Keisha Wells of Cleveland is 14th Trans Person Killed in 2018

Just hours after writing about Cathalina Christina James’ homicide in Jacksonville, FL comes word of another sister whose life was taken. 58 year old Keisha Wells of Cleveland was found dead on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland early in the morning of Sunday, June 24. Please note that the primary source uses Keisha’s deadname as does […]

Cathalina Christina James is 13th Trans Person Murdered in 2018

Cathalina Christina James

24-year-old Cathalina Christina James was a Black trans woman from Sumter, South Carolina. On Sunday, June 24, she became the 13th trans person murdered this year in the United States.  More at Transgriot.  Cathalina was found shot dead at the Quality Inn and Suites located in the 8300 block of Dix Ellis Trail on Sunday […]

Brian, 32, is Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer in Westmoreland County #AMPLIFY

Name: Brian Kleber Age:  32 County of Residence:  Westmoreland County Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs How do you describe your identity? Trans nonbinary masculine presenting queer sexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I originally came out as a cis-gender lesbian because I didn’t have the words for what I was feeling […]

Madi Scull, 20, Identifies as a Nonbinary, Asexual Lesbian #AMPLIFY

Name:  Madi Scull Age: 20 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Nonbinary asexual lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Coming out experiences are hard to describe because it is never just one experience. It’s a series of interactions that you have to have with […]

#AMPLIFY Receives $4,000 Grant for Rural Outreach in Southwestern PA

We are very excited to announce that #AMPLIFY has been awarded $4000 by the Three Rivers Community Foundation to support outreach and visibility throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our plans include teaming up with local partners in the following counties to organize individual outreach events throughout the rest of 2018: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, […]

Lange, 41, is a Queer Single-Parent in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Mt. Lebanon Queer Single Mother

Name: Lange Age: 41 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity?  Queer Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I first came out to my friends and family as bisexual between the ages of 13 and 15. I can’t say there was a whole lot of […]

Mercer County Trans Woman, Claire Wolfever, Sentenced 18-40 Years

Claire Wolfever

Claire Wolfever was 22 years old and working at the Wal-Mart in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. Hermitage is a small town in Mercer County, between Erie and Pittsburgh. When she disclosed her gender identity to her coworkers, she claims they harassed and threatened her. She filed a complaint with the company, but felt threatened enough to steal […]

Hansen, 20, is an Unapologetic Queer Filmmaker #AMPLIFY

Queer Fox Chapel

  Name:  Hansen Bursic Age: 20 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, Living part-time in Philadelphia to attend Temple University Pronouns: he/him/his How do you describe your identity? Unapologetic Queer Filmmaker Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My mother discovered my sexuality after I unsuccessfully lied about an event I was going […]

Queer History in Pgh Media: 1949 Sex Crimes Series in the Post-Gazette

In March 1949, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a multi-part series exploring ‘sex crimes’ and the people who commit them. This series was tied to the establishment of a Pittsburgh Morals Squad and the introduction of new legislation to respond to sex crimes. And the series was notably published a year after the Kinsey 1948 report […]

Kyle, 22, is a Bisexual, Vegetarian from Crawford County #AMPLIFY

crawford county bisexual

  Name:  Kyle Age:  22 County of Residence: Born and raised in Crawford County in Conneaut Lake and Linesville PA, near the Ohio border. Went to Penn State Erie, the Behrend College. Have since become familiar with much of PA Pronouns: He / him / his or Zee / Zem / zer How do you describe your identity? Caucasian, […]