About 

Aerin is an openly queer parent in the Fox Chapel Area School District. She and her family moved here from South Dakota in search of a welcoming and diverse community. Aerin is passionate about strengthening and nurturing that community for her children and the generations to come. 

I'm excited about Fox Chapel Pride because I want my grandkids to grow up in an inclusive and accepting environment.

Cara has lived in Aspinwall for almost 20 years and is from the Pittsburgh area.

She has had a strong tie to the LGBTQIA+ community since before she even realized that she was part of it 10ish years ago…… Lol

Todd is a proud LGBTQ+ graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School's class of 2004 (wow 20 years). He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ringlet, a new social app designed to help parents spend more time with their loved ones offline and in-person. He's also the Co-Chapter Head of Out in Tech Pittsburgh, a national non-profit with 50,000+ members dedicated to uniting the LGBTQ+ tech community. His family are longtime residents of O'Hara and he's the doting uncle of two soon-to-be FC students.  

A member of the LGBTQ+ community since 1991, Leslie is proud to have attended the historic "March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation" in Washington, D.C. in 1993. 

In her current job as Director of Development for Temple Sinai, a reform Jewish congregation in Squirrel Hill, Leslie provides leadership and coordination of all aspects of donor engagement, fundraising, and stewardship. Leslie's previous experience includes serving as Director of Development and a Grant Writer for Persad Center, a non-profit counseling center with the mission of meeting the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

An active resident of Aspinwall since 2019, she can frequently be spotted walking around the neighborhood with her rescue dog, Alfie.

Miles is a nonbinary and queer resident of Blawnox. Xe is a software engineer and a member of the local performing arts community. Miles hopes that events like this can help make growing up queer a little easier for the next generation. 

Tim and Joey are connected to the Fox Chapel Area through Tim’s employment as a Speech-Language Pathologist at O’Hara Elementary School. In addition to working with and supporting the needs of children within the FCASD, our connection to FC Pride in the Park is as local small business owners. We are the owners of Sleepy Hollow Handmade, Pittsburgh’s favorite LGBTQ-owned, vegan soap and bath care business! 

Clara is a freshman at Syracuse University and an Aspinwall resident. She’s committed to helping the community’s queer youth feel accepted and appreciated by their neighbors, and to connecting the student body with this event. Clara is a former member of the Fox Chapel Area High School Diversity Council, and has been involved with this club as well as Pride and the Park since her freshman year. On campus, she is a member of the Sapphic Magazine and hopes to join the university's Pride Union in the coming semester.  

I am a native Pittsburgher and a trans woman who is currently attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I denied who I was for many years because of religious and social stigma. I want my son to grow up in a different world where queer people are accepted as normal and loved for who they are. 

Tyler is currently a freshman.  They have helped with planning FC Pride in the Park since the first year.  Tyler's questions inspired their mom to start the event after they came out in 5th grade and asked, "Who else is like me?" and "Will the school do anything for Pride?" Tyler wants all LGBTQ+ and questioning kids to know they have a community of peers and allies who support them.  

Oliver is currently a student of Fox Chapel Area High School (Class of 2027). He is one of the club leaders for the school’s GSA and is also a member of the Diversity Council. As a young member of the LGBTQ+ community, being a part of activities and groups like this is something that matters to him. Oliver is also involved in the school’s theatre, orchestra, and choir. He has taken steps to improve these places’ inclusion of queer people.

The idea for FC Pride in the Park was inspired by a conversation I had in 2021 with my child, who is a member of the LGBTQ community. They wondered who else was in their community and if their school would do anything to celebrate Pride month. I wanted to create a space where members of the LGBTQIA+ community within the Fox Chapel Area could connect with each other and also know that they were welcomed and supported by allies throughout the community. The community's response has been overwhelming and I can't wait to gather again. 

Owner of Spark Books and mom of two, Adriene got involved with the inaugural FC Pride in the Park after hearing that kids weren’t being seen, supported and loved. She wanted to give a giant community hug to our LGBTQIA+ kids and families and to send the message of ‘We see you, we love you, we’re here for you and we’re going to not only support you but celebrate you.’ My kids, your kids, all kids deserve love and respect. If they are lacking those things at home or in the classroom, that responsibility falls on the shoulders of the adults around them in their community—in other words, all of us. 

I am proud to have been involved in the planning of FC Pride in the Park since its inception. As a transplant to Pittsburgh, I want to live in a place, and want my kids to grow in a place, where diversity is celebrated and self expression is welcomed. I want to contribute to today's youth feeling empowered to embrace love and joy, to challenge systems of oppression, and to create an inclusive community for themselves and others. I intend to continue to be part of the effort to change the way LGBTQIA+ individuals are received so that they are fully safe, accepted, and able to express their truest selves in this community and beyond.