Here’s Five More Ways Jackie Evancho Can Support Trans Youth Right Now

Jackie Juliette Evancho

So this is where we are. Singer Jackie Evancho performed at the Inauguration of Donald Trump in spite of repeated warnings about the danger he posed to the transgender community, including mine. She did it anyway. This week, President Trump revoked Title IX guidelines that protected transgender children in schools from sex based discrimination. It […]

Keke Collier, 24 of Chicago, is 4th Trans Woman of Color Murdered in 2017

Keke Collier also known as Tiara Richmond was a 24 years old black trans woman living in Chicago. She studied medical assistance in college and worked at Hollister. She loved her mother and was grieving her death. She played Bubblewitch and had many friends. She was also the 4th trans woman of color to be […]

Bi and Demi, Kristen Wants You to Get Uncomfortable With Your Privilege #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Describe your geographical community. Suburban. East of Pgh. Not especially QUILTBAG friendly, no. I wouldn’t talk about going to Pride around here, in Public. I grew up in Pgh, and lived through the ’70s where my mom would party at Pegasus with my godfather and his partner. I lived through the ’80s where my godfather went to too many funerals. I’ve seen the changes, but it still feels like not enough. I visit Canada regularly and it’s just… normal, there, to see businesses advertising to Same-sex couples. To see those couples represent an average family, because they do, numerically.

Describe your local or regional LGBTQ community. I have a fairly good group of friends and colleagues, but my home area is… Not great and I’ve had some negative experiences with the Pgh community being very white, very cis, very class privileged, very LG dominated and very trans exclusionist. I may be cis, but I’m not going to sit by and ignore that. It’s a little… Lonely. I commute into the city, but coming back in isn’t always easy just to socialize and I’m not in my 20s, clubbing is just not my thing.

Monday Candlelight Vigil for Dakota James; Second Man David Carter Also Missing

Vigil for Dakota James

If you are able to be present for Dakota’s family at this Monday evening vigil, please do so. I also ask that you keep your thoughts on another local man missing since January 18, 2017. His name is David Carter. He was last seen at the Homestead Grays Bridge around 4:30 PM and it is […]

Caiolin, 56, is Just Another Woman Who Happens To Be Trans #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Transgender Women

Name: Caiolin Age: 56 County of Residence: Allegheny County Preferred Pronouns: She, her How do you describe your identity?  Female, heterosexual, white, Irish German atheist. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I am a trans-woman that transitioned after 30 years of marriage and two children. I had fooled myself for […]

JoJo Striker is Third Trans Woman of Color Murdered in 2017

JoJo Striker

She was 23 years old, a black trans woman and her body was discovered in an abandoned garage on February 8 in her hometown of Toledo. It took over a week for her death and true identity to be brough to light because of the trifecta of reporting on this epidemic – misgendering, dead naming […]

Regina, 33, Finds Comfort in Lesbian Ambiguity #AMPLIFY

Lesbian South Hills Pittsburgh

I came out to my mom when I was 16. She is a compassionate and reasonably progressive person but I come from a fundamentalist Christian family. I really didn’t know how it would go.

I wrote out what I planned to say and rehearsed my rebuttals. When I finally got up the nerve all of those words drained from my mind and I simply said, “I’m gay. ” My mom responded just as simply with, “I know.”

I won’t say I didn’t run into any challenges as an openly gay high school student or since (coming out is constant) but I have the benefit of an extremely supportive family, church community, and group of friends. That gives me a lot of strength when folks aren’t so kind.

Megan, 22, is a Bisexual Woman Using Her Voice To Grow Her Community #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Indiana County

Name: Megan Age: 22 County of Residence: Allegheny County, formerly Indiana County Preferred Pronouns: Miss How do you describe your identity? Female, white, bisexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I haven’t fully come out to my family yet because I grew up being told that it wasn’t ok to be […]

Ally, 20, Describes Her Fluid Sexual Orientation #AMPLIFY

Lawrence County

Name:  Ally Age: 20 County of Residence: Lawrence County. My parents house is in Lawrence county but I currently live in Allegheny for school with my girlfriend. Preferred Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? That’s a good question. I do identify as a white female, but as for sexual orientation I don’t know. I don’t like to label […]

Maddy, 23, is Queer and Gender Nonconforming in Allegheny County #AMPLIFY

Allegheny nonbinary

Name:  Maddy Age: 23 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She/her and they/their How do you describe your identity? I identify predominantly as a queer woman and as gender non conforming. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I remember coming out as an extremely difficult experience. I really […]