Updates in Murders of Trans Women Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien & Viccky Gutierrez

We aren’t half way through the first month of 2018, but have already reported on violent murders of two transgender women.  Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42, was killed in Massachusetts on Jan. 4, 2018.  On Wednesday, January 10, the body Viccky Gutierrez was found burned in a building in South Los Angeles. Christa was murdered by her […]

Viccky Gutierrez Is the Second Trans Person Reported Murdered in 2018

Friends and family report that Viccky Gutierrez, 33, is the second known victim of homicide in the US during 2018. Wednesday evening, Bamby Salcedo, President & CEO of TransLatin@ Coalition, announced in a Facebook post the death of Viccky Gutierrez: “It is with deep sadness, rage and pain that I have to share with all of you […]

RIP Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42, First Trans Woman Murdered in 2018

Christa

A 42-year-old in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts is the first known transgender person to be killed in 2018 in the United States. Her name was Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien. The man who confessed to police that he killed Christa is her husband, 47-year-old Mark Steele-Knudslien. He is awaiting arraignment. An autopsy will be conducted Sunday […]

Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson is the 24th Trans Person Murdered in 2017

Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson was found dead in a motel room in Oklahoma City on Monday, November 27, 2017. She was 31 years old. She is now the 24th transgender person known to be murdered in the United States during 2017. Her death comes just a week after the Transgender Day of Remembrance honored victims of […]

Black Trans Woman Candace Towns, 30, is 23rd Victim of Anti-Trans Violence in 2017

30-year-old Candace Towns of Macon, Georgia is the 23rd transgender person lost to anti-trans violence in 2017. From Monica Roberts at Transgriot: Towns was staying at the Rodeway Inn on Eisenhower Parkway, was last seen alive Saturday, and was reported missing on Sunday.  At 4 PM EDT Tuesday an anonymous 911 call was received  reporting […]

Stephanie Montez is 22nd Transgender Person Murdered in 2017

A week after her body was discovered, friends of Stephanie Montez spoke out to make sure her authentic identity was acknowledged. The friends of Corpus Christi transgender woman Stephanie Montez were left aghast as their search for her revealed that the Sheriff had identified her as a “man in a dress” in an inexcusably transphobic […]

Gender Identity Imploded Local Queer Women’s Community in 2007 #LGBTHistoryMonth

In honor of LGBT History Month (October), we will be exploring some of our historical content and sharing historical perspectives from readers. If you’d like to contribute, please email us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. In 2007, we covered a significant story  – the decision by a lesbian-centric fundraiser, Celebrate the Night, to ban a […]

Alexia, 40, is Bisexual, Transgender, and Loves Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Transgender Bisexual Pittsburgh

Name: Alexia Age: 40 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? Transgender, bisexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I talked to my girlfriend and later to my mom. My gf was shocked at first but supportive afterwards. My mom still in denial, she […]

TransPride Pgh Changes Annual Conference Schedule to Respect Yom Kippur

Transgender Pittsburgh

This is a simple story, but one that illustrates cultural competency and respect by a LGBTQ organization. Earlier this year, TransPride Pittsburgh announced plans for their annual TransPride Pride Week and weekend conference, set for the end of September. The weekend conference was scheduled to have a professional day on Friday September 29, a community […]

Jez, 50, Came Out As Trans in 1985 in Rural Washington County #AMPLIFY

Transgender Washington County

  Name: Jez Age:  50 County of Residence:  Washington Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity?  Transgender Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  Came out when the AIDS epidemic was rampant 1985 How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Struggling everyday to stay […]