Black Trans Woman Skylar Heath Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances in Miami

Skylar Heath Black Trans Woman

Skylar Heath was 20 years old when she lost her life on November 4, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Misgendering by media, law enforcement, and in her obituary obscured her death and her lived experiences as a young Black trans woman. From PlanetTransgender Miami-Dade police found Skylar Heath in the vicinity of NW 14 Court and […]

Black Trans Woman, Chae’Meshia Simms, Fatally Shot in Richmond

Black Trans Woman

On Monday, November 23, Chae’Meshia Simms was killed in Richmond, Virginia. She was found dead in the driver’s seat of her mother’s car at 6 AM. The car wrecked while moving and police responded. Police said they have identified the victim of a homicide on Cheatwood Avenue in Richmond’s North Side.About 5:40 a.m. Monday, officers […]

We Did It – We Raised $11,000 to Distribute Face Masks to Trans & Queer Folks Throughout 2021

(Type in original headline corrected – obviously I’m tired!) Holy smokes – we did it, yinz. Combining matches and a lot of pleading by me, we successfully raised $11,000 for the Pittsburgh MasQUe ProjecT. These funds will be used through 2021 to cover our operational expenses. The funds will be administered by our fiscal sponsor, […]

Dear David. Turkey Week Edition, 2020.

David DeAngelo Pittsburgh

Dear David, This used to my favorite week of the year – Thanksgiving week. Shortened school/work week, good food, no worries about gifting, the “bonus” of Friday off and more. It wasn’t so much my specific (lack of) family traditions as the idea of having so much freedom, so much indulgence, and so little knowledge […]

22-year-old Asia Jynaé Foster shot to death in Houston on Trans Day of Remembrance

On November 20, Asia Jynai Foster was killed. Asia was 22 years old and a Black trans woman living in Houston, Texas. November 20 was also the Trans Day of Remembrance, an international observation of trans neighbors who have been killed. According to Outsmart A 22-year-old Black transgender woman was shot and killed in west […]

Facemask Q&A with Alyah Baker of Show & Tell Concept Shop

Alyah

Show & Tell was built, first and foremost, to meet the needs of BIPOC and Queer and Trans communities. As a member of both communities, I’ve experienced racism, profiling, and terrible customer service when trying to do simple things like buy food or clothes or get proper health care. For this reason, access and safety […]

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) 2020 Honors 37 Trans Neighbors Lost

TDOR Transgender Collage

“It may be a sad song but we’re gonna sing it again. I will continue to fight and push for the voices of black transgender women to be uplifted until the day I die. We deserve to be heard, to be loved, and for our very existence to be acknowledged.” —Riah Milton’s sister, Ariel Mary […]

Three Additional Trans and Gender Nonconforming Murders Come to Light Just Before TDOR

A horrifying discovery this night before Trans Day of Remembrance – reports of the violent deaths of three more gender non-conforming and trans neighbors came to light. Thank you to The Advocate for excellent reporting on heartbreaking and tragic stories. Photo of Yunieski Carey Herrera via The Advocate Miami transgender performer and activist Yunieski Carey […]

Facemask Q&A with Dre Cortes and Lex Londino of Bows for Beaux Co.

Queer Masks

No matter where you procure your masks, please wear them properly and stay safe! One important part of the Pittsburgh MasQUe ProjecT is highlighting safe and affirming places for trans and queer folx to purchase masks. In addition to this Q&A series, we maintain a list on the project homepage. This Q&A was crafted to […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Jessica Benham, State Representative Elect PA House District 36

Jessica Benham

I know that many bisexual people and many Autistic people see themselves reflected in me, and that my win gives them hope about the ways they, too, can make a difference in the world. As of this most recent election, Pennsylvania has at least 57 openly LGBTQ individuals holding elected office. In November 2020, we […]