Death of Black Trans Woman Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway Ruled Homicide in Albany

There is not much detail available, but the May 31, 2022 death of a Black trans woman in Albany, New York has been ruled a homicide. Her name was Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway also known as Sid or Cyd according to her Facebook profiles. She was 30. Note the media reporting uses the appropriate pronouns, […]

Derricka Banner, 26, is the 20th Trans Person Murdered in 2017

She was 26 years old, a black trans woman living in Lenoir, North Carolina. Originally from New York City, she had studied at Caldwell Community College. She previously worked for Wal-Mart and was working most recently with Tyson Foods. She was known to some friends as Ms Bow Wow and sometimes Derricka Lashae. According to […]

Kashmire Redd, 28, is 19th Trans Person Killed in 2017

Kashmire Redd

I just read this on TransGriot where Monica Roberts reports that a 28 year old black trans man, Kashmire Redd, was stabbed multiple times by his partner and succumbed to those injuries. This happened in Gates, New York, a suburb of Rochester. Kashmire is the 19th trans person killed this year. 40 year old Doris Carrasquillo […]

Taylor Wants More LGBTQ Resources and Community Unity #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Lesbian

Name: Taylor Age: 27 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Queen(she) How do you describe your identity? Female Lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out was hard, I just came out and said I like girls, everyone was quiet for a while, then they started to ask questions. I […]

Update on the Murder of Candra Keels #SayHerName

Candra Keels

Domestic violence within the LGBTQ community is a taboo topic. Much like family based violence, it is something that we disregard and shoosh off to the side of the conversation around the epidemic of violence sweeping through our community, particularly among QTPOC. In January, a 20 year-old young woman of color named Candra Keels was […]

Candra Keels, 20 Year Old Queer Woman of Color, Murdered in Domestic Dispute

Candra Keels

This morning, the family of 20-year-old Candra Keels of Rochester, NY are burying their loved one who was murdered allegedly at the hands of her girlfriend. Officers responded to 15 Denver Street about 3 A.M. for the report of a fight. There they found Candra Keels with a stab wound to her torso area. Keels […]

I Have Never Had To Put My Hands Up For The Police

Hands Up Don't Shoot

UPDATED Earlier this week at 1 PM, I stood outside my home in observance of the 4.5 minute tribute to Michael Brown. I wasn’t able to join my Northside neighbors a few miles up the street so I stood alone on my block in the freezing sleet. It was definitely uncomfortable, but not just because […]

Leaving Pittsburgh

Leaving Pittsburgh

Life is a series of beginnings and endings. We leave one job to start another; we quit cities, countries, or continents for a fresh start; we leave lovers and begin new relationships. What was the last thing you contemplated leaving? What were the pros and cons? Have you made up your mind? What will you […]