Black Trans Woman Shawmayné McClam, 27, Shot to Death in Mississippi

Her name was Shawmayné Giselle Marie McClam. She was a Black trans woman, just 27 years old, when she was murdered in a shooting in Gulfport, Mississippi on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. And now she is the 18th known trans person to be murdered in the US this year. Her sister is hospitalized in critical […]

Black Trans Woman Brazil Johnson Dies from Gun Violence in Milwaukee During Pride Month

Brazil Johnson Devon Gildart

Brazil Johnson, a 28-year-old Black trans woman, is the most recently reported fatal victim in the anti-trans campaign of terror in the United States. Around 6:30 AM, Wednesday June 15, 2022, Milwaukee police reported that Brazil’s body was discovered near Teutonia Avenue and Garfield Avenue. She had been shot multiple times. There are no current […]

Trans Latina Sasha Mason Murdered During Robbery in North Carolina

Her name was Sasha Mason. She was 45 years old and identified as a trans Latina. And she is the most recently reported trans woman to fall victim to the campaign of terror sweeping our nation. She was killed on May 13, 2022. Reports are just now surfacing outside of her home community. Sasha was […]

My Dad

He was dealt a traumatic hand from Day One. He worked hard, sometimes multiple jobs. He rarely called off. He was in the mills for 50 years. He grew up in a mid-century modern world, raised by grandparents born circa 1885. Everyone had good intentions, but that didn’t really pan out in their poor life […]

Here’s What Happened When I Threw Out The First Pitch During Pride Night at PNC Park

Pride Night at PNC Park

The thing about anxiety is that it can be managed, especially if you have a plan and a support system. Managed, not cured or fixed. Throwing out the first pitch during a MLB game in front of many thousands of people during the official Pride Night is the sort of thing that generates some anxiety. […]

The White House Pride Reception

Tonight was the night. President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden hosted the annual Pride Reception at the White House. I was not invited. I can admit and for the sake of keeping an accurate record of the impact of this blog, I had hoped that the work leading to a second GLAAD Media Award would […]

First Pitch Not-So-Perfect: The Training Montage

Dok Harris Sue Kerr Laura Dunhoff

My Mum would say “Oh, Susan!” if I was able to tell her that my pitching coach for the upcoming Pride Night at PNC Park was Dok Harris, son of her beloved Franco Harris. Let me tell you, he’s a great coach. He sent me videos to watch. He kept urging me to stretch. He […]

Lebo Pride Response to Anti-Trans Lawsuit Filed Against Mt. Lebanon School District

Mt Lebanon School District Law Suit

When news broke of this lawsuit filed by three parents in the Mt. Lebanon School District, I reached out to Lebo Pride and requested a statement. I urge you to connect with them on social media to resist this attack on trans students ~ Sue All over this country, buzzwords and phrases such as “parental […]

Death of Black Trans Woman Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway Ruled Homicide in Albany

There is not much detail available, but the May 31, 2022 death of a Black trans woman in Albany, New York has been ruled a homicide. Her name was Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway also known as Sid or Cyd according to her Facebook profiles. She was 30. Note the media reporting uses the appropriate pronouns, […]

Q&A With a Pittsburgh Dad Trying to Protect His Multiracial, LGBTQ Family From an Abusive Neighbor

Content Note: racism, transphobia, homophobia, harassment of children, police, legal case, fear I did a little research and started to get a sense of how these transphobic bigots operate, the playbook they use. These people are truly despicable. To answer your question, no, I don’t think people connect the dots. And that’s not a condemnation, […]