AMPLIFYBisexualTrans

Ciora, 27, Says Trans People Have the Strength of Two Souls #AMPLIFY

October 18, 2016 by
Pittsburgh Trans Woman

Name: Ciora Thomas

Age: 27

County of Residence: Allegheny

Preferred Pronouns:  she/her/hers

How do you describe your identity? I’m a Bi Transwomn.

Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out experience wasn’t really a coming out more so i got caught by my step father and my family then turned on me. I found support in downtown Pittsburgh and the GLCC when it was in Squirrel Hill ran by Lyndsey Sickler. I faced many challenges the main being a homeless trans teenager.

Blogiversary

Our New Blog Design!

October 18, 2016 by
Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

On Monday, we unveiled our brand new site – ta da! 

It has been a six month process in partnership with Avenue Design Studios, a gay owned company here in Pittsburgh. I wanted to highlight #AMPLIFY but maintain a traditional blog format. John from Ave Designs wanted to create a design blending elements of #AMPLIFY with the traditional pghlesbian hallmarks.

We also faced the challenge of converting our first six years of archives from html to wordpress (long story.) Well, John faced that. I just wrung my hands and hoped for the best. Of course, he made it happen.

Recreation/Social
Politics

Here’s Why I Think You Should Vote for Hillary Clinton

October 17, 2016 by
HIllary Clinton Pennsylvania

For weeks, my head has been in a muddle over all sorts of things. I have been wanting to write a coherent explanation of why I’m supporting Hillary Clinton in this election, an urge that grows more insistent with each encounter I have with folks I know supporting Trump. But my mind is working against me as it is prone to do when I feel anxious.

So000 I’m going to share a few links with you that I hope will help you to understand where I’m at in my head. I understand the fear of neo-liberal policies is genuine and based in the worst elements of capitalism and democracy. I understand that Hillary is far from perfect, but I do think she is the most perfectly qualified woman to shatter the glass ceiling of the White House as well as the most prepared and experienced candidate for President.

AMPLIFYQueer
In MemoriamTrans

Black Trans Woman Brandi Bledsoe, 32, Murdered in Cleveland

October 13, 2016 by
Brandi Bledsoe

It is with great sadness and anger that I read about the murder of 32 year old black trans woman, Brandi Bledsoe. Her body was discovered over the weekend near her Cleveland home.

Brandi had a job, a passion for art and the support of at least some of her family. Yet, she did not escape the cycle of unrelenting violence against trans women. She also did not escape being misgendered by police or the media, the final indignity that weaves it’s tentacle into almost all of these stories of the lives of our trans neighbors.

From Cleveland.com (note – they use her old name)

Bledsoe was found dead about 10 a.m. in the driveway behind a home on Drexel Avenue, near East 108th Street. 

She was wearing only underwear and had white plastic bags covering her head and both hands, according to police reports.

A 5-year-old boy discovered her body while riding bikes with his 12-year-old brother.  

Police also said she had head trauma. Cleveland police spokesman Jennifer Ciaccia said investigators will take her transgender status into consideration in the investigation. She said the investigation is in its early stages and it’s too early to determine of motive for Bledsoe’s death. 

No arrests have been made in the case.

AMPLIFYBisexual

Janet, 66, is Bisexual, Cisgender and Gender Nonconforming #AMPLIFY

October 11, 2016 by
Bisexual Allegheny County

Name: Janet

Age: 66

County of Residence: Allegheny. I lived in my youth in Cambridge, MA, Bonn, Germany, New Haven CT and Oxford England.

Preferred Pronouns: She, her hers

How do you describe your identity? I am bisexual in my sexual orientation and cisgender but mildly gender non-conforming in my gender presentation.

Other
AMPLIFYOther

Why People Share Their Stories With #AMPLIFY

October 9, 2016 by
LGBT History Month Pittsburgh

In June 2015, we added this question to the Q&A

“What motivated you to take part in this project?”

The responses have been enlightening when I consider why people take 30-60 minutes to share some of their most personal thoughts with the wide world. Their investment isn’t fleeting – the Q&A will live on as our archived collective experiences.

“I particularly wanted to participate because I wanted an older perspective to be included.”

In MemoriamTrans

RIP Jazz Alford, Black Trans Woman Murdered in Alabama

October 8, 2016 by

Jazz Alford was 30 years old and a native of North Carolina. She was also a black trans woman discovered dead in a Birmingham, Alabama motel in late September. Alford was deliberately misgendered by police (and the media) as part of their investigation process.

Alford’s sister, Toya Milan, who is also a trans woman reached out to media to clarify Jazz’ true identity.

Police have arrested a 23-year-old man, Denzell Thomas for another shooting of a trans woman and he is now a suspect in the Alford case. The other victim survived and is hospitalized as she recovers from her injuries.