Black Trans Man Demarkis Stansberry, 30, Killed in Baton Rouge

Demarkis Stansberry

From The Advocate comes the tragic news of the murder of Demarkis Stansberry: Demarkis Stansberry, a 30-year-old black man of transgender experience, was fatally shot Saturday in Baton Rouge, La. Stansberry was shot in the head by 24-year-old Nicholas Matthews, reports local newspaper The Advocate. Matthews reportedly turned himself in to local police the day of […]

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 […]

Pittsburgh Opera Brings Gertrude Stein’s Love Story to Pittsburgh: Interview With Ricky Ian Gordon

  This week, the Pittsburgh Opera hosts the Pennsylvania debut of ’27’ – an opera about the love story of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, composed by Ricky Ian Gordon. Ricky has Pittsburgh ties and graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us. 1. Tell me about your first impression of Pittsburgh. I […]

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 […]

Pixie, 26, is Androgynous, Non-binary, Genderqueer and Lesbian, But Identifies as Pixie #AMPLIFY

Fayette County lesbian

Name: Pixie Colbert Age: 26 County of Residence:  Allegheny, grew up in Fayette County Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them How do you describe your identity? I am a strong-willed, sweet hearted, intelligent, extroverted introvert, androgynous, non-binary, genderqueer, lesbian. I perform drag as Mr. Ace Phoenix. I am not a fan of labels. Period. I feel I can identify as a lot […]

Tylor, 30, Is a Pansexual Trans Man Who Wants Better For Young People #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Transgender

Name: Tylor Age: 30 County of Residence:  Allegheny, previously Crawford and Venango counties Preferred Pronouns:  he/his How do you describe your identity? I am a pansexual transman. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out experience was scary. My mom had found a note I had wrote to […]

Nayck, 50, Identifies As a Black Gay Domini-rican in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Gay Pittsburgh

  Name: Nayck Age: 50 County of Residence: Allegheny County, previously Philadelphia Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his How do you describe your identity? That can be a loaded question. I was born in the US, of Dominican parents and grew up in Puerto Rico. I’m of African descent, and consider myself gay. I guess that makes me a black, gay Domini-rican. Please […]

Monica Loera, 43, First Trans Woman Murdered in 2016

Trans murder

Very sad news from Austin, Texas. A 43 year old transgender woman was murdered earlier in the month. From TransGriot According to the Austin Police Department, 43 year old Monica Loera was engaged in a conversation with a man in front of her home along the 300 block of East Powell Lane in north Austin […]

Jill, 49, Wants Young LGBTQ People To Have a Safe Place to Go In Cambria County #AMPLIFY

lesbian cambria county

  Name: Jill Age: 49 County of Residence:  Cambria, grew up in Somerset Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Woman, female, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was 23. Married to a man who very much understood me. Met a woman and spent the next […]