GI Sue: Part Seven in a Chronic Health Crisis

Sue Kerr Cats

When we left my little saga in the spring, I was waiting to see a rheumatologist, That was April. It took until late September to do so. Is it me or does it seem like appointments with specialists are even harder to secure now than before the pandemic? My dermatologist is booking nearly 18 months […]

Just To Be The Ally Who Raised $1000 To Lay Down at Your Door

Da da da (da da da)Da da da (da da da)Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da Da My nickname for the group of queer and trans youth who developed the #ProtectTransKidsDay proclamation is “The Proclaimers” Already unhappy that trans kids reported (too) much misgendering and deadnaming in healthcare settings, they […]

Losing weight is not the eternal magic fat girl solution

When you’ve undergone test after test to figure out why you are sick, there is a moment – a moment when a test turns up information. Not quite a diagnosis, not quite a precise answer. But still, it is something to cling to in a landscape colored by bias, insurance industries, and sexism, of people […]

Flip, 32, Describes Rural & Urban Life as a Pansexual, Queer Man #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Pansexual Queer Man

Name: Flip Shuffstall Age: 32 County of Residence: Allegheny County, formerly Venango County. Clarion County. United Kingdom, Liverpool. Pronouns: Him How do you describe your identity? Cis Male—Pansexual—Queer Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Imagine if Dharma and Greg had kids. My maternal side—liberal—loving and accepting. Paternal side—right-wing-Christian—homophobic—rich. Some summers […]

One Year After His Death, I Have Unfinished Business with Kerry S. Kennedy

Kerry S. Kennedy Florist Collage

I use my Google calendar to track a lot things, but memorial dates are perhaps the most important to me. Because I don’t want to forget them, even if its sad to think about their deaths. I want to remember that they lived (birthdays) and acknowledge that their deaths were too soon and too sad. […]

Kat, 33, Shares Her Story as a Trans Woman to Find Some Peace #AMPLIFY

Transgender Venango County

Name: Kat Age:  33 County of Residence:  Raised in Venango county pa moved out at 28 on vacation here currently. Pronouns: Her How do you describe your identity? Mtf ts Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It was and is pretty mixed emotions on it. 5 years later and […]

UPMC v Highmark: Chapter 897689

Highmark UPMC

For the past several months, I have been interviewed by reporter Carolyn Johnson for a Washington Post piece on the Pittsburgh healthcare scene. More specifically, she was writing about the impact of two companies ‘stacking’ healthcare insurance with healthcare providers into what we know as UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network. I think vertical integration is the […]

Allegheny Health Network is the Donald Trump of Regional Health Care: A Saga

Dick Cheney Donald Trump

I’ve been a long-time patient of a UPMC primary care practice out of sheer practicality, but considered myself #TeamHighmark for political and personal reasons. We have Highmark health insurance through Ledcat’s employer which has caused numerous problems over the years over crap like UPMC levying a ‘facility fee’ because my PCP is housed in a […]

Morgan, 31, is a Black, Bisexual, Queer, Polyamorous Woman & Mother #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh polyamorous bisexual queer

Name: Morgan Age: 31 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I am a black, bisexual, queer, polyamorous woman and mother. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to the “general public” in a long Facebook post after the Orlando tragedy in 2016. […]

Western PA Resistance During the House District Work Week – Resist #AHCA

Now is the time to show up. In person. With a spouse, partner, friend and/or your children. Show your ire and our collective might. Bring a sign or not. Just be there. Stand on the front line or on the fringe. Just be there. Chant and raise your hand or use your phone to document […]