20 Years Ago Today This House Became My Home

Settle down, it’ll all be clearThe trouble it might drag you downIf you get lost, you can always be found 20 years ago this very day, we loaded up the UHaul at my home in West Mifflin, drove to Manchester where we unloaded for what I thought would be forever. Friends and family had helped […]

Violent Assault Leaves Trans Woman Seriously Injured in Washington DC

On June 29, Cayla Calhoun a 48-year-old white trans woman, was violently assaulted after leaving her DC workplace in the early hours. Calhoun, a transplate from Alabama, described leaving work on her hoverboard only to find herself contending with three men on scooters physically and verbally assaulting her. Her last memory was being shoved off […]

Q&A with Kailey Andrew: Gender Affirming Healthcare is Legal in Pennsylvania

What message do you have for trans and queer youth? You are not alone. Don’t let them erase you. This isn’t the first time or the last time that trans people will have to fight to exist – don’t give up the fight. Read up on your history and take pride in it. Make art. Write […]

Open Letter to UPMC From Staff Calling for Reinstatement of Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Youth and Adults Under 19

I have been asked to publish this letter that I think speaks for itself. I will be publishing Q&A’s with some of the employees leading this effort to protect trans youth. I asked them the same questions. The differences in their answers may offer some insight into the tactics UPMC is using to sacrifice trans […]

Trans intersex US citizen Ezra Hulett, 24, brutally detained, then dies in a Dominican Republic immigration camp

In June 23, 2025, a 24-year-old American citizen was found dead in custody of an immigration detention center in the Dominican Republic. Ezra Hulett identified as an intersex transgender person. He died at the Haina Detention Center in the Dominican Republic. Ezra also used the name Ezri Hajiune. To the best of my knowledge, Hajiune […]

The silence of a falling star lights up a purple sky. I wonder where you are.

The lonely work of memorializing trans neighbors. One of the worst moments as a blogger is when I publish a post memorializing a trans neighbor, take a breath and realize I have to write another one. That always hurts. Each time this happens, I take a breath and let it out, feeling the fury and […]

Status of missing Canton drag artist JJ Godbey now a homicide investigation with suspect in custody

Last week, we reported on the disappearance of a 26 year old trans drag artist from Canton, Ohio. Sadly, police have now determined this is a homicide investigation. Canton police announced late Thursday that the disappearance of JJ Godbey is now a homicide investigation. They’ve charged Daniel Mattay, Ryan’s former boyfriend, with four felonies: murder, […]

Did Hill’s Department Store Blow Up Your Sky Every Fourth of July? Don’t Read This Post.

Fourth of July

In 2014, I wrote a blog post about the Fourth of July, focusing on things we saw in movies but didn’t experience in real life. The thing most people take away from that post is my reference to the annual firework displays hosted by Hill’s Department Stores around the region. Something about that simple experience […]

I need your help funding my two ongoing legal battles

It has been almost two years since the event I now refer to as the ‘Decommitment’ hit its full stride and while calm right now, things are still roiling under the surface. You can read the backstory here including many updates. And it has been verified by GoFundMe – they’ve been so helpful. Here’s the […]

26 Year Old Drag Artist Missing from Canton, Ohio

Ryan “JJ” Godbey was seen on June 19, 2025 departing a local LGBTQ club, Darlin’s Crew. They were a regular performer. Note – I am unsure how JJ identifies so I am using gender neutral pronouns. JJ’s family grew worried the next day when they didn’t show up for a performance at a local queer […]