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I’ve been working on developing a glossary to be used across Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services, the Courts, and DHS-contracted service providers. The glossary is nearing completion and had been developed utilizing gender inclusive and gender neutral language throughout the glossary. It is critically important for judges to recognize the importance of word choice […]
This past week, I’ve been sicker than I can remember. Spoiler warning – it is (likely) tonsillitis. I was grumpy a week ago Monday and Tuesday, chalked it up to the impending house painting we had planned for this coming week. I thought it was anxiety and was disappointed with myself for not handling things […]
When people talk about their best friends or when I see besties on a TV show, I cringe. I don’t have a best friend. I have my wife. I have lovely good friends who are importantly intertwined into my lifeweb. I’m not lonely. I had a best friend and today is his birthday. Or it […]
Philadelphia native and Black trans woman Remy Fennell is the most recent victim of fatal violence targeting the transgender community. She was 28-years-old. Remy had relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina where she pursued a career in hair styling as ‘Remy Kreations.’ It appears that Remy also supported herself with sex work. On April 15, […]
Jaida Peterson was a 29-year-old Black trans woman living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her death on April 4, 2021 makes her the 15th transgender or gender nonconforming neighbor to be killed this year. From WCCB Charlotte (misgendering and deadnaming at site) The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating a homicide after finding an unresponsive person […]
For transparency sake, I want to explain that I have turned down a request by a candidate for Magistrate here on the Northside. Her name is Leah Williams Duncan. Dear Ms. Williams Duncan, I have received your request to complete a Q&A for my blog, Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents. I must decline. In 2013 while […]
I have virtually eliminated cash bail from my practice and doing so only in extenuating circumstances to protect the safety of the community or ensure court appearance. The variables in each and every criminal arrest are too involved to discuss here, but it cannot be denied that in using cash bail, those without cash are […]
But if a global pandemic and ensuing economic crises aren’t enough to motivate public officials to create real safeguards such as public housing (as well as healthcare, the two of which I believe are inseparable) against public health emergencies, when will they? This is the sixth post of our election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with […]
But from that experience comes a perspective that can only benefit those that might come before me as Magistrate: I’ll approach each person as more than their worst day or worst choice or most shameful story. I know first hand that we are all more than any one of those things and we deserve a […]
On June 6, 2020, the body of an unidentified young Black trans person was found in an abandoned building at 7908 S Laflin in Chicago. Koko Nia Labeija was born 29 May 2001 in Chicago where she grew up. She attended Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School The school held a memorial event this past […]
