Q&A With Jerry Dickinson, Candidate for U.S. Congress PA-12

Yes, I am committed to a fully inclusive Equality Act that includes gender identity. I would not vote for a version that focuses on sexual orientation and not gender identity as this would exclude a large population of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our trans and non-binary siblings need powerful, equitable representation and protection This is the […]

Guest Post: Ukrainian Kokum Scarf and Indigenous People

Kokum Grandmother Scarrf

First published on Facebook by Lenora “Lee” DingusNod-doh-wa-ge-no (Seneca) Artist of Echoes of the Four Directions This Is a kokum scarf or grandmother scarf. Kokum means grandmother in Cree. Today It’s a piece of cloth used in powwows by jingle dancers “as a method of prayer while dancing with pow-wow dresses, It was all so […]

UPDATED: Trans Latina Paloma Velasquez Murdered in Houston

On Saturday, February 22, a young Latinx trans woman was found murdered in her home. Her boyfriend returned from work and discovered her body. Reports indicate she had been there alone for hours with no neighbors hearing gunshots.  There was no sign of forced entry. What happened to her? With baited breath, we waited for […]

Q&A With NaTisha Washington, Candidate for PA House District 24

Unfortunately Pittsburgh/Allegheny County does a bad job of celebrating and acknowledging our talented resident until they’re famous or nationally recognized. I’ve fortunately had the opportunity to meet or know about many people around the city doing amazing work but they were not locally supported like they should. Last year I highlighted black environmentalists, but this […]

LGBTQIA+ Commission 2022 Black History Month Statement

21-year-old Latina Trans Woman Murdered in Lubbock, Texas

Cypress Ramos, a 21-year-old Latina trans woman, was found dead on February 13, 2022 in her hometown of Lubbock, Texas. Cypress died from blunt force trauma. Her suspect was quickly identified as 32 year-old Allan Montemayor and has been arrested and faces a murder charge. Her body was found inside a storage locker in a […]

Martina Caldera, 38, was Killed on December 6, 2021

Martina Caldera was 38-years-old. Martina Caldera, a Latina transgender woman, was found fatally shot in Houston, Texas on December 6, 2021. Caldera’s death is at least the 56th violent killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in 2021. Her death is at least the 6th 2021 homicide to come to light in 2022. Investigators […]

25-year-old Black Trans Woman Naomie Skinner Murdered in Detroit

Naomiee Skinner

Naomie Skinner was a 25-year-old Black trans woman from Kentucky. On Saturday, February 12, 2022, she became the third trans person reported dead in 2022. Per The Detroit News: A Highland Park man is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend after an argument escalated and then dragging her body out of an apartment and into […]

Mayor Gainey Appoints Out Trans Latina Maria Montaño as Press Secretary, Unveils Letterhead With Pronouns

Maria Montaño

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey made a landmark announcement today, sharing that he has appointed Maria Montaño as his Press Secretary. Montaño is an experienced communications professional who brings a lot of talent and wisdom to the position. She also happens to identify as a proud trans, queer, Latinx woman. Montaño is possibly the highest ranking […]

Two Additional BIPOC Trans Women Died in 2021

Rubi Dominguez and Keeva Scatter

PinkNews and TransGriot join the HRC in shining a light on the deaths of two trans women of color, both during 2021 and but only now coming to light with robust details. On Friday July 16th in Arlington TX, Arlington police were called to the 2100 block of N. Collins Street around 3:30am to find […]