Pride Edition

where community mixes together

EVENT GALLERY

GET TO KNOW US

COMMUNITY STANDING TOGETHER

A lot of people are feeling anxious.they're feeling like they need to do something, to march or scream or just find a place to commiserate…

Isolation is a terrible thing, while most of us live online and have Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and we use these platforms to like minded souls, we long for a personal connection to express our feelings. If covid taught us anything it's that we crave connection and the ability to express in real time.

In the early days of the AIDS crisis the community gathered around anger, fear and survival. 40 years later we are back here again … feeling the same outrage and anxiety, and need to justify who we are.

With over 500 anti LGBTQ+ bills on the dockets across the country, we are feeling targeted and used as social agenda talking points. Countless Anti Trans, Anti drag bills put our most visual and vocal brothers and sisters at risk.

StayenGAYged was hatched to be the antidote to isolation and anxiety. A place to see Drag and advocacy coming together to motivate and amplify our communities need to be vocal, be angry, be heard…

Join us, and channel what you're feeling into something meaningful and powerful. We may not overturn the world but we can overturn what we do about it.

Bebe Beretta, Emerson Aniceto and James Eidel.

Emerson s a passionate advocate for cancer awareness, specializing in the promotion of inclusivity and support for marginalized communities affected by breast and prostate cancer. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by these communities, he works tirelessly to raise awareness and provide resources that empower individuals to navigate their cancer journeys with resilience and hope.

As an artist, Emerson uses creative expression as a powerful tool for storytelling and healing. Their artwork reflects personal narratives and collective experiences, inviting viewers to engage in meaningful conversations about cancer and its impact on diverse communities. By transforming pain into art, Emerson not only fosters dialogue but also creates safe spaces where individuals can share their stories and find solace in shared experiences.

In addition to their artistic endeavors, Emerson leads workshops and exhibitions that bring together people from various backgrounds to learn about cancer awareness and advocacy. These events serve as platforms for education and community engagement, encouraging participants to embrace their voices and advocate for change.

Emerson is also committed to building supportive networks within marginalized communities, recognizing that access to resources and information can be a barrier for many. By partnering with local organizations and health professionals, Emerson ensures that individuals facing cancer have the support they need, fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity among those impacted by the disease.

Through their multifaceted approach—combining art, education, and community support—Emerson continues to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals affected by breast and prostate cancer. Their unwavering dedication to inclusivity and empowerment helps to shine a light on important issues while fostering hope and resilience in the fight against cancer.

EMERSON ANICETO

BEBE BERETTA

Born at West Penn Hospital and raised in Butler, Bebe Beretta has always been a Pittsburgh local. The name being a callback to her origins of guns, cars and classic rock, Bebe started local drag in 2011 at There Ultra Lounge, a regular constant (and occasional winner) of Kierra Darshell's Drag Search contest.

Having spent 2 years living out of her car in her drag infancy, Bebe eventually joined up with the regular performers of the Blue Moon, as well as other new queens and eventually landed in Lawrenceville, finally unpacking her car to a cluttered life of messy art gallery shows and underground/dive bar trash drag.

15 years of performance later, and having since wiped the blood (both real and fake) from her Pleasers, Bebe prefers a bit of polish and intention while summoning a slightly unstable essence in her drag style nowadays, finding inspiration in the Angry Princess archetypes from pop culture. Not to be confused for a non-alternative queen, Bebe focuses on encouraging the outsiders and those with messy hands but an earnest heart in the community, having known and lived through poverty, trauma and discrimination.

There are so many different versions of me that it's often overwhelming to recollect. I've been a Designer, a Director, a Developer but always a Dreamer. It seems that every decade whether consciously decided or directed by the universe, my career paths have changed from one discipline to the next, each providing another side to the amorphous shape of my life.

A decade as a corporate director, shaping the marketing and branding of the nation's largest fortune 500 retailers. A decade of development in Los Angeles created some of the cities most notoriously attended social clubs, lounges and restaurants. A decade designing film projects, a rich arch of projects ending on an Oscar win for my department's contributions. And now, I start a brand new decade of Dedication to my community.

After 4 years of dedication to Pittsburgh's LGBTQ+ community helping to reinvigorate and rebrand Art for Change into one of the cities most vital queer events, and after designing and opening the state only free Trans and Queer Gym safe space, I partnered and launched the country’s only LGBTQ+ All Drag super PAC: Drag PAC. We launched in 2024, attended the DNC, sold out events and featured the talents of the nation's leading names in Drag. In a year's time we outpaced and out performed the largest names and voices in LGBTQ+ advocacy and set a new engagement precedence for getting out the vote. We continue to push and move the dial on training, education and event models that promote the issues that affect the queer community as we look to meet the challenge of the 2026 midterms.

Now it's all about local activism and advocacy. With talented partners Emerson Aniceto and Bebe Beretta, I look to move the dial on grassroots engagement and participation, shaping the political outcomes of the region and the country. Not since the AIDS crisis of the 80’s has the LGBTQ+ community seen such a concerted effort to dismantle and erase the accomplishments and history of our community. With this event model we hope to galvanize support and promote our efforts to build a stronger and sustainable queer community.

JAMES EIDEL

KNOW OUR SUPPORTERS