Nino Fortson, 36, is 10th Trans Person Murdered in 2018 #RIP

Nino Fortson was a 36-year-old Black trans man living in Atlanta. Today, we learn he is the 10th transgender neighbor lost to a violent death in 2018. From Monica Roberts at Transgriot: [He] was shot multiple times during an argument early in the morning of May 13 at the corner of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and […]

Mahogany LaPiranHa, 38, is a 6‘4“ androgynous African-American badass #AMPLIFY

Mahogany LaPirhana

  Name: Mahogany LaPiranHa Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: All of them How do you describe your identity? ShapeShifter, I am transgendered and I am in the process of going through a male to female transgender transition! However I do not intend on getting bottom surgery! So to some that may look at the situation ; they may […]

Karla Patricia Pavon-Flores is the 9th Trans Person Killed in 2018 UPDATED

On Wednesday May 9, police discovered Karla Patricia Flores-Pavon had been choked to death. in her North Dallas apartment. Karla’s name has been alternately spelled Carla by police reports documenting her death. Karla was 26 years old, just beginning her life. Blogger Monica Roberts shared this: Karla is the 9th person we have lost to […]

Rain, 42, is a Gay Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Name: Rain Age: 42 County of Residence: Allegheny, previously Washington County. Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity?  i am gay Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? my mother has not spoken to me for almost 20 years as a result, though she has known since i was 13. my […]

He’s a cisgender polyamorous bisexual guy, but nobody asks #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name:  Just another lawyer Age:  38 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: He/His How do you describe your identity? I generally don’t. It’s the advantage to presenting the way I do: I don’t have to describe anything. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  To a large degree, I never have. See […]

Lakeview School District in Mercer County Implements Trans Inclusive Student Policies

Lakeview School District in Mercer County serves about 1200 students in a district with a population of 8,600 people.  Mercer County is in Northwestern Pennsylvania, about 60 miles to Erie and another 60 miles to Pittsburgh. The district is comprised of Fairview Township, Jackson Center Borough, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Mill Creek Township, New Lebanon […]

Should (or could) this blog be more lesbian?

Earlier today, someone left a comment on an AMPLIFY post. I typically don’t allow comments on those posts because of the archival nature of the project. This comment was actually unrelated to the project so I decided it would be more appropriate to move to another place on the blog – this post. Ann Brooks […]

Joseph, 28, is a HIV+ queer and gay man in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

A HIV+ queer and gay man Pittsburgh

  Name: Joseph Onstott Age:  28 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: he/him/his they/their How do you describe your identity? A HIV+ queer and gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I feel like straight people have this idea in their head that it’s an overnight process when it is anything […]

Winter, 18, Identifies as a Genderquestioning Bisexual Person #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name: Winter Age:  18 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I am a genderquestioning bisexual. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I’m not fully out. I only came out two years ago to my friends and a few family members. My mom, stepdad, […]

Suspect Identified in Shooting Death of Pittsburgh Native, Black Trans Woman Phylicia Mitchell

Phylicia Coulson Brown

On February 24, a Pittsburgh native was shot to death in broad daylight outside her Cleveland residence. Her name was Phylicia Mitchell and she was a Black trans woman who had relocated to Cleveland after growing up on Pittsburgh’s Northside. She was 46. Tonight comes word that Cleveland police have identified a suspect in her […]