Viccky Gutierrez Is the Second Trans Person Reported Murdered in 2018

Friends and family report that Viccky Gutierrez, 33, is the second known victim of homicide in the US during 2018. Wednesday evening, Bamby Salcedo, President & CEO of TransLatin@ Coalition, announced in a Facebook post the death of Viccky Gutierrez: “It is with deep sadness, rage and pain that I have to share with all of you […]

Donate Girl Scout Cookies to Local LGBTQ Youth Projects

This is one of my favorite projects each year – my friend is 14 and she is a Girl Scout. She and her Mom have been selling cookies for many years. For the past several, they accept orders for cookies to be donated to local LGBTQ organizations that work with youth.  She has lots of […]

RIP Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42, First Trans Woman Murdered in 2018

Christa

A 42-year-old in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts is the first known transgender person to be killed in 2018 in the United States. Her name was Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien. The man who confessed to police that he killed Christa is her husband, 47-year-old Mark Steele-Knudslien. He is awaiting arraignment. An autopsy will be conducted Sunday […]

Ann Veglia-Eisler Has Been Found

I am so glad to share this news. Ann Veglia-Eisler, whom we had reported missing as of December 5, has been found and is reportedly safe. I do not have any further details. But I am in awe that two members of our community, with absolute no connection to one another, went missing in a […]

Dakota, 27, Wants You to Support Queer Activists & Queer Art #AMPLIFY

Describe your geographical community. 

“Pittsburgh is an urban community that is mostly LGBTQ-friendly, but I’ve found that’s often on a surface level… which I think is true for the way Pittsburgh appeals to lots of minoritized groups. There are community spaces for queer folks, medical providers who cater to our specific needs, nonprofits dedicated to our causes, and local businesses owned by members of the community. But it often feels like Pittsburgh’s blue-collar roots are at odds with contemporary queer community-building. Queer folks, to me, feel very disparate and broken up into cliques — sort of how the city is split up into so many tiny neighborhoods. As I write this answer, I’m realizing that I don’t think I’ve ever let my guard down to feel like my full self in any of the five years I’ve been living in Western PA.”

Lissa, 28, Identifies as Genderfluid, Grey Ace, and Poly #AMPLIFY

What motivated you to take part in this project? Maybe my answers will help someone else. I didn’t have anyone to say these things to me and I wish I had.

Nina Wyley Has Been Found and She’s Safe

Very good news in the disappearance of Seleana ‘Nina’ Wyley – she has been located and is reported to be safe. She made contact with family friends. I do not have any details or specifics, but we do have this confirmation from local LGBTQ activist Amber Sloan from M.A.D.E. IT Pittsburgh.  

Black Trans Woman Brandi Seals is the 25th Transgender Person Reported Murdered in 2017

Brandi Seals Transgender

  She was 26 years old. Her name was Brandi Seals. She lived in Houston, Texas. She was a black trans woman. And she is now the 25th transgender person to be murdered in the US during 2017. According to reports from Houston media, it was just around 6 a.m. Wednesday, December 13,  when neighbors […]

Kool Kase, 32, is a Black Lesbian at Peace With Herself #AMPLIFY

  Name: Kool Kase Age: 32 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Butler County Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Female, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My challenges came from those same people I looked at for support. I was always an outgoing person and not one […]

FOUND! Nina Wyley, a 20-Year-Old Gay, Black Woman, is Missing in Pittsburgh

UPDATE – Nina has been found safe.  Nina Wyley is a 20-year-old black, gay female from East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She’s been missing since December 6 when she was last seen in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Her family is gravely concerned about her. Nina is 5’6″, weighs 180 lbs, and has light brown eyes. […]