Q&A with Drew Leigh Williams, Currently Starring in ‘Not Medea’ at Carnegie Stage

Drew Leigh Williams

“We often have feelings out of frustration and being overwhelmed and life in general that generate moments of wishing we could be free of our responsibilities, such as toward our kids or family. It doesn’t mean we want to be free of them. It means we are  human. These feelings are universal and stretch back […]

Vincent, 54, is a Nonbinary Transmasculine & Queer Asian Pacific Islander in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

As an elderly Queer person, I chronically worry about and struggle with poverty and homelessness. And I’m aware that there are a lot of local Queer and Trans folks who are homeless or struggling with food insecurity. Name: Vincent Age: 54 County of Residence: Allegheny County, previously San Francisco Pronouns: He/Him & They/Them How do you describe your […]

E! The Dragnificent Reviews Werq the World in Pittsburgh VIDEO

E! The Dragnificent

Our drag correspondent, E! The Dragnificent, went to the Werq the World show last night in Pittsburgh and shared her thoughts via Instagram (mama managed.)  You may remember that she was part of our Q&A with Aquaria and also wrote a powerful essay about drag culture. You can follow E (on mama managed accounts) Insta: […]

Ellen owes the Dixie Chicks an apology

While I’m not particularly surprised that Ellen Degeneres continues to lose touch with the experience of typical queer folks, I was dismayed by her comments defending her friendship with former President George W Bush. “We’re all different and I think that we’ve forgotten that that’s okay that we’re all different … but just because I […]

The loneliness of October

Trauma and Loneliness

Content Note: depression, trauma, sexual violence The last time I saw a friend in person by choice was September 22, 2019. That was three weeks ago, a probably unhealthy amount of time without socializing. And I have zero plans to change that pattern. This loneliness, this self-imposed isolation, is not new to me, but my […]

Visibility in Coming Out, Both Quietly and Publicly #NationalComingOutDay

Yep I'm Gay

I had an idea to explore an important question around coming out – the need for visibility and representation by publicly out folks in all industries, occupations, walks of life balanced against the very personal decisions we make to come out. I wrote about this in 2015 regarding the workforce of the City of Pittsburgh. […]

Losing My Psychiatrist on World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2019

Today I saw my psychiatrist. I’m having a tough time and had hoped he would have suggestions. After a solid talk, he agreed with me that I need to be seen twice a week for trauma processing treatment, commended me on my self-advocacy, and informed me he was leaving the agency at the end of […]

Itali Marlowe, 29, of Houston is the 20th Known Transgender Person Killed in 2019

Itali Marlowe

Itali Marlowe was just 29 years old when she was shot to death by Raymond D. Williams on September 20, 2019. It was a little past 2 PM in the afternoon when the Houston woman was found dying in her driveway near the home she shared with Williams. Itali was a Black trans woman. Williams […]

Pgh Northside Cat Ladies and Friends Feral Cat Supplies – Donate!

Fundraiser for homeless cats

The Pgh Northside Cat Ladies and Friends are working with Homeless Cat Management Team to create a cat trapping “lending library” on the Northside for convenience and efficiency. This project is eligible for a 100% match so any bit you can donate will get twice as close to our end goal. Our goal is two […]

Celebrating International Lesbian Day 2019 with 64 Lesbians

Lesbian Day of Visibility

So, this is an unusual day of observance. I get a little skittish around the concept because I am suspicious that TERF’s are behind most contemporary “all things lesbian” these days.  There’s also a Lesbian Visibility Day, Don’t get me wrong – more visibility is a good thing, but it is a truth universally understood […]