The End of My Year 2023 By the Numbers

It has been 127 days since I was involuntarily removed from my home of 18+ years – in handcuffs under false pretext using an invalid warrant. That’s one third of 2023. One entire third of my year. Gone. Every single one of those day, I have focused on two things: recovering from the traumas and […]

40 Days This Blog Illumined the Advent of the Holiday Season

Memories of Christmas and other holiday events are part of life’s sustenance, good and bad. They remind of what we’ve experienced and also teach us about who we are. Or perhaps who we aspire to be? Since 2005, I’ve written many blog posts about this holiday. Many describe events long before I was born but […]

How I’m Resisting Social Anxiety During These Holidays

social anxiety

Resisting social anxiety, holiday edition. Anxiety has been a mighty foe of mine since forever. In addition to missing outings and events, it has severed my ties to my friends and colleagues. My world grew much smaller, but I didn’t even feel it happening. When I was forced to leave my home 3+ months ago, […]

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Musical Deemed the Best Our Reviewer Has Seen

Mrs. Doubtfire

Elijah went to see the Cultural Trust production of Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical as part of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series. We are experimenting with format, right now relying on embedded TikTok videos with closed captions. Elijah learns and expresses himself best using audio or video formats. Until we get video editing software, this […]

LGBTQ&A: Mombian Blogger Dana Rudolph Creates a Space for Queer and Trans Families

“I launched the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books in early 2021 to help people find the books they are seeking in this rapidly-growing genre. The database includes reviews of LGBTQ-inclusive books for ages 0-12 and books for grown-ups about LGBTQ parenting. (I don’t review young adult books or I’d never sleep; also, my audience […]

Honoring the Dead: Trans Day of Remembrance Events in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania

According to GLAAD and Remember Our Dead, TDOR started in San Francisco in 1999, when trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith held a vigil honoring the memory of Rita Hester, a trans woman who was killed in her home two days before her 35th birthday. Ever since, TDOR has taken place on November 20th. Attendees honor Rita and her […]

I’m an Angry Voter This Year and Here’s Why

People are often surprised that I’m not a super voter or someone who has voted in every election. I struggle with the privilege of claiming that one must vote to have a voice in democracy. Show up or shut up is hardly a democratic ideal. It can, in fact, lead people to feel more alienated […]

Three Lancaster Transgender Teens Died by Suicide Over Past Year

transgender teen suicide Pennsylvania

Content Note: suicide, gender identity, Lancaster Lancaster LGBTQ communities have experienced deep loss this past year. Three young trans teens died by by suicide over the past year, including two in the past month. Say Their Names River Paige Olmsted, age 17, October 16, 2023 Theadora “Thea” Cassidy, age 18, September 22, 2023 Brayden Snyder, […]

Eight Things I Learned During Eight Weeks of Being Locked Out of My Home

8 Things I Learned

Today is a day of celebration – my birthday and the 2 year anniversary of Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities, the 501c3 I established in 2021. Today, I learned a lot from both. Also, today marks eight weeks since I was locked out of my home against my will and kept from returning to my cats, returning […]

On This One Year Anniversary of Anti-Trans Messaging from Eight Pittsburgh Radio Stations

Eight radio station ads

A Troubling Anniversary for the Pittsburgh LGBTQ Community One year ago, I received my first tip about the transphobic ads running on local Pittsburgh radio stations. I spent a lot of hours trying to track down the ad, figure out the FCC information, and encouraging people to contact the stations. All in all, eight of […]