Maxwell, 22, is a Queer Trans Man from McKean County #AMPLIFY

McKean County Trans Man

What motivated you to take part in this project? 

I want people like me to know that it does get better. You are not sick, you are not broken; you are you, and you are brave and strong. I wish I’d known who I am earlier, but it doesn’t always happen that way, and that’s okay. Finding yourself can take a long time, but it’s worth it.

West Middlesex School District in Mercer County Implements Trans Inclusive Student Policies

West Middlesex School District Transgender Policies

Well frankly, I am a straight, white, Christian, cisgender male. It’s people like me that need to step up and show support for the marginalized people. In early December, officials in the West Middlesex School District (Mercer County) announced that existing school policies on inclusion, diversity, and respect would expand to include allowing transgender and […]

Dana Martin, 31, is the first trans homicide victim of 2019 in the United States

Dana Martin Alabama

Dana Martin, a 31-year-old Black trans woman from Hope Hall, Alabama, was murdered by a gunshot on Sunday, January 6, 2019 in Montgomery. Her death remained unknown to her community because the police and the local media misgendered her. In addition to coping the loss of their loved one, her friends must also take on […]

With Anti-Transgender Editorial, Post-Gazette Officially Proves that Pittsburgh Never Was #StrongerThanHate

The phrase ‘a new low’ seems inadequate to describe the mean-spirited, churlish, vicious, nasty, hateful bitterness of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Editorial Board. But writing out that serious of descriptive words repeatedly is equally insufficient to capture the true evil this Board has embraced. This week, they published this scathing indictment of Twitter’s new speech policies […]

Pittsburgh Man Says He Was Assaulted in Local 7-Eleven Because He Is Transgender

Zahair Martinez Pittsburgh

Zahair Martinez, a Black transgender man living in Pittsburgh, claims he was assaulted inside a 7-Eleven on Wood Street in Downtown Pittsburgh by a group of seven people. This was 10:15 AM on Sunday December 2. Martinez spoke with WTAE “ZAHAIR MARTINEZ TELLS ME HE WAS TARGETED FROM THE SECOND HE WALKED INTO THIS DOWNTOWN […]

Baptist Pastor Arrested for Murder of Trans Woman Keanna Mattel in Detroit

Keanna Mattel

Baptist pastor Albert Weathers, 46, was arraigned Monday for the murder of transgender woman, Keanna Mattel, according to a post at Planettransgender. Weathers is charged with open murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The 36th District Court set bond at $1 million according to The Detroit News. Other details suggest […]

Keanna Mattel, 35, is 24th Trans Neighbor Murdered in the US during 2018

Keanna Mattel

I learned terrible news tonight from Detroit where a 35 year old Black trans woman was murdered Friday morning, the 24th transgender victim of fatal violence in the US this year. Her name was Keanna Mattel. Note that Keanna’s surname has been spelled with one ‘l’ and with two. We are using the spelling on […]

A Black Trans Woman Known as Tydie is 23rd Trans Person Murdered in 2018

Tydie Trans Woman Baltimore

A Black trans woman known as Tydie was murdered in Baltimore on Monday, November 26. She is the 23rd transgender person to be murdered in the United States during 2018. Note that in some spaces her name is styled Tydi, but we are using the spelling offered by the trans community in Baltimore. From the […]

Ian, 27, is a Gay Trans Man Resisting Gender Expectations #AMPLIFY

Gay trans man Pittsburgh

What is your greatest hope for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania? 

I hope for progress honestly. I hope people don’t see inclusiveness as a burden but a part of life. Being inclusive isn’t restricting straight cis people, it’s about not limiting life to just them

Transgender Day of Remembrance Events: Western Pennsylvania

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2018 Pittsburgh

Transgender Day of Remembrance Candlelight Walk 6 PM · First Presbyterian Church 1793 · Washington, Pennsylvania, November 19 TransPride Pgh Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil 6 PM · Persad Center, November 20 Transgender Day Of Remembrance Candlelight Vigil 6 PM · Erie County Courthouse, November 20< Second Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance 6 PM · PRESS Bistro, Johnstown, November 20