Spying on the appropriation of the ‘real’ James Bond with City Theatre

THE REAL JAMES BOND…WAS DOMINICAN closes this weekend at City Theatre. I think you should check it out. While I am no James Bond fan, I do appreciate his legacy in contemporary culture so the title caught my attention. Turns out Porfirio Rubirosa, a Dominican diplomat, race car driver, soldier and polo player who’s believed to […]

I Knew Elisa Rae Shupe (1963-2025) and She Deserved Better

Jamie Shupe Pittsburgh

I met Elisa Rae Shupe, known then as Jamie, here in Pittsburgh. She had moved here with her wife for trans affirming health care. We met through the local LGBTQ Community Center when I was seeking donations from veterans groups to support trans and queer youth. Note: while Elisa is well known for winning a […]

29 Year Old Black Trans Woman Tahiry Broom Killed in Detroit

Tahiry Broom, a 29-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed on Sunday morning, February 9, in Southfield, Michigan. She was visiting Detroit from Cleveland. Tahiry’s nickname was Tokyo. According to WXYZ, Robert Ridges III, 28, met her through a commercial sex advertisement and met up on Sunday, Feb. 9, near Ridges’ apartment in Southfield. […]

My Disabled Friend Has a Section 8 Voucher, But Cannot Find a Landlord

A friend of mine needs help with housing. D is 58 years old and disabled. He is the primary caretaker for his 59 year old disabled brother. They have a Section 8 voucher from Allegheny County for a 2 bedroom apartment. D has been searching for almost a year for a landlord who will accept their […]

On this third anniversary of my Mum’s death, I hope she is protected in Heaven

JIm Pryor

It doesn’t hurt this year. Not in the way her absence from this world ricocheted through my mind and heart the past two years. I realize I write about with so much sadness. Let’s try something new this year. And whatever sadness I feel is mitigated by knowing she is safe. Hopefully, she’s safe in […]

Being underestimated might be my superpower

I am not supposed to talk about any of my lawsuits (all civil matters) so I want to talk about my life, my day to day life as a person with multiple civil lawsuits she can’t discuss. And multiple disabilities. After six months of homelessness (couch surfing), I returned to my home of 20 years […]

How Lucky Am I To Have This 50 Year Friendship?

Let me tell you about my friend, Amy L. We grew up together in West Mifflin, kept in touch over the years. She landed in Upstate NY where she raised her two kids, now adults. She worked in the retail grocery world for like 20 years before pivoting to a civil service exam at age […]

How a Community Pet Food Pantry in Pittsburgh Joined the Resistance

We don’t know what lies ahead. We won’t give you platitudes about resiliency or inner strength or toughness even though we think those are true. What we can give you is reassurance that you are not alone. The Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry supports neighbors taking care of animals – community cats, […]

Here’s How Day 12 of Pneumonia Feels

I’ve been feeling better each day if I don’t push myself too much. Yesterday, I pushed so today I feel awful. Not as awful as last Friday. But in bed for a nap at 2 PM, struggle to complete chores, struggle to complete paperwork awful. My coughing is minimal thanks to meds. My chest still […]

There are 16 minutes left in this day

Today feels like an ending, the eve of the coronation of our new autocrat. Now I know this is something that has been happening since colonizing white Europeans arrived in the Americas. We’ve been on a journey through capitalism that has turned our lives upside down repeatedly, benefitting fewer and fewer people, hurting more and […]