Guilty Verdict in the 2012 Assault & Shooting of Lesbian Couple in Texas

Kristene Chapa Mollie Olgin

Kristene Chapa, then 18, and girlfriend Mollie Olgin, then 19, stopped by a park on their way to see a movie on June 23, 2012. A horrifying encounter with a stranger ended with both young women sexually assaulted and shot, left for dead in that park. Olgin died of her injuries, but Kristene Chapa survived and took the stand to testify against David Strickland more than four years later.

It took the jury less than six hours to return a guilty verdict. Four years, 3 months and six hours after their horrible ordeal, there was finally some justice for Mollie and Kristene and, hopefully, some closure for Kristene.

Update on the Lives and Deaths of Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson

Crystal Jackson and Britney Crosbey

The story of Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson resonates through recent events even though they’ve been dead for more than ten months. Britney and Crystal were 24-year-old queer women of color from Houston. Their bodies were left near a dumpster, Crystal died of a gunshot wound and Britney due to severe head trauma. They were […]

Horrifying News of Another Trans Woman Murdered

From Naples, Florida comes horrifying news of the vicious murder of 31 year old Yaz’min Shancez, a trans woman. Yaz’min leaves behind a family, friends and coworkers. While her family does misgender her in the media, it seems they had a relationship and certainly must be going through sheer hell right now.  (Note: these articles misgender […]

Father of Murdered Woman Arrested in Connection With Deaths of Houston Lesbian Couple

Crystal Jackson and Britney Crosbey

In a shocking turn of events, the father of Britney Cosby was arrested today on charges related to the murder of Cosby and her girlfriend, Crystal Jackson.  The bodies of the women were found near a dumpster in Galveston. From the Houston ABC affiliate KTRK: Galveston county investigators arrested James Larry Cosby, 46, Thursday morning. […]

Photos from LGBTQ Rally in Lawrenceville

I’m still working on my write-up of the rally itself – I hope to have some constructive, next-step news early this week. In the meantime, you can take a look at the photo I took at the rally. Click on this photo to go to the entire album.

Rally Against Hate Violence Tonight in Pittsburgh

I’ll have a wrapup  tomorrow,  but if you can – please come out tonight to show your support for all victims of hate based crimes and violence. Stand together. Time:  6 PM Location: 51st Street at Butler Street, Lawrenceville Why:  Open-mic so anyone can talk about their experience and feelings. This is a peaceful gathering […]

Pgh Gay Men Assaulted in Alleged Gay Bashing Incident

Two local men, Ben Stoviak and his boyfriend Aaron , reported that they were physically assaulted by three unknown men around 2 AM Sunday morning. Stoviak posted this on his Facebook page: Last night, a group of men attacked me and my boyfriend on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. After yelling, from across the street, “Faggot!” […]

Teen Lesbian Couple Shot in Head, Left for Dead in South Texas Park

A very tragic and disturbing story breaks tonight from South Texas. From Raw Story: Visitors to a public park in Portland, Texas were terrified on Saturday to find two teenage girls who had been shot in the head, according to MSNBC. Nineteen-year-old Mollie Judith Olgin was found dead on the scene and 18-year-old Mary Christine Chapa […]