Trans Latina Kitty Monroe of Phoenix is the First Reported Victim Of 2024 Violence

The first trans person killed in 2024 is Kitty Monroe, 43. Equally important, she lived in Phoenix, Arizona. Also, Kitty was a Latina trans woman. The Crime Witnesses who came forward have said she was attacked about 2 a.m. Jan. 1 by a man and woman in the parking lot of Casa de Licores, a […]

Pittsburgh Theater Isn’t Just For Fancy Folks, It’s For Yinz

Pittsburgh Theater

Coming up in local Theater (and Theatre) this winter and spring are the following shows. I’m looking forward to something on each schedule. It was 11 years ago that I began intentionally reviewing, mostly the arts but some other occasional ventures. I don’t profess to be an expert on any of these things. But I […]

On Christmas Eve, Black Trans Woman Amber Minor, 40, Was Shot to Death in Missouri.

Amber Minor

The Crime Amber Minor, 40, was killed in Raytown, Missouri on Christmas Eve. She was a Black trans woman. Furthermore, her death brings the total for 2023 to 44. At 8:35 a.m. on Dec. 24, officers were dispatched to the 9800 block of 77th Terrace on a report of a body lying in a driveway. […]

She Was One of Best People I’ve Ever Known

I recently learned that a member of my extended family died in mid-September. This post could dovetail into all the reasons why you should share this type of information regardless of circumstances (unless it causes harm.) But instead I want to tell you about the reasons I loved her. If you are into genealogy, you […]

I Remember the First Snow

Snow is coming. Not a lot of snow, but probably enough to cover the sidewalks for a few hours. The snowfall that reveals the paw prints of the urban wildlife and homeless animals who come to the yard. I usually like the snows of January and February. It is cozy and comforting, a blanket that […]

Is My 1991 Internship With Rick Santorum No Longer The Most Quirky, Interesting Thing About Me?

Rick Santorum internship

Today, I met an LGBTQ person from Pennsylvania who did not recognize the name Rick Santorum. Huh. This was in the context of an interview with the Philly Gay News about my blogging. It was bound to happen eventually. He left public office in 2006, defeated by current Senator Bob Casey. He has a lackluster […]

Suspected DUI Driver Crosses Lanes, Kills Virginia Trans Advocate Before the New Year

Lexus Shelby Riddick-Walker

The Crime The last violent fatality of 2023 comes at the hands of a familiar foe, alcohol or more specifically driving under the influence. Lexus Walker, a Black trans woman, was 43 when she was killed by an alleged drunk driver doing the wrong way through a stretch of tunnels in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This […]

The End of My Year 2023 By the Numbers

It has been 127 days since I was involuntarily removed from my home of 18+ years – in handcuffs under false pretext using an invalid warrant. That’s one third of 2023. One entire third of my year. Gone. Every single one of those day, I have focused on two things: recovering from the traumas and […]

Celebrating 18 Years of Blogging at Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

As I have said, on Friday, December 29, we celebrated a huge milestone – 18 years of blogging and the start of our 19th year of blogging. What does that look like? 6,140 blog posts – I published them, but I didn’t write them all. 330+ posts were created by the #AMPLIFY contributors. That’s 341 […]

The Murder of a 53 year old Trans Woman in Maryland

The Crime Meghan Riley Lewis, 53, was a white trans woman living in Maryland, parent to two children, technology professional, a Dead Head, musician, and resoundingly lauded for her compassion and kindness. On December 27, she tragically joined the ranks of trans neighbors who have died violent deaths in 2023 when a single gunshot fatally […]