Delivering Cat Food to Neighbors in Need

This was an exhausting, but good week – I had the opportunity to deliver hundreds of pounds of cat food to neighbors managing cat colonies via the Pgh Cat Food Drive. We helped trap one lost cat (see that story here) and we are on the trail of another missing cat who escaped his trap […]

23-year-old Black Trans Woman Shot to Death in Cincinnati

Diamond Kyree Sanders

She was 23-years-old, born and raised in Cincinnati. On March 3, she became the latest Black trans woman murdered in the U.S. Her name was Diamond Kyree Sanders. She also was known as Diamond Nicole. Cincinnati police responded to a report of a person shot on Morrison Avenue around 3:42 a.m., according to a Wednesday […]

How Our Lesbian Wedding Registry Reunited a Missing Cat With His Humans

In early January, a cat named Buddy escaped from his foster group during a routine transport. He was spotted on the Northside in the Allegheny West neighborhood. In early February, two lesbians also on the Northside got married. One of their wedding registries was primarily cat rescue gear – traps, crates, nets, gloves, food, and […]

Seeking Political Candidates to Take Our Political Q&A

Political Q&A

Since 2018, we have published a series of Q&A’s with candidates for all levels of political office – borough councils, school boards, judicial candidates, statewide office, and more. We kicked off our 2021 Primary season via Q&A with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto earlier this month. And we’ve invited other candidates to participate. Here are the […]

Body of 34-Year-Old Trans Woman Jenna Franks Found in North Carolina Community

Her name was Jenna Franks. On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the body of 34-year-old Jenna Franks was discovered in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From The Daily News (misgendering and deadnaming at that link): According to a news release from JPD, Jacksonville City Street personnel were clearing the ditch area when they saw a body located in the […]

TONIGHT: Weekly MasQueerade Virtual Meetup to Focus on 3 Western PA Transgender Victims of Fatal Violence

Transgender Lives western pennsylvania

Each Saturday night, the Pittsburgh MasQue ProjecT brings you a virtual meetup to offer some respite from the isolation of COVID-19 in a fun, casual atmostphere. You can find out more at the project Facebook page. Tonight’s edition will be specifically focused on discussing and processing the horrible murders of three trans BIPOC in rural […]

Correction: Three Young Trans Folx Were Murdered in Western Pennsylvania This Past Week

Jasmine Cannady

Earlier this week, we reported on the tragic shooting death of 22-year-old Jasmine Cannady and younger brother, Jeffrey ‘JJ’ Bright, in Ambridge, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. At that time, we noted that JJ identified as a trans male teen, having begun his transition at age 12. He was 16 at the time of his death. Since […]

How to Donate to Funeral Expenses for Chynaa Carrillo, Jasmine Cannady, and Jeffrey ‘JJ’ Bright

Over a five day period, Western Pennsylvania lost three young BIPOC neighbors to violent deaths. On Thursday, February 18, in New Wilmington, PA 24-year-old Chynaa Carrillo was beaten to death by the man she was dating. He was killed by police at the scene. Chynaa was a trans Latinx woman and a CNA working in […]

16-Year-Old Trans Male and Older Sibling Shot to Death by Mother in Western Pennsylvania

Jasmine Jeffrey Bright

Another tragedy involving a trans neighbor unfolded Monday, February 22 in Ambridge, Beaver County, Pennsylvania when a 48-year-old mother shot both of her young adult children in the head, killing them at the scene inside the family home. 22-year-old Jasmine Cannady and younger brother, 16-year-old Jeffery ‘JJ’ Bright died. JJ has been repeatedly misgendered and […]

Update: The Man Who Killed Trans Woman Chynaa Carrillo Served Eight Years for Murdering His 20-Year-Old Cisgender Wife

Two women

On Thursday, February 18, a 24-year-old trans Latina was brutally murdered in New Wilmington, a small town in rural Western Pennsylvania. Her name was Chynaa Carrillo. The man who murdered her, Juan Carlos Hernandez, was 30 years old. He appears to have been a native of Ohio and recently returned there. From prison. He was […]