Add Jacob Williamson to the Conversation about Brutal Violence Targeting Trans and Nonbinary Youth

Transgender youth

Content Note: transgender, anti-trans violence, graphic descriptions of violence As we continue to grieve the violent death of Nex Benedict in Oklahoma, there’s another case that should hold our attention. Jacob Williamson, an 18 year old white trans man, was brutally murdered in Monroe, North Carolina while on a first date with someone he met […]

UPDATE: Registration of LGBTQ Youth for Holiday Day Gift Card Drive Exceeds Expectations by 40%

Only three groups have registered so far – Pittsburgh Public Schools, Proud Haven, and Project Silk. When Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities decided to wrap up 2022 with a gift card drive for LGBTQ youth, ages 12-21, connected with community groups – we did a preliminary assessment of how many youth might participate. You’ll remember that we […]

Donate Gift Cards for Local LGBTQ Teens This Holiday Season

Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities (PLC) is teaming up with local LGBTQ organizations to end the year on a positive and affirming note – distributing gift cards to queer and trans teens, ages 12-21, who are participants in those programs. As part of our #ProtectTransKids projects from 2022, PLC is working with the community to end the […]

Pittsburgh Celebrates First ‘Protect Trans Kids Day’ With Proclamation

Protect Trans Kids Day Pittsburgh

“To be properly recognized by the city is essentially a beautiful moment for me knowing that it’s a stepping stone for kids to not ever have to feel how I felt or how other kids around me kind of felt like growing up,” they said. “No one was teaching or sharing trans joy around me […]

Black Trans Teen Girl Ariyanna Mitchell, 17, Murdered in Virginia

Ariyanna Mitchell Kamari Black trans women

Her name was Ariyanna Mitchell. She was 17 years old resident of Newport News, Virginia. On April 2, she was shot multiple times at a party in nearby Hampton, Virginia when she intervened in a dispute. Ariyanna was a Black trans woman. 19-year-old Jimmy Leshawn Williams of Norfolk shot her multiple times with an assault […]

What Happened to Poe Black, a 21-year-old Trans Man Killed in Slab City, California?

The body of 21-year-old Poe Black was discovered in the Sonoran Desert on May 11, 2021 near Slab City in Niland, California. Also known as Oliver Jackson, Poe was a resident of Slab City, an unincorporated collection of camps frequently occupied by homeless folks and others who purposefully chose to live outside of conventional communities. […]

25-Year-Old Illinois Trans Man Shot to Death

Correction: I misspelled Haven’s surname in the original post. I have made the correction. I am sorry for the confusion. – Sue Haven A Bailey was 25 years old. He was living in Illinois where he grew up and graduated from Addison Trail High School. Haven identified as a trans man, most recently living in […]

35-Year-Old Trans South Carolinian Thomas Hardin Murdered During Killing Spree

The story of Thomas Hardin’s death is nuanced, complicated, and frightening. The frightening element is in most part because the man who is believed to have killed him and four other people in two states is armed and on the run. According to family, friends, and law enforcement, Thomas Hardin identified as a woman. But […]

White Trans Teen Oliver ‘Ollie’ Taylor, 17, Killed in Oregon After Being Kidnapped

On May 19, 2021, a 17-year-old white trans young man Oliver “Ollie” Taylor died after being kidnapped and shot on May 12 in Gervais, Oregon. Ollie is the 27th trans person violently killed in the United States to date. Ollie endured a kidnapping at the hands of a 20-year-old acquaintance as did another friend was […]

We are Donating Our Halloween Trick-or-Treat Candy to Local LGBTQIA Youth

Where to Donate Halloween Candy in Pittsburgh

We love Trick-or-Treat. We have a cute set of bowls plus a teal pumpkin. We order our candy several weeks ahead of time, including the pieces we will inevitably eat ourselves. If the weather is nice, we sit on our stoop. Otherwise, I sit on the sofa watching out for Trick-or-Treaters and we take turns […]