Q&A: Pittsburgh is the Perfect Culture for Steel City Con

Last year, I learned that a colleague who serves on a Commission with me happened to own Steel City Con! It was a delightful bit of news. I’ve always been curious about the Con world. Knowing the owner gave me a reason to pay closer attention. My favorite Con moment media was the 2014 To […]

Nine Reasons to Save This Blog Right Now

Reasons to support saving this blog Political Q&A’s – for six years, I’ve interviewed a who’s who of regional politicos, from a US Senator to behind the scenes folx who make the campaign magic happen. I’ve brought to light countless out LGBTQ elected officials and asked tough, but fair questions. Memorial Post for Trans Neighbors […]

Marilyn Augustine Hendren, a 51 year old Native HIV+ Trans Woman, Died in Tulsa. No One Has Claimed Her Body.

Two photos of a Navajo adult trans woman with chin length hair. In one she's wearing a white dress and in the other a button up paisleey shirt

Marilyn Augustine Hendren was born in Keams Canyon, Arizona in May 1972. She attended Tecumseh High School. Marilyn described herself on Facebook as “gay Native American and HIV + for 23 yrs.” She lived in Albuquerque and then Tulsa. It is believed she was a registered member of the Navajo Nation per a document found […]

Black Trans Woman Bre’Asia Bankz Shot to Death in Arizona

Bre'Asia Bankz photo

Bre’Asai Bankz was born and raised in Crossett, Arkansas. She moved with her family first to Los Vegas and then to Los Angeles, California. After graduating from Crossett High School, she went on to study at the University of Arkansas and then studied hair styling at Beauty Education. At age 27, her life ended at […]

Why I Don’t Regret Giving Away My Barbie Dolls

Barbie Dreamhouse

After seeing the most excellent Barbie movie this weekend with my wife, I’ve been thinking about my childhood relationship with the titular character. As people are in a frenzy to buy Barbie everything and debate the ‘vintage’ factor of their own childhood memories, I have one that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world […]

Review: Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny

SPOILERS We opted for an intergenerational approach to this film dynasty stretching back to 1981 when Laura was graduating high school through this year when Josiah is in his final year of high school. Five movies later, the legacy comes to an end with The Dial of Destiny. And our intrepid review team of Elijah […]

The Summer I Hoped to Have Without Loneliness

lonely sunset in Pittsburgh

I’ve written about this many times, but June is a very difficult month for me. This year, a particular challenge has been my trauma processing work – digging in deep to some stuff that’s so hard to face, so painful, so so so much I can’t discuss with anyone except my therapist. And my therapist […]

Black Trans Woman Ashia Davis Killed in Detroit

Ashia Asia Davis

The reported killing of a 34-year-old Black trans woman in Detroit highlights the violence and anti-trans sentiments permeating the 2023 Pride season in the United States and beyond. Ashia Davis – also known as Asia Davis – died early Friday morning on the second day of Pride month. According to CBS Detroit Highland Park police […]

Review: The Little Mermaid and My 11-Year-Old Nephew

Spoilerish We sent our Disney movie expert Elijah, 11, to preview the Live Action version of The Little Mermaid. Elijah submitted an audio review and I added the transcript. Elijah is 11, an experienced Disney fan courtesy of his mom, and also happens to be a Black child. He previously connected the movie casting to […]

Prom 1988: Did I Have the Time of My Life?

I had a very nice prom experience 25 years ago. My BFF John was my date. He was four years older than me so that was cool. He loved to dance so that was cool. He cut a dashing figure in his tuxedo so that was cool. And he was an out gay man so […]