I Unfriended You Because You Posted White Supremacist Nonsense and I’m Done

I have a few ‘legacy’ Facebook friends whose politics and personal statements I find difficult to understand, but whose personal actions reflect beliefs that I support. I’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to maintain those relationships out of respect for my partner, family, etc. I wanted to believe that the people who do the good works are the […]

Stop the Violence McKeesport Rally Friday, 12 PM

A statement from Christian Carter’s family

You may recognize Christian from his tireless work on the frontlines of recent actions seeking #Justice4AntwonRose. On Wednesday afternoon, 18-year-old Christian was taken to a local hospital for what his mother thought was exhaustion, dehydration and malnourishment. It turns out he was having an appendicitis attack and is scheduled for immediate surgery. His family is […]

Keisha Wells of Cleveland is 14th Trans Person Killed in 2018

Just hours after writing about Cathalina Christina James’ homicide in Jacksonville, FL comes word of another sister whose life was taken. 58 year old Keisha Wells of Cleveland was found dead on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland early in the morning of Sunday, June 24. Please note that the primary source uses Keisha’s deadname as does […]

Cathalina Christina James is 13th Trans Person Murdered in 2018

Cathalina Christina James

24-year-old Cathalina Christina James was a Black trans woman from Sumter, South Carolina. On Sunday, June 24, she became the 13th trans person murdered this year in the United States.  More at Transgriot.  Cathalina was found shot dead at the Quality Inn and Suites located in the 8300 block of Dix Ellis Trail on Sunday […]

I’m a Columnist at the Pittsburgh Current!

If you’ve read my blog, you know that I repeatedly clarify that I am *not* a journalist. I’m a social worker with a degree in politicsl science. I write. I blog. But I am not trained in journalism. I am trained in community organizing and Constitutional Law. But I am now a columnist for the […]

Brian, 32, is Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer in Westmoreland County #AMPLIFY

Name: Brian Kleber Age:  32 County of Residence:  Westmoreland County Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs How do you describe your identity? Trans nonbinary masculine presenting queer sexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I originally came out as a cis-gender lesbian because I didn’t have the words for what I was feeling […]

Concrete Ways to Support Pgh Protestors #AntwonRose #Justice4Antwon UPDATED AGAIN

SPECIAL NOTE – We’ve had a recent problem with Amazon deliveries. With the help of some great allies, we’ve worked it out. Your deliveries should be back on track. If you get a message from Amazon, please use their chat feature to make sure that is the case. We apologize for the confusion and REALLY […]

Three LGBTQ Black Voices Speak Out About the Shooting of Antwon Rose in Pittsburgh

Before our local Pride events, a friend contacted me – she’s a journalist and was working on a piece about the intersection of queer and Black identities. She wanted to know if any of our AMPLIFY contributors might be interested in talking with her (because she gets the point of AMPLIFY – to signal boost […]

How to Support Children & Families Impacted by the Immigration Separation Policies

Here’s a roundup of local opportunities to support the families impacted by the Trump Administration’s immigration separation policies. Advocacy Some want to offer supplies to be passed on to the children, but she said the most urgent need is for the kind of action that would change the stance of the policy-makers.  “The key is, what […]