Alex Ahmed, web developer and Northeastern University’s doctorate student, spoke at the Research, Ethics and Society Initiative Seminar Series & Gender and Science Conversation Series on Wednesday over Zoom. Ahmed spoke about her research and development on a voice training app for transgender people she designed called Project Spectra.

Joy Ladin, the first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox Jewish university, spoke at a Zoom event hosted by Pitt’s Center for Creativity for "In Our Own Write,” a Pitt LGBTQ+ creative writing course for people over 50.

Pitt hosted an event on Monday titled “What’s in a Name?: Legal Names and the LGBTQIA+ Experience with Rosalynne Montoya,” which explored the legal name change process and how a person’s name defines them.

Pitt hosted the event “To Be Oneself” on Wednesday afternoon, which focused on ways the University can take action to support transgender students, faculty and staff and how everyone can support Pittsburgh’s trans community, specifically trans people of color.

The recent increase in anti-trans legislation is harmful and a step backward for America in acknowledging and accepting the LGBTQ+ community. Trans people need access to health care just as much as any cisgender person does, if not more, and their needs must be respected just like anyone else’s.

Sam Smith’s situation serves as a reminder that there is no excuse for not using people’s chosen pronouns.

Saturday afternoon’s Fight the Ban rally gathered a crowd of about 40 people, was organized by Stonewall City Democrats, TransPride Pittsburgh, OutServe-SLDN and Minority Veterans of America, and was one of many rallies held across the country on Saturday.

The transgender community won’t be silenced by the Trump administration's transphobic policies.

Queer pride is everywhere in Pittsburgh — Bloomfield storefronts sell queer-friendly merchandise, rainbow flags dance in the winds of Lawrenceville homes and banners adorned with local drag performers...