Persad Center

11/20/2025

🕯️ On Transgender Day of Remembrance, our hearts ache as we honor the lives lost to senseless violence against the transgender community.

🏳️‍🌈 Let's transform this day into a pledge to care for one another, to break down prejudice, and to lend a compassionate hand to those in need.

💙 If you or someone you love is searching for LGBTQ+ affirming mental health support, know that we're here for you. Please reach out at 412-441-9786 or visit www.persadcenter.org/preregister. We warmly welcome all who seek our support.

In memory, we find strength, and in unity, we find hope.



Image description: An impactful message for Transgender Day of Remembrance post featuring white doves and hands holding a paper transgender flag

11/19/2025

🏋️‍♂️ Empower Your Fitness Journey at Phoenix Fitness—Right Here at Persad Center! 🏳️‍⚧️✨

More than just a gym, Phoenix Fitness at Persad Center is a space designed for trans joy, strength, and community. Here, every rep, every step, and every lift is an affirmation of who you are—without fear, without judgment. 💪🏾🏋️‍♀️

💡 What makes us different?
🏳️‍⚧️ A FREE trans-affirming, body-positive environment
🤝 A community that celebrates you, not just your fitness goals
🌟 Resources that support your holistic well-being

At Persad Center, we’re committed to providing safe spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive. Whether you're starting fresh or leveling up, Phoenix Fitness is here for YOU. 🚀

Join us today: https://www.phoenixfitnessgym.org/

Share this with a friend who would love to join a trans affirming gym!



Image description: A Phoenix Fitness promo static image featuring images of the facilities.

11/19/2025

🧡 If you or someone you know could use a little extra help this Thanksgiving, the below link lists places offering free Thanksgiving meals for individuals and families who are struggling this year.

Whether you need a hot meal, a delivery option, or a community gathering to feel connected, these organizations are here with open arms. Please don’t hesitate to check it out or pass it along to anyone who might benefit. No one should have to go without a meal on Thanksgiving. 🦃✨
Let’s take care of one another. ❤️

If you’re having a tough year and need a little extra help this season, many places are offering free Thanksgiving meals across Pittsburgh:

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/food-drink/where-pittsburgh-residents-can-get-a-free-or-cheap-thanksgiving-meal/

11/18/2025

Persad will be holding its next TransParent 8-week session on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. If you are interested, please email info@persadcenter.org for additional info.

11/17/2025

Healing isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet courage to show up — to talk, to feel, to be seen. 🌈

At Persad Center, every story of healing begins with one truth: you deserve to be accepted for exactly who you are. 💖

For over five decades, Persad has stood as a lifeline for the LGBTQ+ community — offering affirming mental health care, counseling, and hope to those navigating identity, trauma, and self-discovery. Each client’s story is a reminder that healing is not about perfection — it’s about progress.

From learning self-acceptance to finding belonging, these are the voices that prove recovery is possible, growth is real, and community saves lives. 💬 Because here, your healing isn’t just supported — it’s celebrated. 🕊️

Start your journey with Persad today.
👉 Visit persadcenter.org to learn more.

11/14/2025

🌈 1.4 Million Transgender Adults in the U.S. 🌈

A new study reveals that approximately 1.4 million adults across America identify as transgender, doubling previous estimates from a decade ago. The findings highlight how crucial it is to shape policies that protect and empower transgender individuals, from access to healthcare and safe spaces to workplace protections. 🏳️‍⚧️💪

As we see growing numbers, it's more important than ever to stand with our transgender community. At Persad Center, we offer vital services, including mental health support, advocacy, and resources that empower and uplift transgender individuals. Together, we continue the fight for equality and the well-being of everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. 💜✨

Let’s make sure that as our community grows, so does our support. 🌍

📅 Join us in supporting transgender lives and advocating for a more inclusive world.

🔗 Know more:
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/30/484253324/1-4-million-adults-identify-as-transgender-in-america-study-says

11/12/2025

🌈 🥰

Cyndi Lauper delivered a powerful call to action during her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Look at us: We are a community of light. Don't forget that, in case it gets really dark."

Photo by Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for RRHOF

11/11/2025

🌈 “We’ve come a long way — but the fight to keep our community safe isn’t over.”

In Persad’s live interview on KDKA, CEO Marty Healey and Michael Bartley remind us of a truth we cannot ignore: LGBTQ+ people still face exponentially higher risks of su*c*de, depr3ssion, substance use, and homelessness. For so many in our community, especially young people, the battle for safety, dignity, and mental health is still happening every single day.

At a time when countless providers have months-long waiting lists, Persad continues to do what we’ve done for decades — get people into care quickly, compassionately, and without barriers. Because showing up for our community isn’t optional. It’s the work. It’s the mission. It’s the legacy.
If you or someone you love needs support, Persad is here — and we’re not slowing down. 💛

Persad Interview · Marty Healey, CEO · Live on Air with Michael Bartley on KDKA

11/11/2025

🌈💜 Language evolves because we do and that’s something worth celebrating.

“Finsexual” isn’t just a new term gaining attention; it’s a reminder of how beautifully diverse, complex, and expansive our identities can be. Attraction to femininity — in all the ways it can appear, beyond gender alone — shows us once again that the LGBTQ+ community has always been built on curiosity, authenticity, and the courage to say this is who I am.

At Persad Center, we see every day how naming our experiences can open doors to healing, belonging, and self-understanding. When we speak openly about identity, expression, and the language that helps us understand ourselves, we create a world where people can live with their whole hearts — without apology.

Because discovering new words doesn’t divide us.
It helps us grow, connect, and honor the infinite ways people love, feel, and exist. 💜✨

"Finsexual” — A Reminder That Language Is How We Learn to Know Ourselves

Have you heard the term finsexual?

It’s been around for over a decade but is getting new attention lately. Finsexual describes exclusive attraction to those who are feminine in nature (FIN) — meaning attraction based on femininity itself, not necessarily a person’s gender.

Someone who’s finsexual might be attracted to women (both cis and trans), feminine-aligned nonbinary people, or even men who express femininity. The key is that it’s about femininity as an energy, expression, or presentation, not gender identity alone.

Like so many evolving terms in the LGBTQ+ community, this one grew out of people’s desire to describe their experiences more accurately — to put words to feelings that never quite fit the old boxes.

And that’s what we love most about it. 💜

Every time someone finds a new way to describe who they are or who they love, it comes from a place of curiosity, honesty, and courage. It’s a healthy, human impulse: the need to know ourselves more fully and to be known by others for who we truly are.

Language doesn’t limit us — it helps us grow.

So even if a new word makes you pause or you’re not sure what to think of it yet, maybe that’s the best part: it’s an invitation to listen, learn, and celebrate the beautiful diversity of the human experience.

Because every time we learn more about ourselves, we move closer to living with our whole hearts.

#

11/10/2025

Great news!

Good news: Marriage is still the law of the land 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ The Supreme Court refused to hear a case that sought to challenge the freedom to marry for LGBTQ+ folks in the U.S., reaffirming that marriage equality is our right. This is a win that we deserve to celebrate today. And, at the same time, we must stay focused on protecting and supporting one another through the continued threats against our community at federal, state, and local levels.

90% of LGBTQ+ youth said recent politics negatively impacted their mental health. As q***r and transgender young people continue to face real, everyday challenges, The Trevor Project remains committed to supporting them 24/7.

Our work to create a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth is a marathon, not a sprint. Let’s celebrate today’s victory, and vow to keep showing up, speaking out, and fighting for the world we deserve.

11/10/2025

Good news!

Good news: Marriage is still the law of the land 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ The Supreme Court refused to hear a case that sought to challenge the freedom to marry for LGBTQ+ folks in the U.S., reaffirming that marriage equality is our right. This is a win that we deserve to celebrate today. And, at the same time, we must stay focused on protecting and supporting one another through the continued threats against our community at federal, state, and local levels.

90% of LGBTQ+ youth said recent politics negatively impacted their mental health. As q***r and transgender young people continue to face real, everyday challenges, The Trevor Project remains committed to supporting them 24/7.

Our work to create a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth is a marathon, not a sprint. Let’s celebrate today’s victory, and vow to keep showing up, speaking out, and fighting for the world we deserve.

11/09/2025

🌟 Honoring the Strength in Diversity: Intersex Day of Remembrance 🌟

On this Intersex Day of Remembrance, let us come together to celebrate the incredible strength and resilience of the intersex community. 🌈💪

In a world that often seeks to fit everyone into neat boxes, intersex individuals remind us that beauty lies in the diversity of human experiences. Today, we remember those we have lost and stand beside those who continue to face challenges.

🤝 Let us be allies, advocates, and friends. Let us embrace the richness of our differences and build a more inclusive world, where every person's identity is respected and celebrated.

Share this post to show your support, and let's spread love, understanding, and acceptance. ❤️🤗

📌InterACT resource link:
https://interactadvocates.org/resources/intersex-resource-topics/