Mourning the Murder of Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum, 32, Los Angeles

Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum

Her name was Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum. She was also known as Kourtney Yochum. She was 32 years old. She had two dogs. She also happened to be a trans woman of color. And now she is dead, after a former partner shot her in the afternoon of Tuesday, March 22, in Los Angeles near her home. […]

16 Year Old GenderFluid Iowa Teen Shot to Death

Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson

Today, I learned of the March 2 murder by gunshot of 16 year old Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson, a gender-fluid teen living in an Iowa suburb. From The Advocate: Police found Johnson after responding to calls from neighbors, who said that they heard “five to six” gunshots fired in the area, reports The Hawk Eye. Covered with […]

The Tragic Killing of Jasmine Sierra, 52, TWOC from Bakersfield CA

Jasmine Sierra Trans

A complicated tragic story involving the death of a trans woman of color in Bakersfield, California. From The Advocate: Police found the body of Jasmine Sierra, a transgender woman of color, on January 22 in an apartment on the 1000 block of Monterey Street, according to a report from local TV station KBAK. Police say […]

The Art of Voting

Voter Registration Pennsylvania

Donald Trump. Does it make you roll your eyes, sigh or exhale slowly to read that name? Does your mind immediately fly to the realities of racism and anger among the American working and middle class? Are you afraid? Just a little bit afraid that he’ll be the Republican nominee and one election away from […]

The Day I Used the Men’s Bathroom

unisex bathroom pittsburgh

Today, I attended a conference with 400 other women at a local hotel. The hotel converted the men’s room closet to the conference space into a temporary uni-sex bathroom. They had a sign informing bathroom visitors of the change and directing men who didn’t want to use a uni-sex bathroom to a men’s only bathroom […]

The Return of #AMPLIFY

  We’ve been on a brief hiatus, but next week publication of the #AMPLIFY posts resumes. We continue to need your contributions – just takes about 30 minutes to complete the Q&A.  Soon we’ll be able to start audio recording interviews. All because … Funding for the #Amplify LGBTQ Voices project was provided by The […]

TWOC Maya Young, 25, Fatally Stabbed in Philly

Maya Young Philadelphia

Terribly sad news from Philadelphia – Maya Young, a 25 year old trans woman of color, was stabbed to death Saturday February 20. Police have released no motive and do not have anyone in custody. Please note the cited media report uses her old name.  Misgendering and detailing Maya’s own criminal history – even though […]

Taking an #AMPLIFY Hiatus

AMPLIFY

It has been quite a few months – we’ve been invited to contribute to the Post-Gazette Forum section, working on the first issue of the AMPLIFY zine and exploring a stage play performance for Pride month. All exciting stuff, but also time consuming – that, plus fundraising for AMPLIFY has literally consumed most of my […]

Bobby, 50, Queer Trans Guy, White Anti-Racism Activist #AMPLIFY

Transgender Pittsburgh

Name: Bobby Age: 50 County of Residence: Allegheny County. Grew up in Venango County. College in Washington County. Lived in Beaver County (Allequippa) Lived in Westmoreland County (Latrobe) Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his How do you describe your identity? Queer Transguy  longterm Wilkinsburg resident. White anti-racism activist Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Early Spring 1983, my […]

Diane, 56, Is Asexual With Lesbian Leanings and a Writer #AMPLIFY

Asexual Flag

Name: Diane Age: 56 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she How do you describe your identity? I am asexual with lesbian leanings. I am white, never married and live with my sister. I also write GLBT romance novels. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Did not realize I had […]