Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

I usually include a collage of participating individuals who submitted it for their Q&A. This year, I don’t feel safe doing that.

The Trans Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

I spend too much time – by necessity – writing about violence targeting the trans community. Today, I offer you different content. From 2015-2018, we collected stories directly from members of the community. So I’ve gathered 104 contributions from individuals who identify as transgender and/or gender-expansive or nonbinary.

Dive deep into their first-person stories describing the far corners of their lives. Let them tell you about their own experiences. Listen to their voices. Learn from them. It the literal perfect rabbit hole to immerse yourself in moments of triumph and joy. It is a gift that they’ve shared with us so we can do better.

These Q&A’s below are not in any particular order, but you can find the full chronological archive on this website. There are 317 contributions total. Note that we now include gender nonconforming identities as part of this list. As always, we respect how people identify even if it doesn’t line up with what we expect.

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1. alexis, 29, talks compensation & community for marginalized lgbtq neighbors
2. Rashod Is An Unapologetic Trans Man of Color
3. Donna Met a Female Impersonator Who Made a Lasting Impression
4. Katie-Anne Speaks As Two Spirited Bi Gendered Resident of Johnstown
5. Twist Shares Their Life as Neuroqueer
6. CJ Describes Living Stealth As A Trans Man
7. Patrouious Describes His Fears & Frustrations as a Trans Man in McKean County
8. Sivynn Acknowledges That Some People Just Don’t Pay Attention to His Transition
9. Brandon Believes Pittsburgh Should Have Better Trans Health Resources
10. Jesse Believes in the Power of [Trans]cendence
11. Jessi is a Trans Lesbian Who Asks Questions
12. Brandon, 23, Identifies as a Pansexual Genderqueer Male
13. Kitty Is Out and Open as a Bisexual Trans Woman in Erie County
14. Alex is a Black Trans Man Who Doesn’t Apologize For His Existence
15. Jesse Talks About Living as a Trans Woman in a Culture of Fear
16. Lyndsey Identifies as a Queer Genderfluid Lipstick Butch
17. Kaley is Trans, Queer and a Fan of Gender Outlaws
18. Roman Knows to the Depths of His Soul That He Is a Man #AMPLIFY
19. Niki Talks About Living as a Gender Queer Trans Woman in Pittsburgh
20. Jazmine, 46, Has Advice for LGB Allies to the Trans Community
21. Moira Describes the Toll of Gatekeeping on the Trans Community
22. Sam, 28, is a Genderqueer Artist in Pittsburgh 
23. Luna, 25, is a Poly, Gender fluid, Queer Performance Artist 
24. Rachel Lange, 42, took a few steps out of their gender closet
25. Elliot is Bi, Trans and Wishes Westmoreland County Was Talking More About Queer Youth
26. Corvus Regrets the Lack of Sober, Radical, Queer, and Disability Friendly Community in Pgh
27. Cavanaugh, 25, Talks About Genderflux Identity and the Value of Self-Care
28. Alyssa is First Generation Cuban American, Trans, Gender Nonconforming and from Beaver County
29. Sabrina, 50, Found New Friends When She Came Out as Trans
30. Alissa, 34, is Just Another Girl in the Crowd in Lawrence County
31. Austin, 30, is a Straight Trans Man from Washington County
32. Carmen is 42, Bisexual, and Resonates With Genderfluid Identity
33. Lissa, 28, Identifies as Genderfluid, Grey Ace, and Poly
34. Tylor, 30, is a Pansexual Trans Man Who Wants Better for Young People
35. Bobby, 50, Queer Trans Guy, White Anti-Racism Activist
36. Wes, 44: Queer Trans Man, Parent Wants You To Know That He Exists
37. Patricia, 41, Does Not Feel Safe as a Trans Woman in Her Urban Pgh Suburb
38. Avery is a Bisexual, Latino Tran Man in Cambria County
39. Delilah, 31, Finds Trans Community on Twitter
40. Caitlyn 51, Lives Her Authentic Self as a Trans Woman in Erie
41. ‘Your Story Can Heal’ Says Rain, 26
42. Samantha, 44, Wants Better Health Choices for the Trans Community
43. Ciora, 27, Says Trans People Have the Strength of Two Souls
44. Lavi, 29, is Trans Queer Bi and Wants Your Respect & Support
45. Vi, 24, Is Very Concerned About Trans Health Issues in Pittsburgh
46. Alexia, 40, is Bisexual, Transgender, and Loves Pittsburgh
47. Jez, 50, Came Out As Trans in 1985 in Rural Washington County
48. Bobbi Jo, 63, is a Transgender Lesbian in Indiana County
49. Mindy, 42, Lives Semi-Open as Trans in Rural Elk County
50. Dylan, 28, is a Queer, Autistic Transgender Man
51. Joel, 35, is Gay, a Trans Guy, Polyamorous, Christian, Parent, & Husband
52. Scott, 53, is a Gay Man Exploring Transition & Identity Anew
53. Seth, 21, Came Out as Bi and Trans Via Power Point
54. Tyler, 18, is a Pansexual Trans Man in Erie
55. Caiolin, 56, is Just Another Woman Who Happens To Be Trans
56. Dawn, 33, Describes Life as a Trans Woman in Westmoreland County
57. Ravenna, 37, Pansexual Trans Woman Living in the Allegheny County Suburbs
58. Vanessa, 31, Describes Her Transition & Life as Pansexual in Washington County
59. Lav, 29, a Queer Trans Gender Non Binary Mermaid Witch Warrior
60. Vanessa, 31, Describes Her Transition & Life as Pansexual in Washington County
61. Ravenna, 37, Pansexual Trans Woman Living in the Allegheny County Suburbs
62. Dawn, 33, Describes Life as a Trans Woman in Westmoreland County
63. Caiolin, 56, is Just Another Woman Who Happens To Be Trans
64. Tyler, 18, is a Pansexual Trans Man in Erie
65. Seth, 21, Came Out as Bi and Trans Via Power Point
66. Scott, 53, is a Gay Man Exploring Transition & Identity Anew
67. Joel, 35, is Gay, a Trans Guy, Polyamorous, Christian, Parent, & Husband
68. Dylan, 28, is a Queer, Autistic Transgender Man
69. Mindy, 42, Lives Semi-Open as Trans in Rural Elk County
70. Bobbi Jo, 63, is a Transgender Lesbian in Indiana County
71. Winter, 18, Identifies as a Genderquestioning Bisexual Person
72. Jez, 50, Came Out As Trans in 1985 in Rural Washington County
73. Maria, 37, is a Queer Trans Latinx Challenging Us To Be Better Trans Allies
74. Alexia, 40, is Bisexual, Transgender, and Loves Pittsburgh
75. Madison, 40, is a Pansexual, Trans Woman Who Loves Pittsburgh
76. Rae, 48, is a Pansexual Trans Woman Living in Allegheny County
77. Leo, 24, Fears the Erasure of Nonbinary/Bisexual/Pansexual/Asexual/Demi Narratives in the Queer Community
78. Brian, 32, is Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer in Westmoreland County
79. Kat, 33, Shares Her Story as a Trans Woman to Find Some Peace
80. Jay, 27, Discusses Challenges of Being a Straight Trans Man
81. Allie, 51, Talks Living as a Trans Woman in Washington County
82. Ian, 27, is a Gay Trans Man Resisting Gender Expectations
83. Joslyn, 22, is a Trans Female Concerned About LGBTQ Mental Health Supports
84. Maxwell, 22, is a Queer Trans Man from McKean County
85. Madi Scull, 20, Identifies as a Nonbinary, Asexual Lesbian 
86. Pixie, 26, is Androgynous, Non-binary, Genderqueer and Lesbian, But Identifies as Pixie
87. Meg, 28, is Nonbinary, Genderqueer, Polyamorous, and Pansexual
88. Bob, 24, is an autistic butch non binary lesbian. This is their story.
89. Sarah, 38, Talks Transitioning in Her Rural Pennsylvania Community
90. Marcia, 58, is Cisgender, Lesbian & Slightly Gender Nonconforming
91. Eli, 41, is a Feminist Trans Man Describing Queer Life in Pittsburgh
92. Anastasia, 55, is a Woman Who Identifies as a White Trans Lesbian in Pittsburgh
93. Eli, 37, is a Queer Bisexual, Trans Man, and Small Business Owner
94. Ary, 53, Shares Their Experiences as a Nonbinary Gynophile 
95. Castiel, 36, is Bisexual and Gender Fluid in Westmoreland County
96. Bebe Beretta, 27, is Nonbinary, Genderfluid, and Wants More LGBTQ Folks to Connect
97. Vincent, 54, is a Nonbinary Transmasculine & Queer Asian Pacific Islander in Pittsburgh
98. Patrouious Achatz, 25, Compares LGBTQ+ Resources in Allegheny, Westmoreland, and McKean counties #AMPLIFYupdate
99. Ira, 30, Identifies as Pansexual, Genderqueer and Possibly Agender 
100. Trans Woman Jayme Lyn, 59, Wants Us To Remember the ‘Mature’ Trans Community
101. Marcia, 58, is Cisgender, Lesbian & Slightly Gender Nonconforming 
102. Maddy, 23, is Queer and Gender Nonconforming in Allegheny County 
103. Claudette is a Non-Binary Queer Who Wants Us To See Beyond the L and the G #AMPLIFY
104. Janet, 66, is Bisexual, Cisgender and Gender Nonconforming 

I may have spent 10+ years chronicling the epidemic of anti-trans violence in our nation, but it hasn’t robbed me of the capacity to celebrate trans joy and take steps to create a safer world.