Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission Editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In honor of Pride Month, the City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission crafted an editorial that was published in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Today is June 28, 2022. The first day of the Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969. I am sharing the entire piece here which is something I would not normally do. But the […]

Community Q&A: Chris, 16, Talks About His Identity, His Family, and Enduring Harassment in His Pittsburgh Neighborhood

Chris Eagleton

I I know it is hard, it is hard to live in a society that does not fit you, but there are people like you. It’s hard every day knowing that your identity is up for debate. It is not fair. But the only way to change this is to prove them wrong. They want […]

Community Q&A: Ke’Juan, 15, Talks About Her Identity, Her Family, and Enduring Harassment in Her Pittsburgh Neighborhood

Black Trans Girl

We have to be more mindful when walking home by ourselves, we have to have extra protection and make sure to be with someone in case something happens, we had to block my bedroom window because the neighbor was staring into my room,  we had to put a plan in place so if there was a problem […]

Northsiders, Put a ‘Protect Trans Kids’ Yard Sign Near Your Home Today!

If you’ve been following the story of the O’Donnell-Collar family, you know that in the face of years of hate-driven harassment – they want to focus on affirming trans youth, BIPOC youth, and all LGBTQ families. Ke’Juan is a 15-year-old Black trans girl and the family member most recently targeted by their neighbor and she […]

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 […]