First Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is Not a Cultural Minority in Pittsburgh

Reverend Eric Andrae

  A recent letter to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Reverend Eric Andrae of First Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how religious liberty protects the community. Reverend Andrae suggests that business owners should be allowed to refuse service when “morals and sexual behaviors” are part of the sales transaction. Or should an […]

Municipal Government and Publicly Out LGBTQ Employees

Does it matter if local and regional government employers hire and appoint openly LGBTQ people to leadership roles? This question has launched many a Facebook chats, unleashing discussions on everything from outing people to privacy concerns to dislike of being labeled as “the gay <insert title>.” These are valid points to consider. In my mind, […]

Another QTPOC Murder Underscores Epidemic of Violence

Transgender Candle

I saw a tweet when I slipped into my car after some grocery shopping. It was impossible, I thought to myself, that another transgender sibling was dead. Not again. I just wrote about two trans sisters who had been murdered as well as the murder of a lesbian and the death of a 51 year […]

Ty Underwood Shot in Texas, 2nd Trans Woman of Color Murdered in 2015

Ty Underwood

Even more tragic news to share – this time 24 year-old Ty Underwood, a trans woman of color, was found shot to death Monday morning in Tyler, Texas. A woman called 911 saying a car had hit a telephone pole and that her children heard gunshots. Underwood’s roommate believes Underwood was targeted because she is […]

Interesting Play This Weekend at Off The Wall Theater

Underneath the Lintle

UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL January 29, 30 & 31, 2015 @ 8:00 pm Written by: Glen Berger Directed by: Cameron Knight and Randy Kovitz With: Randy Kovitz (The Librarian) Originally staged in Pittsburgh by 12 Peers Theater  Underneath The Lintel is continuing it’s Pittsburgh run in off the WALL’s Repertory program. An unnamed Dutch librarian — whom […]

Candra Keels, 20 Year Old Queer Woman of Color, Murdered in Domestic Dispute

Candra Keels

This morning, the family of 20-year-old Candra Keels of Rochester, NY are burying their loved one who was murdered allegedly at the hands of her girlfriend. Officers responded to 15 Denver Street about 3 A.M. for the report of a fight. There they found Candra Keels with a stab wound to her torso area. Keels […]

UPDATED: Trans Woman of Color Lamia Beard Murdered in Norfolk

Lamia Beard

Lamia Beard was just 30 years old. Her body was found Saturday morning, January 17. Her life and death were shown further disregard by police & media misgendering as well as victim blaming. From The Virginian Pilot: According to a news release, Beard was found shortly before 4 a.m. in the 700 block of E. […]

The Housewife Who Wears Pajamas Under Her Coat

The Housewife Who Wears Pajamas Under Her Coat

What are the things you need to do within 30 minutes of waking up to ensure your day gets off on the right foot? What happened the last time you didn’t do one of these things? Forgive me, but I need something a bit light for a topic. This seems well-suited a blog prompt. As […]

The Legacy of Cathy Cairns

Cathy Cairns

One year ago today, Cathy Cairns departed this life with her best friend at her side and the comfort of knowing her final wishes had been filled. Among those wishes was a desire to be buried with her parents – a wish you helped to fulfill with thousands of dollars in donations. As we wound […]

The Full Obituary of Madeleine Hershey

Madeleine Hershey (1963 – 2015)

Yesterday, I read about the death of a member of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community. Her name was Madeleine Hershey and she was 51 years old. I knew her only very casually, but I was struck by her family’s decision to self-publish her obituary.  This is what I read: Below is Madeleine’s obituary and information about celebrations […]