Haters Gonna Hate or the Latest Northsider Who Thinks It is Okay To Harass Trans Kids & Remove Yard Signs

The #ProtectTransKids campaign is still bursting with requests – we just placed another order for signs and the first batch of stickers went out in today’s mail. You are doing a solid job protecting trans kids, the one at the epicenter of this project, and all of the trans kids (of all ages) who see […]

Black Trans Ohio Woman Fatally Shot in Detroit

Dede Ricks

Dede Ricks, a 33-year-old Black trans woman, was shot to death in Detroit on August 27, 2022. Dede was from Ohio, possibly Cleveland. While police have identified, arrested, and charged a suspect in her murder, there is not much information known about DeDe (sometimes styled Dede) or her family. We do know that she did […]

Pittsburgh Woman Guilty of Harassment of Trans Teen Neighbor Files Appeal, Faces Further Civil Legal Actions

Darian Balcom TERF Pittsburgh

While not unexpected, news of yet another legal hurdle for the O’Donnell-Collar family arrived with notification that their neighbor has appealed her conviction of harassment. On July 26, 2022, District Magisterial Judge Duncan-Williams determined that 50-year-old Darian Balcom was guilty of one count of statutory harassment after two years of behavior targeting her next door […]

Two Trans Folx Experiencing Mental Health Crisis Shot and Killed by Police in Separate Incidents

Last night I read this via HRC Aaron Lynch, a 26-year-old transgender man who was shot and killed by police in McClean, Virginia on July 7. Then I read this on Facebook On May 19, 2022, Maddie, a transgender woman, Korean adoptee, and father of two young children, was shot and killed by Malvern Police (Pennsylvania) during […]

COVID Realities

Reading over my posts about living with COVID-19 the past ten days, I’m struck by my flippant indignation and simmering ire about everything from the systemic failings to my personal inconveniences. As I head into Day 10 without respite, those sentiments shift. I’m ashamed by my shallow even callous comments. This is not a joke. […]

COVID How It Is Going

Well, I’m still sick. I could list symptoms, but really – you know the symptoms. I do have a funky rash which seems like a gross thing to share, but could be helpful for someone reading this who says “I have a rash, too.” It is day 7 since my symptoms and day four since […]

Covid Chronicles – WTF?

This is seriously horrible. Laura was exposed on Friday morning and sick Sunday evening. She’s feeling cruddy, but okay enough. I started to have symptoms on Tuesday and each day have been progressively worse. If this is mild, I’ll eat my hat. But it will taste odd so not so much. I have been running […]

COVID Chronicles – They Lost My Test

My wife was exposed last week and by Sunday night, felt horrible. She called our PCP and they brought her right in for a test. They told me that since we cannot isolate from each other, I likely would get it. But wanted me to wait to be tested. OK, fine. I didn’t feel great […]

Welcome to the Garfield Boys – our latest foster kittens

Foster Kittens Pittsburgh

We took in some foster kittens to help with the deluge on local rescues. Our crew are three boys who were from Garfield. They are sweet, curious, and friendly. They are doing well so far – about seven weeks old, all males, and off to a good socialization start. They will be available for adoption […]

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Executive Order to Protect LGBTQIA+ Pennsylvanians from Conversion Therapy

Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order that provides some protections from conversion therapy. “Conversion therapy is a traumatic practice based on junk science that actively harms the people it supposedly seeks to treat,” said Gov. Wolf. “This discriminatory practice is widely rejected by medical and scientific professionals and has been proven to lead to […]