Pittsburgh Plays It Forward With Holiday Toy Project

Play It Forward is a terrific resource for regional families during the holidays. Building upon the idea of toy sharing, organizers collect gently used toys, stuffed animals and more to redistribute to families in need. I think it is an excellent idea and the fact that they received over 50,000 toys in 2013 suggests that […]

Tajshon Ashley Sherman Found Murdered in Indianapolis, 9th TWOC Murdered This Year

Tajshon Sherman

I learned about the murder of the 9th trans woman of color this year (in the US) from an email update. 25-year-old Tajshon Ashley Sherman was found in an empty lot in Indianapolis with “intense head injuries” by a police officer driving nearby. Her body was discovered on October 26. Police have confirmed that she was […]

Why to Support the KD Turkey Fund

KD Turkey Fund

Many years ago, I ran a modest food pantry in a rural Kentucky county. It was a humbling experience during which I fumbled and stumbled many times as I tried to solicit donations and distribute them with some semblance of dignity. When I returned to Pittsburgh, I learned about Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank – […]

Giveaway New Bette Midler Album ‘It’s The Girls!’

Bette Midler

Enter to win IT’S THE GIRLS! from BETTE MIDLER! IT’S THE GIRLS! the stunning new album from the legendary BETTE MIDLER Featuring a collection of some of the greatest harmonies performed by girl groups such as The Ronettes, The Boswell Sisters, The Andrew Sisters, The Chiffons as well as Motown acts like Martha Reeves and […]

Election 2014 Don’t Let the Trans Community Bear the Brunt of the Anti-LGBTQ Attacks Alone

Vote Pennsylvania

There are many reasons to vote and many critical elections impacting Southwestern PA. It is easy to give in to the sense of inevitability or futility and not bother to turn out, but that’s exactly what our opponents want to see happen. The act of voting IN SPITE of the odds is an act of […]

Giveaway: Taylor Swift Album 1989

Taylor Swift giveaway

  Enter now for your chance to win a digital copy of 1989 from Taylor Swift! 1989 the new album from Global superstar & 7-time GRAMMY winner TAYLOR SWIFT Featuring the hit single “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” Available NOW: http://smarturl.it/TS1989 1989 Track Listing Welcome To New York Blank Space Style Out Of The […]

Push Your Buttons

Why I Don’t Go Into the Woods

Like most kids, I grew up with a mixture of urban legend and cultural frights that together made for terrifying experiences. Our neighborhood was the border of “The Woods” which lent itself as a source of horrifying creatures sneaking through the backyard and into our lives. Nevermind that during the day, we ran wild and […]

Four Badass Female TV Characters as Halloween Costume Inspiration

We’re less than a week away from Halloween! If you had to design a costume that channeled your true, innermost self, what would that costume look like? Would you dare to wear it? Great prompt. I’m going to step away from the tendency to think of my true self as something weak and broken and sad. Instead, […]

Six Pgh LGBTQ Accounts You Should Follow on Twitter

I make it my business to pay attention to how local LGBTQ groups are using social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. It is valuable information – 80% of LGBTQ folks are using social media, but fewer than 50% of us are “out online” according to a 2013 Pew Research study. That makes it especially challenging […]