Water Department Projects in My Neighborhood

According to a flyer stuck in my door the other day, the Philadelphia Water Department is holding a community meeting Tuesday, April 21st, at 6:30 to inform and solicit feedback on planned water projects in Mill Creek. The meeting will be held at Middle Years Alternative School, Room 108, 4725 Fairmount Avenue, an ADA accessible site.

According to this map, a new water main and sewer are planned for my block as well as a tree trench almost directly in front of my house. 

I'm planning to attend and invent you to do so too if you live in the neighborhood or are otherwise interested in such projects.
 

New Research Findings from The PRIDE Study – Gender-Affirming Medical Care Helps Reduce PTSD Symptoms

 

 

I received this communication from the PRIDE Study, in which I've been participating:

 

We hope this update finds you as well as possible. The Journal of Traumatic Stress just published the latest findings from The PRIDE Study. This study is important because it was one of the first studies to test if having gender-affirming care received over time was related to lower posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. More details about this study are below.

Publication Title: PTSD symptom reduction after gender-affirming medical interventions: A longitudinal study Community Title: Gender-affirming care helps reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms Lead Authors: James Michael Brennan, PhD What Did We Do? In our study, we looked at whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms changed after people had gender-affirming care (for example, hormones, hair removal, surgeries). We also wanted to know whether having more care was linked to greater improvements. In other words, does more care mean more benefit? We were also curious about how this care might be helping. So, we looked at factors that typically impact trans and gender expansive (TGE) people. Factors included gender minority stress – where someone might be discriminated against or feel bad about themselves for having a TGE identity– and depression symptoms. We wanted to see whether these experiences might shape the relationship between gender-affirming care and PTSD.     We were inspired to conduct this study because other research has shown that TGE people often experience benefits from gender-affirming care, such as lowering depression and anxiety. This research made us curious if gender-affirming care could also help with PTSD symptoms, which are fairly common among TGE people. What Was New, Innovative, or Notable? This was one of the first studies to test if having gender-affirming care received over time was related to lower PTSD symptoms. We followed The PRIDE Study participants over time instead of just at a single snapshot in time, which is called a longitudinal study. This way we could see what happened to PTSD symptoms in the years after a participant had some type of gender-affirming care. We also looked at what happened as participants received multiple forms of care.    What Did We Learn? About 2,500 participants from The PRIDE Study were included, and each participant had at least one form of gender-affirming care between 2019-2022. Over half of the participants showed signs of having a PTSD diagnosis. We learned a few things: There was an immediate and short-term drop in PTSD symptoms after the participants had gender-affirming care back-to-back over three years. Having more gender-affirming care resulted in fewer PTSD symptoms over time. These relationships disappeared when we also considered gender minority stress and depression symptoms. Through a follow-up analysis, we saw gender-affirming care improved PTSD symptoms with the help of reductions in gender minority stress and depression. Overall, what this means is that gender-affirming care may help reduce PTSD symptoms, but mostly indirectly by improving mood and reducing gender minority stress.   What Does This Mean for Our Communities? Gender-affirming care can be helpful for the impact of PTSD symptoms, but it’s not a magic fix. It’s important that TGE folks with PTSD who are pursuing gender-affirming care also get support through affirmative and trauma-informed mental health care. There’s no one-size-fits-all path. TGE people benefit from resources in different ways, so TGE people might want to find the path that is best for them. Having pride in your TGE identity along with connection to vibrant TGE communities are key to reducing depression and minority stress and to giving TGE people a safe space to heal from trauma. What’s Next? A big question remains as to whether gender-affirming care might be more helpful for TGE people with trauma related to their identities (for example, being discriminated against or experiencing a hate crime for being TGE). In this study, we did not assess whether PTSD symptoms were related to identity-based trauma or other types of trauma. We hope to continue exploring TGE experiences of PTSD and identifying what can help TGE communities heal from trauma.  Action Steps: See http://www.pridestudy.org/study for more information and to share this study with your friends and family. If you are interested in conducting research related to LGBTQIA+ health, please learn more about collaborating with The PRIDE Study at http://pridestudy.org/collaborate. Citation: Brennan JM, Lisha NE, Tran NK, Davis K, Obedin-Maliver J, Lunn MR, Flentje A. Posttraumatic stress symptom reduction after gender-affirming medical interventions: A longitudinal study. J Trauma Stress. 2026 Apr 9. Epub ahead of print. doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/jts.70065. Read the full paper at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/VFCMJHZNGJTYVVKXTTYB For information on all of our studies go to: http://pridestudy.org/research. We have multiple additional research results coming soon; make sure to add contact@pridestudy.org to your address book so you don’t miss out. For updates on the research being conducted by The PRIDE Study, check out the table showing the progress of our multiple Ancillary Studies. → Click here to get quarterly news about LGBTQIA+ health research. We are so grateful for your contributions to our research. We couldn’t broaden our knowledge about LGBTQIA+ health without you. Together in community, The PRIDE Study team

 

FoST USA to Officially Launch

 

Friends of Standing Together, the binational Israeli peace and justice group, will officially launch their national organization in the United States on Sunday, April 26th. Here's the announcement I received:

 

Building a Purple Future: Announcing the FoST USA Launch! Join Standing Together leaders and Friends of Standing Together members from across the U.S. on April 26th to officially launch FoST USA: celebrating two years of incredible solidarity work and mapping out the next leg of our journey together. Register for the FOST USA launch In the wake of October 7th, while the world was reeling from the violence of the day and the violence of the response that has determined so much of our reality since then, many of you looked to voices on the ground to understand the unbearable situation and discovered Standing Together. We have heard time and again that Standing Together stood out as a unique, clear voice; one that recognizes every single person  as deserving of safety, freedom, and justice and sees everyone as partners in this struggle. A movement whose accomplishments in the fight against occupation and for peace are paving the way for a future where all people can thrive. While we battle destructive forces on the ground, it has been deeply heartening to witness supporters open Friends of Standing Together (FoST) chapters across the globe. Knowing that we are not alone has become a pillar of support in our struggle for a just future for everyone living here. Now our supporters in the U.S. are taking it up a notch. Join Standing Together leaders and FoST members from across the US to officially launch FoST USA! We are coming together on Zoom to celebrate the incredible work chapters have done over the past two years and discuss how a coordinated national effort can make the U.S. just that much more Purple. Plus, we have some Purple goodies to share with you! Whether you have been a FoST member for years, recently joined, or are simply curious about Standing Together, we invite you to join us and bring a friend with you. Register to join the event! The Details When: April 26th 9:00 AM Pacific / 10:00 AM Mountain 11:00 AM Central / 12:00 PM Eastern Where: Zoom Register to join! Register Now Together, US Supporters are planning the next leg of their journey. See you there? In Solidarity, Standing Together P.S. Not in the US? Tell us what country you live in so we can send you more relevant invitations!

Copyright (C) 2026 עומדים ביחד نقف معًا. All rights reserved. This is the english speaking newsletter of the Israeli movement "Standing Together" Our mailing address is: עומדים ביחד نقف معًا 123 Ibn GG Tel Aviv 61000 Israel

 

Craig Bolton is the Green Party Candidate for PA Lt. Governor

The Green Party of PA has announced its candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Don't forget that if you want to make a Vote Pact with a fellow Pennsylvanian, pledging to withdraw your votes from both corporate parties simultaneously, the website Break the Duopoly is now up and running to help you find a match. You can also use the site if you vote anywhere else in the United States.

The announcement:

Friday, April 10, 2026

Craig Bolton is the Green Party Candidate for PA Lt. Governor

https://www.gpofpa.org/craig_bolton_is_the_green_party_candidate_for_pa_lt_governor

 

The Steering Committee of the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) has chosen Craig Bolton to be its candidate this year for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. Meeting virtually, the seven-member Steering Committee agreed by consensus to support Bolton, Chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia, to be on the ballot for the General Election on November 3

.

 

 

GPPA Secretary Bryarr Misner (Allegheny) explained, “Over the past year, we have seen Craig Bolton in action, especially his dedication to the Green Party of Philadelphia. We like the ideas he has brought forward during the opening of Tony Dastra’s campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania. Personally, I have grown to respect Craig, and I fully support his run for Lieutenant Governor. I also hope that, throughout this campaign, Craig Bolton continues to champion the ideas and values that matter personally to him. This is a real opportunity for both Craig and Tony to get out there and make a difference in the hearts of Pennsylvanians. I am confident that they will.”

Tony Dastra, the Green Party candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, said, “Craig Bolton brings to the table a great deal of talent and community concern for his home in Philadelphia. I’m looking forward to running alongside another creative person, and not some corporate type. I know what I like in a candidate -- passion and authenticity -- because I’m tired of the blah, blah, blah, from most of the candidates who run for office with either of the two corporate parties. Craig and I recognize the importance of running a campaign like this at such a critical moment for discourse in Pennsylvania, America, and even the world. Dastra-Bolton 2026! Liberty and Justice for ALL!”�

Craig Bolton responded by saying, “Thank you, Tony. As the chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP), and as a community-building professional for nearly two decades, I have seen firsthand the power of organization and how direct interactions and holistic approaches can create real outcomes that strengthen the material conditions of working people. I have found the Green Party’s Four Pillars to be important in my life. In deciding to run for Lieutenant Governor, I am especially interested in Social Justice, the Pillar which calls for a living wage and a real safety net. I will work to raise awareness of the need for universal single-payer healthcare in our Commonwealth.”

Bolton continued, “Across the state, bad and worse have been normalized as the only options when deciding our leaders. Many voters have, collectively, accepted that there are no better options. I know that to be false, and I am excited to be running with Tony Dastra, combining our professional experiences and community service perspectives to create a state government which benefits all Pennsylvanians. I am running with Tony Dastra because he is the better option. We live in significant times and stand at a crossroads. We have an opportunity to forge our own, separate path, apart from the duopoly and on terms that we, the people, set for ourselves.”
  

Bolton was re-elected chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia on March 24, 2026. He also works with community service groups and lends his unique experience to panels and other discussions on public safety, community affairs, and grassroots political action. Bolton has a master of arts (M.A.) degree in strategic communication and a bachelor of arts

(B.A.) in public relations from La Salle University. His professional career spans more than two decades in direct service and nonprofit community membership, arts, and fundraising. Bolton has always had a passion for film and media.

Every four years in Pennsylvania, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on the same party line in the General Election, November 3. It comes as no surprise that Dastra’s running mate will come from Philadelphia, which has 1.4 million voters who are not registered with the two corporate parties and who are not permitted to participate in the corporate parties’ Primary Election.

 

Tony Dastra Campaign Contact Information

Website, https://www.dastraforpa.org/         
Email,  dastraforpa@gmail.com
Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/dastraforpa/
Facebook, www.facebook.com/DastraforPA

 

For More Information 

“The Four Pillars,” Green Party of the United States,

https://www.gp.org/the_four_pillars 

“Tony Dastra is the Green Party Candidate for PA Governor,” Green Party of Pennsylvania News Release, March 13, 2026,
https://www.gpofpa.org/tony_dastra_campaign_for_governor_of_pennsylvania 

 

Molly Crabapple at the Ethical Society

 

Announced by Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace:

Join Molly Crabapple and Kim Kelly in collaboration with @jvp_philly @koltzedek and @phillydsa to discuss her book, Here Where We Live Os Our Country, the dramatic story of the Jewish Bund — a revolutionary movement from a vanished world — and its radical vision of solidarity in an age of division. May 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM at the @phillyethics (1906 Rittenhouse Square). RSVP link in bio.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXHqO7ZDiFU/  

PA 🩷 Immigrants

People rallied in LOVE Park today in support of the ICE Out of Philly legislation introduced by Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau. I'll be in Council chambers Monday when the bill gets its first reading. 

Allow Ranked Choice Voting in PA (HB 123)

 

A bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to permit the use of ranked choice voting in local elections. The bill is appropriately numbered 123,  since RCV is based on ranking candidates (1-2-3) in order of preference, so that the best doesn't become the enemy of the good (or just less bad) and every vote truly counts.

March on Harrisburg has made it easy for PA voters to write their representatives in support of this measure. Here's the text of my letter:

The disaffection and alienation of so many eligible voters is due in significant part to the partisan polarization promoted by first-past-the-post elections. These result in tribal thinking and mutual demonization by citizens of differing political inclinations instead of open-minded exploration of each other's ideas. It also frequently results in the election of candidates who don't actually reflect the preference of a majority of voters.

An alternative to this is Ranked Choice Voting, which is used by 63 U.S. jurisdictions, including 59 cities, 2 counties, 2 states, and over 13 million voters. Data show that it results in less toxic campaigning, more voter engagement, higher turnout, and fairer representation. Most of all, everywhere it’s used, voters like it!

I urge you to support Ranked Choice Voting in Pennsylvania by 1) becoming a co-sponsor of HB 123, which would allow jurisdictions to adopt Ranked Choice Voting for their local elections, and 2) asking the State Government Committee for hearings and movement forward on Ranked Choice Voting.

You can send your own letter by going to https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-your-representative-if-they-support-rankedchoicevoting-in-pennsylvania and editing the suggested text to personalize your message. 

Another Spirited No Kings Day in Philadelphia

 

This is reported to have been nationally the biggest demonstration ever. The banner centered above says, "Go Birds! F*ck ICE. Free Palestine." I arrived too late to take part in canvassing with If Not Now and other groups in the pro-Palestine/anti-genocide contingent, but I carried this sign in solidarity:

  

A couple others that got my attention:

 

(My childhood hero.)

 

In case you have trouble making it out, this one says, "Veterans against ICE."