36-year-old Latina Trans Woman Sophie Vasquez Killed in Atlanta Suburbs

May 4, 2021 is now the deadliest day of the year 2021 with three transgender or gender-nonconforming persons murdered. Sophie Vasquez was a 36-year-old transgender Latina living in Atlanta. Her death is the third on that date, alongside Danny Henson in Baltimore and Whispering Wind Bear Spirit in York, Pennsylvania. From Project Q: Sophie Vasquez […]

Indigenous Non-Binary Person Whispering Wind Bear Spirit Killed in York, PA

Whispering Wind Bear Spirit

Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, a 41-year-old Indigenous Non-Binary person is the most recent transgender or gender non-conforming person victim of fatal violence. Whispering Wind was shot to death by a 19-year-old man during a botched robbery attempt of their home. Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, 41, died of a single gunshot wound sustained during an attempted […]

Q&A with Giuseppe Rosselli, Candidate for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

[W]e do not acknowledge poverty and lack of opportunity as a significant  contributing cause worthy of diversion. I believe that poverty and lack of  opportunity are the greatest contributing causes to criminal behavior. Our  diversion programs need to be expanded to include individuals who are affected  by these significant underlying contributing causes. This is the […]

My 2x Great Grandmas Speak To Me On Mother’s Day

Irish American Pittsburgh

While I can say they had their moments, it is more accurate to state that my mother and grandmothers were not cut out to have or raise children. Mostly, this is not their fault but the consequence of being surrounded by traumatized, abusive men and cold parents of their own. Mother’s Day like too many […]

How 39 Candidates for the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas Stack Up on LGBTQIA+ Issues

There are 39 candidates for 9 openings on the Court of Common Pleas. That is a lot of people to wade through, research, and figure out whom to support. Judges matter. They make life-defining decisions for children, youth, and adults. They help to shape the courtroom culture. They shape culture, period. This is one type […]

Black Trans Woman Danny Henson, 31, Murdered in Baltimore

  Reporting on another homicide involving a Black trans woman, the second report today.  Her name was Danny Henson and she also went by Pryynce Daniel. She was killed Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. Around 2:30 a.m., Baltimore Police responded to a home in the 3100 block of Williston Street for an unresponsive […]

49-Year-Old Black Trans Woman Keri Washington Killed in Clearwater, Florida

Keri Washington

On Saturday, May 1, 49-year-old Keri Washington became the latest trans victim of fatal violence. Washington was found dead Saturday morning in back of an apartment building in Clearwater, Florida. Officers responded to Palmetto Park Apartments on West Avenue shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday. Police have not released many details about her death, but […]

Q&A with Val Pennington, Candidate for Mayor of Bellevue Borough

Val Pennington

[A] friend from my elementary school days. The daily cruelty and open hostility they were subjected to, coupled with my inability to act – out of fear of similar treatment, still haunts me, and inspires me to craft a world where bigotry is abnormal and not tolerated. I want children to feel a sense of […]

Q&A with Sabrina Korbel, Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Presently, on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, only 30% of judges are women;  only  four  judges  are people of  color;  only  one  judge  is  a  woman  of  color  and  only  two  judges openly identify at LGBTQ.  With nine open seats, we are at a moment in time where  we can change how the […]

Ballroom Legend, Victim’s Advocate, and Trans Woman of Color Jahaira M. DeAlto Stabbed to Death

Just days after confirmation that the murder rate of trans folx in the United States had surged up to 20 comes word of yet another loss. Activist Jahaira DeAlto died after being stabbed on Sunday. On Sunday, in Boston a 34-year-old man named Marcus Chavis was arrested in connection with murder charges in the death […]