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 […]

Louie, 50, Identifies as Queer, Pansexual, & Kinky #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name:  Louie Age: 50 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: No preference How do you describe your identity? Born cis male, identify as Queer, Pansexual, and kinky Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Self aware with lots of research. Found minor support in local kink community. Not really much else. […]

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 […]

Katie, 26, is a Lesbian Working on Suicide Prevention in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Kate lesbian Pittsburgh

  Name:  Katie Age:  26 County of Residence:  Allegheny, formerly lived in Massachusetts Pronouns: She/Her How do you describe your identity? Lesbian, White, Woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Very supportive, no issues How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Out and proud, […]

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 […]

In the Devil’s Grip and Sick of it All

In the Devil’s Grip and Sick of it All

I’ve had quite stretch, these past few days. After spending scores of hours covering a big story last weekend, I was not feeling so great by Tuesday. I chalked it up to stress and the ever-present allergies. By Thursday, I felt worse still as if someone had put a belt around my chest and pulled […]

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 […]

Paul, 61, Marched in Pittsburgh’s First Gay Pride March in 1973 #AMPLIFY

Paul Ellis Pittsburgh

Note: Paul was part of a USA Today story about Gay Pride which is how I learned about his role in a significant moment in Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ history – the 1973 Gay Pride March. Paul Ellis has seen a lot of Gay Pride parades. He marched in Pittsburgh’s first one in 1973 with just 40 other […]