S3 Ep.1 Jeff Freedman, inquisitive, community-oriented, resilient, dedicated, and QBurgh co-founder.
In this first episode of The Convos Season 3, host Will Halim interviews Jeff Freedman — co-creator of QBurgh [https://qburgh.com/], a Pittsburgh-area LGBTQ+ news and community platform — in a candid, wide-ranging conversation. They dive deep into Jeff’s life story: his upbringing in Pittsburgh, early experiences as a young gay man long before the internet era, and his first steps into LGBTQ+ community organization through sports.
Jeff shares personal memories from growing up without cable television in the 1960s, moving during the 1970s energy crisis, and working for Westinghouse before finding his path as an activist and community leader. A large portion of the talk focuses on the early gay softball league in the 1980s, the onset of the AIDS crisis and its stigma, and the evolution of public perception and health responses.
He also talks about his coming out journey, family reactions, and the nuanced meaning of identity and self-labeling. From there, the discussion broadens to terms and labels in today’s LGBTQ+ lexicon and how inclusive language can both help and confuse. Jeff discusses the size and visibility of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community, the importance of Pride events, and his long involvement — including leadership roles such as Pride Parade co-chair.
The conversation transitions into Jeff’s work in local media, the recent closure of City Paper, and the mission of the Pittsburgh Media Partnership to support fair, accurate reporting. Throughout, Jeff emphasizes the value of listening, community, and respectful dialogue — highlighting the evolution of media and identity as intertwined parts of modern life.
Drawing on his decades of activism and current leadership with QBurgh — a major LGBTQ+ news and resources outlet that has grown into a hub for community information and connection — Jeff provides both personal reflection and advocacy insight. QBurgh serves as a platform for news, resources, and community events for LGBTQ+ people in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania, helping fill a long-standing media gap and act as a “virtual community center.”
Some Highlights:
(04:08) Jeff’s background — Pittsburgh native, grew up in South Hills, moved during the 1970s; early life details setting stage for activism.
(09:30) Origins of Jeff’s LGBTQ community involvement — founding a gay softball league in the early 1980s and how that led to broader community engagement.
(12:17) Personal impact of the AIDS epidemic — stigma, loss of friends, and transformation in community perspective.
(17:24) Coming out journey — high school and college experiences, family reactions, and identity formation.
(36:43) Discussion on LGBTQ+ labels and pronouns — how language has evolved and Jeff’s perspective on identity terminology.
(48:28) LGBTQ+ visibility in Pittsburgh — community size, Pride events, and the lack of a centralized gay neighborhood in the city.
(51:53) Jeff’s long involvement with Pride — leadership roles including chair and parade co-chair, and efforts to build community celebration.
(54:56) Media work — Jeff comments on the closure of City Paper and his role in the Pittsburgh Media Partnership promoting fair, accountable reporting.
(1:01:16) Closing thoughts on bias, listening, identity, and growth — emphasizing learning, openness, and respectful communication.
This wide-ranging conversation explores identity, community, evolving language, media responsibility, and why visibility and empathy still matter. A powerful reflection on how far we’ve come — and what it still means to show up for one another.
