How the good intentions of families of LGBTQ youth might harm other LGBTQ youth

Allies Harming LGBTQ Youth

I feel very sad for Dakota James’ family, especially his mother who seems immersed in unresolved grief. But their unwillingness to consider that a terrible accident befell their son while he was drunk is having a negative impact on the LGBTQ community and general population of Pittsburgh. The Foundation they established is taking LGBTQ resources […]

Just an old fashioned cold

I’m living these days with a good old fashioned nasty cold. The sort that doesn’t let you rest without aches or wheezing or existential grief. My pragmatic self had stocked up on soup, tissue, and generic nyquil. My better half trundled off to the store for ginger ale. I even managed a shower without hacking […]

Review: Blank My Life series offers intriguing emotional layers, a bisexual storyline, and lots of Pittsburgh touches

Blank My Life is quirky and puzzling. What begins as a series of vignettes in the first two seasons evolves into a full throttle series in Season Three. And it works. A ridiculous premis like accidentally killing your GBF and then moving to Ohio from NYC makes for compelling, if uneven, viewing. Lead character Susan […]

I miss my dog

Xander Dunhoff-Kerr died on January 19, 2016. He was 14. He was a great dog, devoted to me, mischievous on occasion, smart, sweet to his siblings, and mighty. I miss him fiercely. And his littermate brother, Amadeus, who died in 2015.

Friday After Situation

Joslyn, 22, is a Trans Female Concerned About LGBTQ Mental Health Supports #AMPLIFY

Transgender Woman Allegheny County

  Name: Joslyn Age: 22 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? White, trans female Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out experience was kinda iffy. When I came out at bi my mom basically told me it’s okay. But she ONLY wanted to […]

Nancy Pelosi.

Pardon you …

Maxwell, 22, is a Queer Trans Man from McKean County #AMPLIFY

McKean County Trans Man

What motivated you to take part in this project? 

I want people like me to know that it does get better. You are not sick, you are not broken; you are you, and you are brave and strong. I wish I’d known who I am earlier, but it doesn’t always happen that way, and that’s okay. Finding yourself can take a long time, but it’s worth it.

West Middlesex School District in Mercer County Implements Trans Inclusive Student Policies

West Middlesex School District Transgender Policies

Well frankly, I am a straight, white, Christian, cisgender male. It’s people like me that need to step up and show support for the marginalized people. In early December, officials in the West Middlesex School District (Mercer County) announced that existing school policies on inclusion, diversity, and respect would expand to include allowing transgender and […]