unthinkable, turning away was impossible. You’d do anything for that person you loved – even, as in the new biography, “The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram” by Ethelene Whitmire, you’d escape toward danger. On August 28, 1938, Reed Peggram boarded a ship from Hoboken, New Jersey, hoping to “become a proper gentleman” and fulfill his dreams.

Love. War. Defiance. Reed Peggram didn’t just fall in love, he risked everything to stay in it, even as World War II closed in. The new biography dives into a Black queer intellectual who chose danger over separation.

A New Generation of Leadership Guides Pittsburgh Black Pride Into Its Next Chapter Pittsburgh Black Pride is entering a new era of leadership with the appointment of a new board of directors, signaling a generational shift for one of the region’s longest-running Black LGBTQ+ organizations. The newly appointed board includes Tausha Bonner, Michelle Flewellen, Jasmine Strother, Rachelle Harvey, and Dawn Martin, an emerging group of leaders stepping forward to help guide the organization’s future.

New leadership. New energy. Same legacy. Pittsburgh Black Pride names a new generation of board members as it heads into its 31st year.

What’s Queer and Going on in April April in Pittsburgh is absolutely bursting at the seams with queer possibility, and it feels like a love letter to the many ways our community gathers, resists, celebrates, and just exists. From sapphic dance parties and drag spectacles to reading groups, crafting circles, kink education, and trans-centered skillshares, this month’s calendar is giving us joy, care, chaos, and connection. Whether you’re looking to turn up at a dance floor, sit quietly at a queer book club, or find your people at a support group or open mic, April is stacked with opportunities to plug into the vibrant, ever-evolving ecosystem of LGBTQ+ life across the city.

April in Pittsburgh is bursting. From drag shows & dance parties to book clubs, skillshares & mutual aid, there’s something for every flavor of LGBTQ+ life. Double-book your life, we support it.

SisTers PGH Opens Stonewall Inn Pittsburgh on Trans Day of Visibility SisTers PGH marked Trans Day of Visibility with the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Stonewall Inn Pittsburgh, a new trans-led drop-in and resource center located at 211 Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh. The opening represents a major expansion of the organization’s services after more than a decade of advocacy and direct support for transgender and gender-expansive people across the region.

SisTers PGH marked Trans Day of Visibility with the opening of the Stonewall Inn Pittsburgh, a new trans-led drop-in center offering food, showers, clothing, and support services in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Slay Weekly March 30, 2026 Listen on Spotify Good morning, Pittsburgh. Spring is flirting, but they're not committing. Spring is here… but like… are they though? One day it’s 65 and sunny and you’re outside like “this is my personality now,” and the next day it’s 42 with wind and you’re digging your winter coat out of the emotional grave you just buried it in.

This week’s Slay Weekly: Kaydence McQueen, an all-queer Spring Awakening, Trans Day of Visibility events, and a reminder that Pittsburgh shows up.

City must pay $10K to dog walker who alleged assault, homophobic slur Pittsburgh’s Human Relations Commission today announced that it found in favor of a dog walker who accused a Department of Public Works (DPW) employee of using a homophobic slur, awarding the complainant $10,000 and ordering improved training in the department. The case was brought by Michelle Cook, of Sewickley, who said a parks maintenance manager made a reference to her perceived sexual orientation and punched her during a dispute over whether she could walk 12 dogs on a Highland Park hockey court.

The City of Pittsburgh must pay $10,000 to a dog walker after the City’s Human Relations Commission found a Public Works employee used a homophobic slur and committed assault. It also mandates new staff training.

Did you miss these queer headlines this week? This is your BI weekly Queer News Update!

Free legal support is coming to Pittsburgh with the Caravan of Hope. A local school district debates who gets to challenge LGBTQ+ books. Allies award honors leadership in expanding healthcare access.

Westmoreland Commissioners Use ‘Neutrality’ to Cover Exclusion Westmoreland County commissioners want you to believe they’re being “neutral.” Neutral about queer people. Neutral about trans lives. Neutral about whether LGBTQ+ residents deserve even the most basic symbolic recognition. Let’s be honest. There is nothing neutral about refusing to acknowledge a marginalized community while enthusiastically handing out proclamations for everything else under the sun. At their latest public meeting, Westmoreland County commissioners…

Westmoreland County commissioners honored a dog but refused to recognize LGBTQ+ residents. They call it “neutrality.” We call it exclusion.

Pennsylvania House Moves to Remove Ban on Same-Sex Marriage from State Law The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has once again voted to remove outdated language from state law that defines marriage as between “one man and one woman,” advancing a bill that seeks to align Pennsylvania statutes with federal protections for same-sex couples. In a 127–72 vote on March 25, lawmakers approved legislation introduced by State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta that would repeal the state’s unenforceable same-sex marriage ban.

The PA House voted to strike outdated anti–same-sex marriage language from state law. The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled state senate, where it faces an uncertain fate.

Kaydence McQueen Is Turning Mondays Into a Movement at P Town Going from studying and styling fashion in New York City to hosting P Town’s Monday Night Fever drag show may seem like a big change for many. But, for Monday’s newest host, Kaydence McQueen, it’s a dream come true. Growing up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and then moving out to New York City for school was the kickoff to becoming who Kaydence McQueen is today.

Kaydence McQueen is turning Mondays into a movement. From Altoona roots to queer nightlife royalty, she’s building community, visibility, and joy at P Town on her own terms.

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…

40+ Newsrooms, One Region: Why Pittsburgh’s Local Media Fight Is a Queer Issue qburgh.com/40-newsrooms/

Pittsburgh Pride Seeks Community Nominations for 2026 Pride Parade Grand Marshal Pittsburgh Pride is officially calling on the community to help choose a local legend. Nominations are now open for the 2026 Pittsburgh Pride Parade Grand Marshal, an honor reserved for someone deeply embedded in and committed to the region’s LGBTQ+ community. This isn’t about celebrity status; it’s about impact, care, and the everyday work of building queer life in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pride is looking for its 2026 Grand Marshal. Know someone who’s BEEN doing the work for our LGBTQ+ community? Now’s the time to give them their flowers. Nominate them to lead the Pride parade on June 7!

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 globa…

FIERCE in Pittsburgh: Ajamu X Captures the Beauty and Power of Black Queer Life qburgh.com/fierce-pitts...

Pittsburgh LGBTQ bowling tournament returns this month! Brad Dunlap is booked and busy building community. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiVV...