Transgender Bigotry in Sharon, Butler Reinforce Need for NonDiscrimination Protections

Pittsburgh Transgender

Content Note: misgendering, deadnaming, lies, transphobia. On Sunday, the Sharon Herald printed a newspaper article updating the community on the status of a civil lawsuit against the Sharon Police Department involving the shooting death of 23 year-old Sean Hake. Sean was a transgender man. The Sharon Herald first reported that he was a trans woman, […]

Trans Woman Accused of Attempted Homicide in Western Pennsylvania

Claire Wolfever

22 year old Claire Wolfever, a trans woman from Sharon, was arraigned today on charges related to opening fire on a coworker at the Walmart in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. Claire is charged with two counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault, theft, having a firearm without a license and reckless endangerment related to the shooting incident […]

Bisexual Voices in Western PA #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Visibility Week

It is Bisexual Visibility Week and to honor this important resource, we are compiling the contributions from #AMPLIFY folks who identify as bisexual and/or pansexual. GLAAD has joined with BiNet USA, America’s oldest advocacy organization for bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified, and unlabeled) people, for our third annual Bisexual Awareness Week. #BiWeek begins on September 19, […]

Forbes Hospital’s Inadequate Response to Transphobic Employees

Via KDKA TV, last night I learned about a developing story at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Some anonymous female employees at this Allegheny Health Network facility had voiced complaints about a trans woman employee being permitted to use the ladies bathroom. First, the good. Allegheny Health Network is following the law with regard to allowing […]

Congrats to Michael Fuoco For His 2nd GLAAD Media Award Nomination

What seems like a very long time ago, I contacted GLAAD about Pittsburgh media coverage of a story involving the University of Pittsburgh and the trans community. In fact, it was just April 2012 when I did that and one of the most responsive reporters involved was Michael Fuoco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His coverage […]

She Is a Cisgender Lesbi-Not So-Flexible Black Biological Womyn #AMPLIFY

Latrobe Lesbian

Name:  Saintly Sinner Age:  34 County of Residence:  Westmoreland Preferred Pronouns: She. Her. How do you describe your identity? I am a cisgender lesbi-not so-flexible Black biological womyn. I love being a womyn, I love my vagina, and I love being able to share these things with people who may see strength in me. If I’m able […]

Post-Gazette Erases Trans Community & Worse in Article About Homeless Youth

GLAAD media guide

Score another one for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s inaccurate and unfair coverage of the LGBTQ community. This time, reporter Mary Neiderberger is at bat. She recently wrote a piece about homeless youth in Allegheny County using somewhat accurate and fair language about the impact of sexual orientation and gender identity on the number of youth on […]

Talking LGBTQ Symbols with @Mashable Made Me Some New Friends

Pittsburgh lesbian

Last week, I was asked by GLAAD to contribute to a piece on the meaning of LGBTQ symbols to my life, specifically lesbian symbols such as interlocking female symbols.  The piece was being compiled by Mashable and was published Friday. It really gave me pause to stop and *think* about lesbian symbols. And do a […]

Does The Post-Gazette Just Not Like Transgender People?

The Post-Gazette editors are up to it again – shoddy reporting on LGBTQ issues. Not reporting, opining actually. This time, they give Governor Tom Corbett “half a loaf of credit” for supporting HB 300 which would extend non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Republican Gov. Tom […]

A Lump of Coal for Reg Henry and Two for the Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh transgender

It is nearly 2014 and we continue to have to battle with our alleged allies over issues like not using the word “transvestite” (or a thousand other words), especially our allies in the media. Today, Reg Henry’s column in the Post-Gazette hit that low note once again. Given Vladimir Putin’s ill treatment of gay people […]