Why Does Beaver County Have No Regard for Trans Lives? Or Why Krisinda Bright Does Not Deserve to Die

Transgender Murder

Krisinda Bright did a terrible thing when she murdered her two young adult children, both of whom were trans BIPOC. No one denies that, not even her. Killing your own children is the worst conceivable crime. But no one has shown that she herself deserves to die (now off the table thanks to a plea […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Xander Orenstein, Magisterial Judge Elect

We also must remember that your identity is part of your power, but do not let it alone define who you are. There are always bits of who you are that are out there to be discovered and what you will find will surprise and empower you. A few days after Election Day 2021, the […]

Black Trans Woman Nikai David Fatally Shot in Oakland, California, 50th Trans Victim of 2021

Nikai David

Friends of Nikai David are in shock after learning of her murder this past week. The 33-year-old was a model and aspiring social media influencer who had celebrated her birthday not even a week ago. Police said just after 4 a.m., officers responded to a shooting on Castro Street in West Oakland and found Nikai, […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Gregory O. Yorgey-Girdy, Judge-Elect

Greg Yorgey-Girdy

  As gay people, we are not one to sit around and be quiet. We have a history of being marginalized. In 2020, we had one of the highest voter registrations. It’s queer people getting out and doing it. A few days after Election Day 2021, the Victory Fund released a list of known out  […]

Trans Woman Cris Blehar, 65, Murdered in Kentucky in May 2021.

Cris Blehar

Cris Blehar was a 65-year-old white trans woman whose life was taken on May 19, 2021 in the Meade County, Kentucky region. Cris has served our nation and retired from the US Air Force. According to local news, a suspect has been charged with her murder and a trial date has been set for June […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Sean Strub, Mayor of Milford

Sean Strub Mayor of Milford

That has always stuck with me, this idea that we as queer people have a special role to play in society and, quite frankly, society needs us today more than ever before. A few days after Election Day 2021, the Victory Fund released a list of known out  LGBTQ  candidates who won their offices. They […]

What a local Black trans woman has taught me about the Trans Day of Remembrance

People often ask me, especially around this time of year, why I write blog posts memorializing neighbors who have been killed by the anti-trans terror in our nation. That is actually the wrong question and I’m not the person to ask. Instead we should ask why mainstream media outlets are not creating the same content. […]

Black Trans Woman Danyale Johnson, 35, Killed in Memphis

On the literal eve of the Trans Day of Remembrance comes word of another loss, the 48th trans neighbor swept up in the campaign of terror acknowledged on TDoR. A 35-year-old Black trans woman was killed by gunshot on Sunday, November 7 in Memphis, Tennessee. Danyale Johnson was found in a parking lot around 1 […]

Black Trans Woman Angel Naira, 36, Killed in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Angel Naira Transgender

UPDATED On the cusp of the 2021 Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR), Western Pennsylvania has lost a fourth trans person to the campaign of terror haunting the lives of our trans, nonbinary, and gendernonconforming neighbors. Angel Naira, 36, was found dead from gunshot injuries in her Aliquippa home in Beaver County. Police responded to a […]

LGBTQIA+ Commission statement re: TDOR and Transgender Awareness Week UPDATED

Statement on Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021  The City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission recognizes our beautiful, vibrant, and talented  trans and nonbinary neighbors this year during Transgender Awareness Week. We hope this  week finds you happy and healthy. Regardless of your age, your profession, or your race;  regardless of whether or […]