35-Year-Old Trans South Carolinian Thomas Hardin Murdered During Killing Spree

The story of Thomas Hardin’s death is nuanced, complicated, and frightening. The frightening element is in most part because the man who is believed to have killed him and four other people in two states is armed and on the run. According to family, friends, and law enforcement, Thomas Hardin identified as a woman. But […]

White Trans Teen Oliver ‘Ollie’ Taylor, 17, Killed in Oregon After Being Kidnapped

On May 19, 2021, a 17-year-old white trans young man Oliver “Ollie” Taylor died after being kidnapped and shot on May 12 in Gervais, Oregon. Ollie is the 27th trans person violently killed in the United States to date. Ollie endured a kidnapping at the hands of a 20-year-old acquaintance as did another friend was […]

Does Mayor Peduto’s Office Have an Animal Welfare Advisory Group?

I am seeking information on a possible advisory group to the Mayor’s Office or the City as a whole on animal welfare for my blog Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents. My information is the organization HUMANE ACTION Pittsburgh fills that role with little to no participation from other groups, individuals, with the exceptions of HAR and Animal […]

Black Trans Woman Serenity Hollis, 24, Killed in Albany, Georgia

Serenity Hollis

Note: this post originally listed the wrong date, a date in the future. The correct date is May 8, 2021. I apologize for the confusion.  Serenity Hollis, a 24-year-old Black trans woman, was murdered in Albany, Georgia on Saturday, May 8, 2021. Her family believes it may have been a hate crime and local police […]

Q&A With Nicola Henry-Taylor, Candidate for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Nicola Henry-Taylor

The importance of having a good reputation and work ethic which has been beneficial to me and my clients. My campaign has been focused on one thing from the beginning: taking my message straight to the voters of Allegheny County. We have had one on one, direct conversations with thousands of voters, which have been […]

36-year-old Latina Trans Woman Sophie Vasquez Killed in Atlanta Suburbs

May 4, 2021 is now the deadliest day of the year 2021 with three transgender or gender-nonconforming persons murdered. Sophie Vasquez was a 36-year-old transgender Latina living in Atlanta. Her death is the third on that date, alongside Danny Henson in Baltimore and Whispering Wind Bear Spirit in York, Pennsylvania. From Project Q: Sophie Vasquez […]

Indigenous Non-Binary Person Whispering Wind Bear Spirit Killed in York, PA

Whispering Wind Bear Spirit

Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, a 41-year-old Indigenous Non-Binary person is the most recent transgender or gender non-conforming person victim of fatal violence. Whispering Wind was shot to death by a 19-year-old man during a botched robbery attempt of their home. Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, 41, died of a single gunshot wound sustained during an attempted […]

Q&A with Giuseppe Rosselli, Candidate for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

[W]e do not acknowledge poverty and lack of opportunity as a significant  contributing cause worthy of diversion. I believe that poverty and lack of  opportunity are the greatest contributing causes to criminal behavior. Our  diversion programs need to be expanded to include individuals who are affected  by these significant underlying contributing causes. This is the […]

My 2x Great Grandmas Speak To Me On Mother’s Day

Irish American Pittsburgh

While I can say they had their moments, it is more accurate to state that my mother and grandmothers were not cut out to have or raise children. Mostly, this is not their fault but the consequence of being surrounded by traumatized, abusive men and cold parents of their own. Mother’s Day like too many […]

How 39 Candidates for the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas Stack Up on LGBTQIA+ Issues

There are 39 candidates for 9 openings on the Court of Common Pleas. That is a lot of people to wade through, research, and figure out whom to support. Judges matter. They make life-defining decisions for children, youth, and adults. They help to shape the courtroom culture. They shape culture, period. This is one type […]