Back to School Q&A with Trans Activist Daniel, 16, of Lakeview School District

We’ve blogged earlier in the year about the decision of Lakeview School District in Mercer County to expand their nondiscrimination policies to explicitly address needs of transgender students. This was a rule change to better comply with existing policy, not a new policy altogether. When the School Board met in May, one student – Daniel […]

Jay, 27, Discusses Challenges of Being a Straight Trans Man #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

‘ Name:  Jay Age: 27 County of Residence:  Allegheny County Pronouns: He/Him How do you describe your identity? Straight Trans Man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It was very challenging my family is not supportive but my friends have been overwhelmingly great. I still have legal challenges […]

Diamond Stephens, 39, is the 16th Trans Person Reported Murdered in 2018

Diamond Stephens Transgender

Diamond Stephens was 39 years old when she was shot in the back of the head while driving in Meridian, Mississippi. That was on June 18, 2018. Misgendering and deadnaming kept the community unaware of her death until friends and family set the record straight, a month later. Monica Roberts at TransGriot corrected the original […]

A Trans Woman Was Sexually Assaulted in Allegheny County Jail

Transgender Woman Allegheny County Jail

CN: sexual assault, institutional violence A trans woman incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail reported that she had been sexually assaulted by her cellmate. He is now facing sexual assault charges after reportedly admitting the crime to ACJ officials. On Saturday morning, Amie Downs, communications director for Allegheny County Chief Executive’s office confirmed for me […]

Sasha Garden, 27, is the 15th Trans Person Murdered in the US During 2018

Horrifying news out of Orange County, Florida where 27-year-old Sasha Garden is the 4th trans woman of color to be violently murdered in Florida this year. Sasha is also the 15th trans person in the United States known to die a violent death in 2018. Sasha was originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She had relocated to […]

Kat, 33, Shares Her Story as a Trans Woman to Find Some Peace #AMPLIFY

Transgender Venango County

Name: Kat Age:  33 County of Residence:  Raised in Venango county pa moved out at 28 on vacation here currently. Pronouns: Her How do you describe your identity? Mtf ts Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It was and is pretty mixed emotions on it. 5 years later and […]

Update in the Murder Investigations for the 14 Trans Neighbors Lost in 2018

Today, I learned that there’s an update in the investigation of the murder of Pittsburgh native, Phylicia Mitchell. On February 24, she was shot to death in broad daylight outside her Cleveland residence. Phylicia was a Black trans woman who had relocated to Cleveland after growing up on Pittsburgh’s Northside. She was 46 years old. The […]

Marissa, 22, is a Trans Woman in Washington County #AMPLIFY

Washington County transgender

Name: Marissa Age: 22 County of Residence: Washington County Pronouns: n/a How do you describe your identity? I am female but I am transgender Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was transgender ever since birth and I found support from my family and the challenges I have faced was […]

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 […]