Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

GLCC merger with Celebrate the Night: Where does this leave transwomen?

Sue — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:22:19 -0400

In the most recent GLCC newsletter, the organization announced that Celebrate the Night has become an official committee of the organization. Celebrate the Night is a variety show that benefits the GLCC.

As you may recall, CTN generated a firestorm last year by refusing to audition a transwoman and pronouncing that she was not woman enough to meet their criteria. At that point, the CTN website described the event as celebrating all women.

They've since updated it to state:

For the purpose of this event, if a person is legally recognized as
a woman or living full-time as a woman, she is a woman.

No such requirement that to be a lesbian, you must be legally recognized or living full-time as a lesbian. Which is good since there are many, many women who participate in CTN that are not 100% out of the closet and I would hate for them to feel excluded just because they aren't lesbian enough.

Well, at least if the GLCC is going to formally associate itself with an organization that openly discriminates against transwomen,things are a little more out in the open. The GLCC has historically been a little weak on transinclusion and I don't really think this is going to come as a shock to anyone. The truth is that Pittsburghers who are L, G, B and Q really have a long way to go when it comes to lifting up and including our trans brothers and sisters.

For a complete herstory on this situation, click here.

I was blacklisted by the City Paper

Sue — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:07:27 -0400

It is completely true. My innocent little email was rejected by the Steel City Media cyber guardians. I just wanted to ask Chris Potter a question. Rest assured, Potter was on it once I made the call. And once it became apparent that someone in marketing couldn't email her boyfriend ... well, he was on it a little bit. He does have important columns to write and it has been awhile since he played the white-straight-guy privilege card so I'm gonna assume this was all just a big misunderstanding.

The important thing is that Gary and Beth are gone, right? Right?

OK, onto other topics. Letters to the editor. The PG has been full of 'em -- everyone has something to write about gay marriage. Some of it is good, some of it is crap. Most of it is poorly written, but filled with joie de vivre!

Interesting to me has been the dearth of letters in the Tribune Review. What's up with that? Have the subscribers been so blindsided by Richie's meeting with Hillary Clinton that they've lost track of important gay-bashing goals? I mean how are you supposed to oppress an entire group of citizens if your base isn't stepping up on the letter writing? The next thing, we'll be distributing civil rights to Mexicans, Hondurans and <gasp> people who wear turbans but aren't Islamic. What is this world coming to?

I wrote a letter to the Post-Gazette, but I forgot to send it to myself so I'm not 100% sure what I wrote. I know that I did praise Doug Shields and draw comparisons between Sally Kern and the gay marriage amendment stuff here in PA. I thought it was topical and had a national contexty flair that has yet to come to light in the other "published" letters. Whatever.

Seriously, my letter. It rocked.

Slow day at lesbian central. I didn't cry when I came home which is a first since Mona's demise. I really appreciate when people offer their condolences, but it isn't fun when someone wants to know about the injection experience. I would think my terse one-word answers would be a social cue that I don't want to talk about it. Ledcat brought my tulips from a local flower store here on the Northside. He has a dog and now she wants a small little dog. I draw the line at a dog that could actually squeeze outside of the fence.

See what lesbian marriage creates? Tulips (patronizing local businesses), a clean load of dishes (cleanliness next to Godliness), Chinese take out (more local business and the family of Ming Na -- hottie!), the one repeat of NCIS I missed this year (don't ask and I won't tell), and my secret hope that Ledcat will go ahead and replace the cat vomited sheets while I'm up here doing important blogging work.

Q92.9. I listen. I find the autotron female voice very amusing. As well the lack of gay bashing phone calls being aired. Ah, sweet.

Blog For Choice 2008: Why It Is Important to Vote Pro-Choice

Sue — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:14:15 -0500

I am pro-choice. Tuesday is the 35th Anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision and bloggers throughout the nation are working to raise the profile of reproductive choice vis a vis Blog for Choice 2008.

My right to make decisions about my reproductive health is not something I take lightly. While only three when Roe was decided, most of my adult years have been defined by an increasing assault on this personal freedom in the name of an undefined "fetus" which has become a personless poster-child for an agenda determined to beat women back into an age of suppression and repression.

I have many friends who identify as pro-life. They pray for unborn children and march to restrict access to abortion. Some fervently believe the rhetoric they are spoon fed by patriarchal structures that historically hold women in a subservient positions (hello, Catholic Church). Some honestly think it is about babies. Most don't give a damn about those babies once they exit the birth canal, particularly if they are born into families that are poor, of color, single, gay, young or in some other aberration from the mythological "traditional family." Or if those babies suck up tax dollars.

My point is that there are many people who buy into this mythological assault on unborn children. Hence, the need for those of us who see through this fairy tale to hold the line, politically and legislatively.

I confess that my record is not perfect. I voted for Bob Casey, a pro-life Democrat, to oust woman and homo hater Rick Santorum. But choice is important to me.

I applaud creativity. Chris Potter, editor extraordinaire of the City Paper, inspired many of us with his response to the 2007 WDUQ/Duquesne University/Planned Parenthood debacle.

In 2003, the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Pittsburgh earned my respect when they stood up to the Pittsburgh Tavern Guild who refused them entrance to distribute slate cards that did not endorse openly anti-choice Gene Riccardi. The Tavern Guild forever lost respect in my eyes for their heavy handed, self-serving maneuver as well as the clear illustration that issues that impact women (and our autonomy) came in second place to issues that impact their bottom line and/or political connections. Shame on them.

Pittsburgh recently elected an anti-choice Democrat as our Mayor for the next two years. His only vote related to reproductive freedom was against the Bubble Zone, a law that protects women from abusive protests at clinics. Luke gave no explanation for his vote.

Western Pennsylvania is a Democratic town with a big Catholic social conservative twist. We cannot afford to take lightly when movers and shakers in our town impose an anti-choice mindset on the rest of us, be they bastions of intellectual freedom or business owners, much less 27 year old elected officials. Our bodies are not up for barter. Our choices are not up for debate.

Last year, I blogged about the hypocrisy of those on the other side. This year, I believe it is imperative that we examine the support of our allies right here in Pittsburgh - a town of staunch Democrats and staunch Catholics. A town where the largest Presbyterian Church in town voted themselves off the island to join a more conservative communion. A town with one (1) local female talk show host who is also the only local liberal talk show host.

What does this have to do with voting pro-choice? Well, that nice young man who you wanted to have a chance as Mayor is going to someday set his sites on an elected position where he votes on more than bubble ordinances. Those business owners who put political allies ahead of the lives of half of their own community are now financially supporting that nice young man. Can you win a statewide seat on an anti-choice ticket? Ask Bob Casey. I'd prefer not to be in a position of Casey v Santorum anytime soon.

My point is that we must pay attention to the local situation as well as the state and federal situations. My point is that we includes the women and men of the LGBT community. My point is that when the next generation of local Democratic leadership clings to a Catholic-fused political reality (no civil unions, no birth control, no bubble zone, etc) AND the next generation of local gay leadership continues to fund that guy ... women need to pay attention. We need to sit down with these men and make sure they understand why choice impacts every single woman in our community.

It is important to vote pro-choice. It is important to read the questionairres distributed by the Gertrude Stein Club and the Steel City Stonewall Democrats and pay attention to the questions about choice. It is important that the questions be asked.

We are not making progress or moving forward with a 27 year old Mayor that is anti-choice and anti-civil union. It is incumbent on us to educate him and ourselves on the implications for our lives if reproductive choice continues to erode under the relentless assault from those who would happily impose their value systems on our bodies.

so What's Up with Sue, anyway?

Sue — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:30:35 -0500

i have hurt my back. it started throbbing last week. the two hour drive in the giant box truck to pick up toys didn't help, I'm sure. especially the part where i was scrunched up from stress trying to find the marine distribution center. then when i had to get all slidey with the boxes so we could unload.

now i'm on the couch with a rolled up pillow prop, a bag of ice and a restless mind. simply-cannot-afford to be laid up this week. i have ten days of toy wrapping projects ahead of me and i-am-stressed-out.

it hurts. a-lot. yikes!

so i'm in the in-between of my body doesn't work right and my head is filled with all the tons of crap i have to do.

i think i want to break up with my therapist. but that is just a phase. probably, right?

i need to buy 500 "holiday" cards by tuesday. and wrapping paper.

i'm reading god is not Great by Christopher Hitchens. it is great. he's persuading me that i think like an atheist. except that i am unwilling to let go of my personal experiences with the divine. i guess.

i'm depressed about recycling and my environmental footprint. i seduced myself into thinking i was this awesome person b/c i tried to recycle everything. stupid crap. then i found out that a lot of it is just self-soothing activity that doesn't make a damn bit of good. of course not. the real emphasis should be on reducing my usage of environmentally damaging items, not patting myself on the back for rinsing and reusing. here's what i learned from the PA Resources Council

they don't recycle the plastic bags in which we store our recycling. doesn't that seem silly? why not recycle into paper bags which can be recycled?

you can recycle plastic peanuts at the USPS. however, there's no place to recycle those little plastic sauce containers that come with takeout. so extra sauce from Giorgio's means death to yet another baby turtle. so much for meat-free.

if you contaminate your bag of recycling with too many items that aren't recyclable (like all those lids), they sometimes just toss the whole bag into the landfill. i think every adult i know tosses lids into the blue bags. damn.

biodegradable plastic bags don't biodegrade in landfills. so is it all hype? i asked the Co-op and Whole Foods to look into blue biodegradable bags made from recycled plastic b/c it seems silly to use a virgin bag just for recycling. now it seems silly to worry about it. the damn bags aren't recycled and don't biodegrade.

i feel a bit foolish at my presumption that it would be so easy. all those pizza boxes crammed into the bins at Construction Junction prove that i am not alone in my self-delusion. and to think i made fun of the earnest men and women driving their SUV's especially out to Point Breeze every weekend. ha. the joke is on me, I guess. because it is hard to reduce.

now that's a double entendre, she thoughtfully notes as she sips her gingerbread flavored coffee and nibbles a cookie from the Priory Bakery.

i'm not really depressed so much as feeling crabby and skeptical. i'm trying hard to use my current work assignment (toy drive) as a educational tool and not merely another facet of sopping off our consumer guilt with one giant tax deduction. i want to get excited when people care, but it can be a bit of a challenge when i doubt their motives. it just makes me want to shop.

this would be a great time for an unexpected wallop from the ghost of christmas present.

Gifts and Questions for you ....

Sue — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:53:50 -0500

What should I include in a Pittsburgh themed gift basket for my brother and sister-in-law? They live in Chicago. I am about 85% finished with my holiday purchases and this is the stumper.

Also, is there a word, other than sister-in-law, for the woman married to your brother-in-law? Especially when you are a lesbian and said brother-in-law is more of a brother-in-domestic-partnership? To simplify, I'm referring to Ledcat's brother and his wife who do not live in Chicago.

Check our Crystal Eastman's summary from "The Next Page" feature in Sunday's Post-Gazette. Friggin' awesome.

Man threatens to shank dog and people think the police are the problem?

Sue — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:56:30 -0400

I love Pittsburgh. Only here could a jackass like Kenneth King get sympathy for threatening to "shank" a dog. King, a resident of the Mexican War Streets, walked past a canine unit at the Cedar Avenue Sunoco. The K-9 dog, Benny, barked at him. From inside the car. Mr. King responded to the bark.

The man screamed "shut the (expletive) up or I will shank you," according to the report filed by Benny's handler and partner, officer Ron Absten, who indicated the threat was directed at the dog. Mr. King also said "I hate dogs" and pulled a silver knife out of his pocket.

King was arrested and charged with taunting a police animal and landed his sorry ass in the County Jail b/c he couldn't come up with $100,000 bond. Apparently, tonight his bond was reduced to own recognizance and he's been sent off to anger management classes.

Did the police overreact by arresting and charging him? Perhaps. Did Judge Riccardi get a little overzealous with the bail? Perhaps. And, yes, those circumstances warrant a closer look, especially if there was racial bias involved.

What everyone seems to overlook is that Mr. King threatened to shank a dog that barked at him from inside a car. Even if you overlook the sheer degree of idiocy required to threaten a police dog, there's the fact that he threatened a dog. For barking. Inside a car. Now how come no one is talking about that overreaction?

Hmm. Here's my favorite (well, second favorite) part:

Mr. King's parents, Keith and Annette Cash of the North Side, told KDKA-TV that their son was returning home from his job as a cook, has no criminal history and poses no threat to anyone.

Umm, on behalf of dog owners throughout the Northside, I'd like Mr. and Mrs. Cash to clarify how they get from "shut the fuck up or I'll shank you" to poses no threat to anyone? Are you fucking kidding me? I can't even begin to imagine how deluded these parents must be to completely downplay the fact that their son threatened to shank a dog.

I'm not sure who needs more of a wake-up call -- Mr. King or his parents.

This is my favorite part, courtesy of MacYapper. His colleague Valerie McDonald Roberts tips him off to the inside scoop.

Here's what Valerie's sources tell her.
King was with his white girlfriend. Don't know if that triggered any particular emotions in the Pittsburgh police officer or what. I'm just sayin.'
He gets out of his car to go to the Sunoco next to the Poor Man's Giant Eagle on Cedar Avenue on the North Side, a service station frequented by MacYapper.

Suddenly the dog, inside the police car, starts barking at him. He yells at the dog, possibly in an apparent attempt to show off for his girlfriend.

Then the cop comes out of the Sunoco station and says "I'll let the dog out," to the kid. And the kid says something like "oh yeah, we'll I'll shank him," or something similar, which is a far cry from the guy actually threatening the dog directly.

Valerie says her sources describe this kid as pure as the driven snow. Sounds like we have a cop out of control here folks.

Sounds like we have a 23 year old whose parents had no control over him. What kind of grown adult yells at a dog to impress a girl? Is she a member of the Michael Vicks' fan club? And, once again, we return to the question of what kind of grown man threatens to shank a dog?

Here's what I think. If my dog is in the car and Mr. King walks by, she's going to bark. That's what dogs do. They bark. If you don't like or feel afraid to walk by a barking dog, cross the street. Turn around. Act like a grown adult.

Threatening to shank a barking dog is an overreaction. Threatening to shank a barking police dog is an overreaction and possibly a sign that you are one of the most stupid people in the City. Dating a girl who thinks threatening to shank a dog is impressive pretty much guarantees another generation of stupid, overreacting jackasses.

What do I think of Mr. and Mrs. Cash? I think they should call up the mother of Jamarow Trowery, the Penn Hills man charged in the shooting and mutilation of a 4 year old dog. He cut off the dogs paw and then tried to decapitate it. Then he bragged about it. Did anyone pay attention when he was threatening to just "shank it"? Did they dismiss it? Did they defend him? Who missed the boat on that one? His mother? His Recorder of Deeds? Who? I'd hate to think what would happen if my dog barked at him through my car window and there wasn't a police officer standing nearby. The problem is that someone probably pooh-poohed it because Jamarow was a nice young man or a good father or he didn't really mean it or some other such bullshit.

Dogs aren't disposable commodities. They are living creatures capable of fear, pain and anguish when maltreated by those who reduce them to playthings for their own amusement. It is bad enough I have to drive my dog to the freaking dog park because of the jerks in my neighborhood with untrained, off-leash dogs who delight in chasing smaller animals. It is bad enough I cannot leave my boys unsupervised in my own fenced-in backyard. It is bad enough that I can do nothing while a neighbor breeds pit bulls for fighting. I shouldn't have to worry about letting my dog ride with me to the library b/c some Kenneth King wannabe gets a little hissy up his ass when she barks "hello" at him out the window.

Shame on Mr. and Mrs. Cash for turning a blind eye to a real problem. Maybe they should spend a few moments reading up on the connection between animal abuse and family violence. Maybe they need to bitch slap their son into reality and teach him to have some respect for himself and for other living creatures.

How I made recycling just a little bit easier

Sue — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:28:35 -0400

Again, nothing to do with the gay. Still, I think it is interesting.

I'm bringing in the PA Resources Council to give a presentation to my consumers and during our planning chats, I told them that I had several recycling questions which I was invited to submit. More on that in another post somewhere down the road.

ANYWAY, I'm dwadling over the list during my lunch and can't get past "Why aren't there any large blue bags for recycling made out of recycled materials?" The only large bags we can find are Hefty newish bags which seems completely ridiculous to use for recycling. Rather than wait for an answer, I called the Co-op. They have large trash bags made from recycled materials that are biodegradable, but they are not blue. Hmmm. So I suggested they investigate blue bags. Then I called Whole Foods. Whole Foods also has biodegradable recycled bags that are also not blue. However, the Whole Foods guy told me -- no one ever told me this before -- that I can tie a blue bag around the neck of the large bag which holds my recycling. I did not know that. It still seems like a waste of a bag.

Then, I asked him if blue bags were available. He told me that he's going to ask his manager about it b/c he gets multiple calls EVERY WEEK about this very issue.

So I am on the cutting edge of recycling innovation. Yeah, baby. I made two phone calls and got results. Well, I got two people to tell me that they might possibly consider taking action on something I suggested, but whatever. It made lunch so much more interesting than leftover Chicken Tikka Masala alone. Even with jasmine rice and string cheese.

Anyway, pick up the phone and ask your recycling questions. Get those answers. Be the change.

Stuff I wonder about ...

Sue — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:53:58 -0400

Just some random questions I have ...

1. Why can't you recycle caps from plastic bottles? No one from the recycling world has been able to answer this question.

2. Do thongs/shoes with a little thing between the big and second toe hurt all women's feet? While at the Waterfront this afternoon, I noticed that many women slid the shoes off when they were standing still or sitting down, but just far enough to free up the toes from that little wedge of pain. I only have one pair of shoes like this and the wedge of pain is covered in soft cotten. I wear them to scoop the yard and pick up the paper when its not on the stoop.

3. Speaking of recycling, why only plastic types 1-5? What's so hard about recycling a 6? 6 is what the little sauce cups from restaurants are made from.

4. Still speaking about recycling, why don't all of the Giant Eagle stores provide blue bags? And why are Glad giant blue recycling bags NOT made from recycled materials?

5. We are remodeling. Exactly how many different types of toilets can there be in the world?

6. What's the deal with the flower people on the street corners?

It is really the recycling and the thong issues that bother me. I should sign off and put my attention to something useful such as the laundry.

Thursday Flashback - Just Because

Sue — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:33:53 -0400

When I was in high school and college, I loved this show. When I grew up and learned that Patty Duke was playing two roles while living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, I loved the show even more. I think I had a secret desire to go back to the "good old days" and actually believed the 50's might be it. I had a passing flirtation with the 20s and the late 1800's, but the 1950's where it for me, man. Until I left the nest and learned what the squabbles about bussing us kids during the 1984 WM high school merger really meant -- - funny how those same phrases are coming to light now regarding the Duquesne students ... 23 years later. Sigh.

Anyway, Patty Duke is my dirty little secret. I also loved teen romance novels set in the 50s of which the WM junior high library was well stocked. To balance it out, I read a lot of boys stories, too. In fact, I would hide my brother's copy of "Boys Life" (from Boy Scouts) when it arrived and read it under the covers at night. My all-time favorite was "My Sister Mike" about the tomboy who got the guy without compromising who she was. For a long time, I thought I wanted to get the guy, too. Took me awhile to figure out I wanted to get the tomboy. LOL.

Video Monday: Sinead Lohan

Sue — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:59:12 -0400

This is Sinead Lohan. I first heard her at Lilith Fair in 1999. She was on a small stage and I stopped for a few moments. I have absolutely no idea what happened for the next 7-9 minutes. She played "No Mermaid" and "Whatever It Takes." I just stood there transfixed. Then I bought her album on my way home. Then I played it 90 gajillion times. Then I put at least one song on every single mix tape or CD I have made since then. Including the mix tape I made for Ledcat because she had a tape deck in her car.

Here's my little Lilith Fair secret. After my Sinead encounter, I enjoyed the Dixie Chicks, Queen Latifah, and Sheryl Crow. Then, Sarah McLachlan put me to sleep. My friend was horrified that I preferred some Irish singer-songwriter nobody to Sarah. I'm sorry. I'm glad she founded the event and do like some of her music. But, I can't understand her lyrics when she's wailing. And that annoys me. Why does it all have to be so dramatic?

So anyway, the latest I've been able to find on the Internet about Sinead is that she wrapped up her newest album in January 1997. Not sure what that means, but there you have it. I will buy it. Whatever it takes. :-)

Photo Exhibit Focuses on Queer Black Life in Pgh

Sue — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:06:52 -0400

Not a very exciting headline, I admit. I'm a little tired this morning, but I've been meaning to blog about this exhibit for a few days so I need to get down to it.

Teenie Harris. You may have heard of him -- photographer, documentarian of life in the Hill District for nearly 30 years (30's - 60's) which was, as you know, a period of intense socio-economic, cultural and demographic change. Harris exhibits are nothing new for Pgh, but this one provides a unique glimpse into what is generally assumed to be an anomaly in Pittsburgh - historical queer black life.

What's even more interesting is that these photographs are not from hidden little corners frequented by furtive members of Pittsburgh's African-American community. No, this was an integrated scene wheer queer members were part of the larger culture, not separate from it. From the City Paper:

While clubs such as Little Paris, the Loendi Club and even the famed Crawford Grill weren't necessarily gay-owned or specifically gay clubs, they hosted cross-dressing performers and welcomed a gay audience. In some photos in Carryin' On, in fact, female impersonators are backed up by legends of jazz and R&B, likely after their pay-gigs let out: R&B singer Sonny Hines, legendary drummer Joni Wilson, pianist Roy Hamilton. In one of Tines' favorite photos, a car, bedecked in streamers and toting a huge speaker on its roof, drives slowly along in one of the Hill's annual parades. On the car's hood, two drag queens bear a sign: "Meet Me at Little Paris."

The exhibit is the brainchild of Deryck Tines who serves as guest curator for the exhibit. Tines plans to work with local photographers to document today's queer scene for a planned "Then and Now" exhibit in 2008. (Tell your queer photographer friends.)

I really like this particular photograph. There's just this lovely fusion of flamboyance and ordinariness that makes me actually believe the rest of the story about the integration and acceptance of queer black community within the larger cultural context of the Hill District.

The exhibit runs through September 2 at the Andy Warhol Museum over here on the North Side. We are absolutely going to catch it and I must say the articles in the PG and the City Paper have prodded me to make that happen sooner rather than later.

I'm really interested in Deryck's plans to capture the current queer scene. I wonder what the photographers are going to document? Most of the "images" the media feeds us involve this perception that the African-American community is highly homophobic. The City Paper did a stunningly awful job on that front in April of 2006 <how can you write about the local gay black experience without including local gay black women?>

My African-American friends deny that is true and regale me with stories about their parental generations mingling freely with gay individuals. I'm sure my slice of friends are not representative b/c of the fact that they are friends with a lesbian, but still there's this dischotomy. That's my new word ... dischordant + dichotomy = dischotomy.

What should be really interesting is if Deryck's photographers examine the younger queer community and the older gay and lesbian community. I wonder what differences, if any, would crop up?

Anyway, check out the exhibit and stay tuned for more from Deryck Tines. Maybe next year, the City Paper will have found a few local gay black women to interview <just kidding, Chris.>

Pgh Lesbian Variety Show Faces Accusations of Discrimination and Bias

Sue — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 21:00:08 -0400

For several years, Celebrate the Night has honored National Coming Out Day with a women's variety show featuring a slew of talented local, amateur performers. Each year, the call goes out across the community to women of talent -- singers, jugglers, musicians, poets, dancers, comedians and so forth. The unifying element is that performers are women coming together to "celebrate" women.

A local lesbian, Dr. Emilia Lombardi of the University of Pittsburgh, suggested that her partner, Jessi Seams, dust off her magic act and audition for CTN. Jessi submitted an audition tape, but was denied the opportunity to audition. Why? Because someone on the CTN committee had connected Jessi with an online profile identifying her as an escort.

CTN, apparently, did not want to be associated with sex workers.

Jessi and Emilia appealed the decision, claiming that the information on the profile was inaccurate and that Jessi had never worked as an escort. According to Emilia, CTN refused to reconsider and was not open to discussing the issue. Emilia then tried to have the Gay & Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) act as a mediator (the GLCC is the primary beneficiary of the event's proceeds), but again CTN refused.

That's when the story wound up in my email box. Frustrated with their inability to negotiate with CTN, Emilia and Jessi decided to share their story with the larger LGBT community.

I contacted CTN for their response to the allegations, but there has been no response to my inquiries. The CTN Producer issued the following statement on a local queer events email list.

As the producer of CTN, as much as I would like to indivually and immediately respond to these emails, given my commitment to CTN, and it's vision, I'm not authorized to speak for CTN, absent the collegial action of the committee as a whole. After we meet, a statement will be forth coming from the committee ASAP.

CTN defenders have claimed there is more to the story, hinting that Jessi had a "threatening nature" and the existance of conflicting information on multiple websites. Other members of the local women's community have their hackles up over this tacit moral code of conduct.

So let's take a step back. This is the transcript Jessi and Emilia provided of the email from CTN:

"It has come to our attention recently, at pridefest,that you are
acting as an escort. As you already know, Celebrate The Night is a "Celebration" of Women, and the information listed on the website of URnotalone has you listed as an escort, and we can not risk having that affiliated with CTN. It is with regret that we have decided not to accept your application to audition for CTN. We are sorry, we were looking forward to having a magician in the show, but we have to consider the interest of CTN first and foremost. "

What is unclear at this point is why the CTN committee has imposed a morality clause on the event. If Jessi were an escort, how does being a sex worker impact a woman's ability to sing, dance or dazzle us with illusions? Are there other behaviors that are deemed unacceptable by the committee? If so, that information should be made public so that sponsors and patrons are aware of the lifestyles and moral choices of which they are tacitly disapproving. I'd like to know because I wouldn't be happy if someone conducted a background check on me to determine if I am worthwhile to help raise money for the GLCC.

Further, how exactly did this information come to light? One can only presume that a member of the committee googled Jessi for some unknown reason, which looks suspiciously like a background check. Granted, information on the Internet is pretty much fair game for public consumption. But that should be an evenhanded process -- in other words, are they checking out everyone who wanted to audition? And if so, for what information are they looking? Did they search the online database of PFA orders or for drunk driving violations? What about being behind in child support payments? Remaining legally married to your heterosexual spouse while engaging in an intimate relationship with your same sex g/bf? All of this is public information and accessible as easily as MySpace and Yahoo. Where do you draw the line?

Finally, there's the fact that Jessi claims she is not, and has never been, an escort. For some reason, CTN has not given her an opportunity to clear her name or face her accuser. Why not? If it is simply a misunderstanding, it should be cleared up quickly. Emilia is concerned that this is somehow connected with the fact that Jessi is a transwoman, in spite of CTN's history of behind the scenes trans participation. I've been racking my brains to recall if there have been any transgender female performers, but I cannot honestly say one way or the other. Emilia's concern seems to stem from some awkwardly phrased questions about Jessi's gender identity prior to being denied an audition. Wrestling with questions about who is a woman and who isn't hasn't worked out so well in Michigan, so perhaps airing this issue now will at least make sure everyone in the community knows the lay of the land.

I'm looking forward to the statement from CTN. I really hope there's a good "other side" to this story, because this side is really unpleasant. Remaining silent in the face of so many questions tarnishes the reputation of the event and diminishes the accomplishments of the many hardworking volunteers who have logged hundreds of hours over the years.

I also hope that the GLCC is taking note as they would be the prime beneficiaries of a policy that would impose a moral code of conduct on women.

What does ANY of this have to do with National Coming Out Day?

And, yes, a magician at the event would be cool. Let's work this out ladies so we can identify the internalized homophobia, transphobia, mysogeny and whatever else is going on and actually do something constructive to address it. Let's be adult enough to admit we don't always make the best decisions and ethical enough to examine them honestly.

Priory Fine Pastries: Cupcakes = Good, Lack of Napkins = Not so good

Sue — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:43:11 -0400

Ok, this is really bugging me so I have to post to get off my chest. As a Northsider, I am a frequent flier at the best little bakeshop over here, Priory Fine Pastries on East Ohio Street. I stop in to pick up bread, muffins for weekends breakfasts and the occasional pie/cake for a dinner party. I usually get cookies, too. Yum.

Last week, I picked up some PMS cookies and heard the staff person tell a woman at the coffee station that they were out of napkins as she handed her a paper towel.

Fast forward to this afternoon. I have 45 minutes to kill before my car is ready so I trot in here for coffee and a snack (and access to an outlet.) When I pour my coffee, I realize I need a napkin so I ask the very cheerful young woman behind the counter. She tells me they are now out of both napkins and paper towels. In disbelief, I say "You have no paper towels in the store." She shrugs and nods. Apparently, the distributor has not provided them.

So as I sip my coffee, I begin to wonder what that means. No paper towels in the staff restroom? No paper towels to clean up spills and messes? No paper towels even though the Cedar Avenue Giant Eagle is probably a 3 minute drive from here? You can't send a smiling staff member trotting down the street to pick up a few rolls of Bounty to tide you over?

I'm sorry, but 99% of baked goods require some sort of dabbing materials upon consumption. There are flakes and crumbs. There is powdered sugar, jimmies and finely chopped nuts to contend with when you eat baked goods. It is not a pretty sight. If you want neat and tidy, eat carrots.

Especially, if you are eating PMS cookies.

So, now I have this nice little bag of bakery treats that I cannot eat b/c I have visions of bakery staff wiping their post-bathroom hands on their aprons and trotting up front. I'm sure they have bathroom paper towels or something, but still ...

I should have gone to Beleza.

Class Reunion

Sue — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:38:25 -0400

Yesterday, it finally arrived. It being a very preliminary announcement of my 20th class reunion in the summer of 2008. I have been out of high school nearly 20 years. Wow.

To be honest, my recollection of high school is somewhat hazy. Sometimes I'll think of a person from my past and not remember if I knew them in high school or college ... people sort of blur together when you lose touch. Certainly, I remember my old friends as well as the folks who made high school less than pleasant. But there's an entire circle of folks that meld into this outer ring of "that short guy/girl who wore red lipstick/guy in the back of math class" status. Those are probably the ones making the most money and living the happiest lives now. :-)

I volunteered to set up an email list for the planning group (1 person thus far) and several folks have joined. None of my old friends, but at least I do recognize most of their names. I'm a bit gunshy about reconnecting. Sometimes, you run into someone and really hit it off as adults ... that happened with my friend Amy who I met at age 4 and reconnected with about 5 or 6 years ago. Sometimes, you run into someone who seems really cool in their adult persona, but things never move beyond the parking lot chatter at the Giant Eagle. And, to be honest, sometimes you run into people and hope they lose your email address. What sucks is when you don't have reunion parity --- I might think they are really cool adult persona types and they think I'm lose the email address type. Or vice versa. It is all very complicated. I learned this after moving back to my hometown of West Mifflin at the age of 27. Apparently, I look just like I did in high school (just fatter) so I constantly ran into people from back in the day. Literally, b/c they would stop short and say my name, while I was hoping they weren't going to jump in line ahead of me. No clue as to who they were. Fortunately, I'm adept at bluffing.

And, of course, there's the whole thing about coming out to another 200 or so people. I know for a fact that there is one other lesbian from my graduating class. I'm inclined to believe there are plenty more gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons lurking amongst the alumni. And that's what I'm looking to know -- who turned out gay? It is shallow and silly, I know. But I'm curious. I'm also curious as to who will be freaked out, shocked or appalled (hello quasi-Christians). I should add that Ledcat is decidedly not excited about attending my reunion and is only slightly mollified that my friend Amy and her husband Sean are going to be there. We mutually decided to try and determine whether the lesbians or the biracial couple get more attention.

I'm really hoping people will pleasantly surprise me. Really. In spite of my bluster, there is something precious about reconnecting with someone from your childhood or youth. I don't believe in reliving the glory days and I'm certainly not a proponent that people reach their peak at age 16, but it can be nice to be transported back to less complicated times. Don't get me wrong -- my childhood was not something I would ever willingly relive, but there were moments ...

I'd like to get to know some of the grownup versions of my high school chums. I bet they turned out to be really neat people. And I'd like the chance to clear up some of the hazy memories with modern interactions.

Non-Live Blogging: Luke really knows how to throw a party

Sue — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:56:52 -0400

This afternoon, I thought it might be interesting to live blog an event that the Mayor actually attends. Something critical and groundbreaking, perhaps even newsworthy. Like, say perhaps, a "garden" party to celebrate his single-handed reclamation of a porn palace for the good citizens of Pittsburgh. <insert applause>

So off we toddled to West Park for the 4 PM kick-off time. We were promised live music and refreshments, plus entertainment. After snagging a primo parking spot on Arch Street, we thought things were going to be groovy and we were really looking forward to seeing the theater.

Unfortunately, Luke's partying aptitude requires a heavy dose of yinzerettes and Iron City, because this was just ... sad.

See, the party was across the street from the Garden Theater. But ... we weren't allowed to go in because there was a performance scheduled for later that evening. The nice lady keeping the homeless people away from the refreshment stand told us that we could save $2.00 on admission to the show. She also told us that the garden party was from 1 - 4 PM (it was 4:15 at the time) and refreshments would be served at 5 PM. So, perhaps she wasn't the most reliable of reporters.

This is where I stop the narrative. Why would you throw a party to celebrate reclaiming a theater and not let people see it? What the hell? Instead, I got to see 20 photos of the glory days and argue with a fussy gay man that, no I was not spending time at the Garden in 1974, because I was three years old and dealing with a curfew. Thus, I could not authentically sign his Garden Theater memory book. He seemed pissed.

So we milled around with the yuppies for awhile and fended off the overly eager Citi-Parks employees handing out programs, as well as some frightening giant puppet people. There were a few artsy vendors. I think someone drew a giant circle of protection in chalk around the whole affair to ward off people who don't pay property taxes. <am I being too mean? Ledcat thinks that, yes, I am.>

Meanwhile, I thirsted. The food lady told me that there were two whole coolers of beverages, but none for me. I had to wait until after the Mayor spoke. Cause if you throw a summer party and invite the entire Northside, why provide beverages to slake their thirst? Make 'em wait! I suppose I could trot down to the corner store ... oh wait, this is the Northside. The corner store is 17 blocks away. Darn.

My thirst got the best of me. So we trotted back to Arch Street with plans to head to see our niece and get a glass of water to boot. With ice. On the way, we passed a car with tags that read "Ms. Tonya" and a bumper stickers proclaiming "African-Americans for Kerry/Edwards" so I presume my City Council Rep was there. Good for her.

I hope she brought a bottle of water.

Truth be told, I wasn't really going to live blog. I brought my trusty notepad and several pens. I even wrote some stuff down until I was accosted by yet another puppet person and decided to flee for the relative sanctity of Perry Hilltop. I did make time to stop and tell all the locals (taxpayers and otherwise) that dinner was on at 5 PM sharp.

This was a silly little event designed for self-congratulations and the never-ceasing Mayoral commitment to throw us off the important issues. Who throws a party and doesn't let you see the inside of the building? If my tax dollars built the damn barn, get the friggin giant puppet the hell out of the way and let me see what I have bought.

Maybe they should just send the giant puppets to City Council meetings and leave Luke to do the really important stuff ...

Lesbians Dirtier Than Political Junkies, Comets, and Carbolic Smoke Balls -- Rivaled only by MacYapper

Sue — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:27:25 -0400

Gay is a bad word. This I discovered after Maria pointed out that her blog was rated R for adult content. So I just had to see where the lesbians ranked. And guess what?

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

gay (24x)
lesbian (12x)
queer (2x)
bomb (1x)

What's up with that? They missed all the really creative bad words I've used. Like spokesfag, one of my all-time personal favorites.

However, this is still a more risque site than just about any other blog in the Burghosphere, except for MacYapper. That or the other sites aren't talking about gays and lesbians often enough to warrant an adult rating. Hmmm?

MySpace update

Sue — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:30:14 -0400

Well, it has been three days since I posted about MySpace and I've collected 14 friends and two comments. Being true to my word, I rejected the one person who I have never met. I'm not sure why she wanted to be my friend, but she handled the rejection very well.

I also rejected someone who wasn't in their secret agent guise. Oops.

I selected a catchy tune that was very important to me in high school. I even blogged and joined the alumni group for my college. Now, I guess I just sit back and wait for the cool to come oozing in ....<tap> <tap> <tap>...

http://www.myspace.com/pghlesbian

Reversal of Course on MySpace ...

Sue — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:19:32 -0400

OK, I have caved and set up a myspace profile. I know, I know ... it was almost a year ago that I blogged about it being strictly for young people and "creepy" for those of us over 30. I believe I wrote this:

And then there is this "friends" thing. Apparently, you connect your profile to the profiles of your actual friends. But then you troll for new friends ... randomly asking people to be your friend. They can accept or reject you. So some people end up with 895 friends. Seems harmless, right? So I asked the 3 people I have actually met in person to be my friend. Fine. Then I asked someone I sort of know who never responded. So I begin to wonder ... is she sick? Does she not want to be my friend? What does this mean for when I see her in real life? Am I not cool enough to be her friend? Why am I overthinking this? And on and on and on down into the void euphemistically referred to as a junior high flashback.

Thankfully, Ledcat slapped me back to my grown up productive citizen life and I quickly realized that I don't need to go online to be rejected --- there's an entire world filled with nasty homophobes just lining up to reject me. Thankfully, there's also a long list of real time people who will come over and hang on our deck with us while the computer sits idle in the attic.

But I had to do it. It has been tough getting some blogging material and following the tracks of people who steal my bandwidth w/o an account -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it. They are stealing my bandwidth, dude!

You know what else turned me? I attended a presentation on Internet Safety brought to you by the District Attorney's office. I was really creeped out and I think I'm somewhat Internet savvy. I get gazillions of pervs coming to this blog looking for teen lesbian porn and I don't let that stop me from putting my message out there. So I guess I can use myspace responsibly, too.

But I booted "Tom" from my list of friends and swear to only list people that I have actually met in person at least one time AND with whom I've exchanged actual two-way conversation. Thus, John McIntire can be my friend whereas the Dixie Chicks cannot. Much to my regret (no offense to John).

We'll see what happens. Maybe I'll bump into some friends and acquaintances. You can check out my profile at http://www.myspace.com/pghlesbian

The Birth of the Pgh Women's Blogging Society

Sue — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:22:52 -0400

A secret agent, a lesbian and a political junkie walked into a cyber-coffeehouse. A few keystrokes later, the Pittsburgh Women's Blogging Society was born. The Society is open to all women bloggers in the Pittsburgh region. To participate, you must have a virtual footprint be it a blog, email-list or dynamic website. Your gender identity must be female. Your identity must be known to the blog owners, but can be kept private on the blog. Men are welcome to read and comment. We'll appreciate your support and engagement.Visit us at http://pghwomenbloggers.blogspot.com/ to check us aht.

For more information, email pghwomen@gmail.com

Yours in sisterhood,

Agent Ska

Maria of 2 Politial Junkies

Sue of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

Sunday Round Up' - Politics, Nudie Lesbians and the Loss of A Community Icon

Sue — Sun, 20 May 2007 10:01:20 -0400

The Post-Gazette reports that local gay business owner and community advocate, Jay Bernard, has passed away. Jay and his business partner Bill Stanhope owned Jay Design in Lawrenceville. Jay was the founder of the Boys of Lawrenceville "a benevolent organization of gay men" and the author of a monthly column about pet adoption. I've heard of Jay, but did not have the opportunity to meet him. Jay's company donated some items to an event I am hosting tonight for my day-job. I will be thinking of him when we raffle off those items. God speed.

The Presbyterian debate over gay marriage continues. From the PG:

A regional Presbyterian court's decision yesterday upheld Pittsburgh Presbytery's ban on gay marriage ceremonies, and reiterated the national church's stance that ordination requires chastity in singleness or fidelity in heterosexual marriage.
But the language was such that both sides of the local debate regarding the ban on actively gay clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) found aspects of the ruling acceptable.

Several Middle Eastern governments have filters in place to prevent their citizens from accessing gay and lesbian sites.

Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen had the strictest social-filtering practices, blocking pornography, gambling and gay and lesbian sites.

That's interesting. I usually have at least one IP address a day based in those very countries that visits my site, usually with a keyword search for "hot lesbians" or "lesbian photos" or "naked lesbians." Once it was "nudie lesbians." I chalk that up to a translation issue. Someone is getting through that filter.

The Post-Gazette on Jerry Falwell's legacy:

Intolerance today comes clothed in piety.

Meanwhile, today's Trib runs this nice little affirmation of Falwell from the self-described "mean girl" Ann Coulter:

Let me be the first to say: I ALWAYS agreed with the Rev. Falwell.

Coulter sets the record "straight" on Tinky Winky's sexual orientation and explains why he didn't go far enough identifying who was responsible for 9/11 (hint: he's a Kennedy).

Meanwhile, South African churches get the go ahead to perform same-sex marriages.

Reports say that 5,000 people turned out for the Warsaw gay rights parade in spite of government sponsored crackdowns. Anti-gay crusaders want to ban gay propaganda in the schools. Does that sound familiar?

And, closer to home, Kent State has installed a "gender neutral" bathroom to accomodate transgender male and female students. Nearby Oberlin has a residence hall specifically for transgender students. The times they are a changin'.

h/t to Page One Q and Pam's House Blend

The Trib on Pittsburgh Lesbian Scene - Huh?

Sue — Sat, 19 May 2007 11:02:30 -0400

OK, this just strikes me as weird. The Tribune-Review sent a reporter to OUTrageous Bingo to do a story on the lack of a lesbian scene in Pittsburgh. "Lesbian scene" should always be read as "no lesbians bars," but we'll get to that in a moment.

OUTrageous Bingo is a mixed event - gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered men and women, old people, young people, etc. Why not send a reporter to an actual lesbian event (or a queer women's event) where it more likely you'll find a diverse group of people who are a little plugged in and can say with some authority what's missing?

Anyway, I personally get really tired of people moaning that there is no lesbian bar in Pittsburgh. Good grief. Of all the types of lesbian-friendly places I can conceive, one covered in smoke soot and encouraging women to consume alcohol is not high on my list of lesbian friendly ideals. I could take us on a little trip down the wonderful world of lesbian health to see the disproportionate impacts of alchol abuse and nicotine addiction in the lesbian community, but I'll restrain myself. It always strikes me as ironic that women who so enthusiastically support the ESTHER project, a lesbian health project, are the ones complaining about the bar situation.

Now that I got that off my chest, I have to say that the women profiled in the story made some excellent points about many projects and events being dominated by gay men, the small group of the same people who show up for everything, etc. And it is interesting how the younger women are picking up the mantle to get new kinds of things with an old twist organized. Sarah Claire, for example, organizes dance parties at the smoke free Ava Lounge in East Liberty. Cool. Ehrrin Keenan organizes lesbian book club and game nights. Very cool. Kat and Rowan got the potluck up and running smoothly. Awesome. We need to keep that kind of initiative flowing.

Now see Ledcat and I would do all of those things. Except we haven't. Because life gets in the way. Maybe part of the issue is that women have pretty full plates so a once a month or once every other month outing to a lesbian-centric event is enough. Maybe we've integrated as lesbians into society enough that our social needs can be filled outside of a lesbian bar.

Maybe its no longer about retreating to a lesbian-centric space as claiming our own spaces as lesbian-centric. Isn't that what we've been struggling for all these years? I'm not saying we don't need lesbian oriented places. But maybe they aren't bars. Maybe it's the fact that I can walk into Cafe Beleza on teh Northside, holding Ledcat's hand and call her honey without thinking twice about it. Or maybe that we can go out to dinner at the Square Cafe, staffed mainly by lesbians, and do the same thing. Or fly a rainbow windsock on my porch on a street with one other gay couple. Or that I have her picture on my desk at work.

Maybe this is an opportunity to generate a new sense of space and community.

To be fair, the article missed some pretty big things, namely the Dyke March and Celebrate the Night. It missed the queer performance events and the queer arts scene almost completely. It completely missed the Burghosphere.

It also missed the ongoing tension between gay men and lesbians over power and control of LGBTQ resources. This dynamic is at play whether its bar owners complaining about lesbians who drink water all night or the debate about the misanthropic content of drag queen shows.

The sidebar article sums up why this piece was not a hallmark step forward for the lesbians in Pittsburgh. The editor helpfully included a list of contact information for the events described in the main story, which is especially good for those lesbians in the hinterlands that aren't sure how to go about finding these resources. Kudos to the Trib. However, the title of that sidebar? Where the girls are.

'nuff said.

Where Oh Where Have the Lesbians Gone? Where Or Where Could They Be?

Sue — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:14:21 -0400

Fear not! I was on vacation last week, but spent my time cleaning out my empty house and preparing for the arrival of Pittsburgh's newest lesbian, B. I inhaled enough dust, cleaning fluid and spider webs to bring down the mightiest of women, but persevered in the knowledge that I could spend this week going back to work AND cleaning the house in which I actually live. Oh Joy!

Stuff has happened while I've been gone. No, I haven't listened to John McIntire's new radio program -- unfortunately, I am at work and it is not really work appropriate topicishly. Sigh. So I just have to be content with all the gossip from you guys. I understand he is a self-styled lesbian flipper. You don't see much lesbian flipping these days so that's something I'd like to watch. With popcorn, of course. And maybe an ice cold Coke.

Dav-y-oe was on Lynn Cullen's show today. Also missed that one because of work. Darn pesky work. Imagine those foster kids needing homes and funding and services when I'm trying to listen to progressive talk radio. Darn kids!

Ledcat and I went to see Blades of Glory this weekend. Hys-teri-ical. Emphasis on the hyphens. I was high on sushi so no popcorn, but trust me -- funny laugh out loud stuff. Not funny cerebral stuff. But a great send up of manly homophobia. Dynamite!

I watched like 10 seconds of news last week. I did read For Better or For Worse in the paper everyday -- April turned 16. I also went to the Carnegie Library one morning and copied my great-grandmother's obituary. I have to prove she's dead to the folks at the Catholic Diocese Research Chapel in order to get her baptismal certificate. My grandmother, her daughter, suggested I take her in as proof -- Gma is 90! So anyway, I got a chance to check out their geneaologial section which is pretty cool. I've traced my family back as far as about 1700ish on some branches. Basically, we've been in Pittsburgh (or Pennsylvania in general) for at least 6 or 7 generations. I've even discovered I qualify for the Daughters of the American Revolution, which I would love to join just to lord it over my snooty aunt. But I can't do that. I'm not sure they acknowledge that patriots sired lesbians. Oh, blunderbuss!

Ledcat and I also caught a show at the Brillobox two weekends ago. It was funny, but I felt kind of sad. You know when you show up at a party and all the hosts sort of talk to each other after giving you a perfunctory "thanks for coming" brush off? That's how it went down that evening. It is like I am interesting enough to pay money to come here (SMOKING ALLOWED btw), but not interesting enough for a real conversation. I could have stayed home and watched 60 Minutes and Cold Case during that time slot. But instead I ate quasi-Italian food and parallel parked in Lawrenceville -- to be ignored. Sigh. It was probably a combination of PMS and a mood swing, but it still felt crappy. I think I'm going to keep the smoking/non-smoking barrier as a protective aura for my self-esteem when I go to these things. Non-smoking venues are filled with people who smile and chat and discuss and emote. Smoking venues are filled with people who hack, cough, posture and cop attitudes. Overly simplistic perhaps, but it works for me. Plus, the mood swing thing seems under control. I did resist the urge to stand up, give the peformers the old man fist shake and rail against myspacemania. But only because Ledcat duct taped my hands to the chair.

That's pretty much the news from Lesbian Central. I have a lot of blogs to read tomorrow. Sigh. Plus, that pesky work to do. And get ready for the great Easter trek to my cousin's house in Dormont. Those streets always confuse me. And just when I learned my way to G. Street, they move the dinner to her fiance's house around the corner and through three traffic lights. What the hell is that about? You don't move Easter dinner. You just don't.

My Wish List for PrideFest Entertainment 2007

Sue — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:30:08 -0500

Pittsburgh is fortunate to have a talented pool of queer and queer-friendly performance artists, some of whom I have met over the past year. They include singer-songwriters, spoken word artists, comedians, poets, rappers, puppeteers, and so forth.

PrideFest is the annual community celebration of all things queer (or gay) and includes a chunk of stage time dedicated to performances. Among the usual suspects are the Renaissance City Choirs (men and women) and a slew of drag queens as well as some other amateur artists.

See the disconnect? What I'm wondering is why this whole group of talented professional and semi-professional queer artists are not on the PrideFest performing schedule? I know the budget doesn't allow for bringing in a huge name, but given that some of our homegrown talent have performed around the country it would seem worthwhile to give them a shot at headlining. Or at least allocating a slot or two. To be fair, I have to wonder why the artists haven't pursued it themselves more aggressively. As most of them seem to perform at every other queer benefit in the region, it doesn't make sense.

My gut tells me that this is a mini-front for some of the internal culture wars in the queer/gay community. PrideFest is this odd fusion of mainstream family-friendly festivalishness (lemonade, non-profit vendors, children's areas) atmosphere with the retro shout out to the drag queens. The queer arts movement is less focused on assimilating into mainstream heteroculture and more in tune with queer identity.

PrideFest should be the venue where these disparate trends find, at least for one day, a common ground in celebrating all aspects of our community. There's small movements on either side --- the Pride parade is now an awareness march. Its not earthshattering but it does shake off some of the complacency of the white upper middle class gays who aren't always attuned to those outside their realms of privilege. Just as seeing lots of gay couples with babies and toddlers enjoying an afternoon of family fun reminds this lesbian of how much progress has been made at shifting the heteronormative standards of "family."

The arts would be a powerful venue to explore the intersection of these two seemingly disparate communities.

So I've begun compiling a list of all the local performers I would like to see at PrideFest. It is on the right hand side of this blog, with links to their assorted websites and myspace pages. It is not comprehensive by any means. Check out their sites and see what they have to offer. In my opinion, they have something meaningful to say to the entire gay/queer community.

Let them entertain us.

If you'd like to volunteer for the PrideFest committee, clink on the icon above for more information.

Beaver County Man - Society Sissified by Affirmative Action

Sue — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 10:53:36 -0500

What with all the weather and all, I missed this little gem of a letter in the Beaver County Times that was penned by Paul Kisiday of Freedom (ironic, no?). Paul decries the sissification of contemporary society as exemplified by complaints over Super Bowl ads. It seems that all the furor over distraught robots, homoerotic chocolate kisses and K-fed's diss of fasfood workers has pushed Mr. Kisiday over the edge and he's determined to save us from ourselves:

Sorry to break the news, but there are winners and losers in life and people do get their feelings hurt. In the adult world, the better person gets the job (in most cases, excluding affirmative action, which is another way our society is sissified).
As a species, we dominate the planet. It's about survival of the fittest, with the strong on top. We are getting away from that and setting a bad example for our youth.
They need to realize it's not about free handouts, that you need to work hard to achieve your goals and that sometimes you will have your feelings hurt.
So get over it and move on.

Wouldn't it really be awesome if the better person always got the job? I mean I could live well in a society like that; I'd be able to offset feeling bad about being passed over if I could truly believe that the majority of jobs impacting my life are filled by the best person. Not the whitest person. Not the most masculine. Not the best connected person. Not the one capable of consuming the most alcohol. Not the one most likely to end up in the boss's bed. The best person.

Too bad Mr. Kisiday have never actually read Darwin or, apparently, any of our Founding Father -- a bunch of the "fittest" who set up a system not based on keeping the strong on top.

An Open Letter to H's Mom Regarding Homophobia

Sue — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:42:45 -0500

Dear H's Mom,

Congratulations on raising spunky, articulate and polite daughter. As you know, she took the time to post a comment on this blog several months ago, sharing her thoughts on the Upper St. Clair performance of "The Importance of Being Earnest" and the potential for homophobia. Unlike most of those who comment here, she had the guts to post her real name and stand up for that which she believes. That's commendable and I'm sure you are very proud of her.

But you aren't happy that googling her name brings up a lesbian website. Out of deference to your sensibilities, your daughter has very politely asked me to take her comment down.

Given that your daughter seems to rock, it is quite discouraging, H's Mom, that you are a homophobe. Oh, I know you probably don't think that way of yourself and would never be the kind of person who says "I hate gay people." And you probably think we deserve some civil rights and disagreed with Rick Santorum's man-on-dog slurs.

But let me be clear, H's Mom, that being "freaked out" because your daughter's name is associated with lesbians is nothing but homophobic. And you freaking out sent a very clear message to your daughter that if she is gay, it's not okay with you. And that, H's Mom, makes you a very real threat to myself and my community. And your daughter, too.

If being mistaken for a lesbian or perceived to be lesbian-friendly is the worst assumption people make about your daughter, is that so bad? If you are worried how people might treat her or what they might think about her, you might want to consider why people do that. Perhaps you might use the opportunity to teach your daughter some lessons about tolerance, rather than capitulating to gay panic.

I'm honoring your daughter's request to take down her comment because she asked me politely and was very respectful and straightforward with me about her reasons. She seems like a great ally for my community and has her head on straight when it comes to your being freaked out over this whole thing. I doubt she's going to develop a sudden fear of lesbians over this.

I do hope you take a moment to consider the lesson you've taught her.

Sincerely,

Sue PghLesbian Correspondents

Coolest Gayesque Penguin Love Triangle Ever ...

Sue — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:12:54 -0500

In what would be the coolest gayesque Pittsburgh love triangle ever, check out Pitt Girl's latest post ...

Did somebody start a Sidney and Mario gay rumor without me knowing it?

Sonni and Sidney? Or Sidney and Mario?

All I'm saying is that if Luke Ravenstahl ends up in handcuffs at the new hockey arena, all bets are off ...

Mainstream Media vs the Burghosphere: Which White Men Should You Listen To?

Sue — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:40:53 -0500

By now, you've certainly caught this week's edition of the City Paper and noted the feature story on local blogs aka the Burghosphere -- yes, dear readers, we have yinzerized the blogosphere. The Burghosphere is young, hip, sassy and an "alternative" to the mainstream media (MSM). Or so says all the white guys writing the blogs. And if they don't know alternative, then I ask who among us does?

Not that I have anything against white guys per se and I certainly 'fess up to reading their blogs on a regular basis - Carbolic Smoke Ball; 2 Political Junkies; Pittsburgh Rocket; Angry Drunk Bureacrat; and, of course, MacYapper. They make me laugh, cry, smirk, snicker, gnash my teeth, and frequently think about Pittsburgh in a new and interesting way.

But all this fuss about bloggers rocking the mainstream media is just a bunch of hooey. The absence of a diverse range of voices in the Burghosphere should at least warrant a mention in a story. The outgoing CP news editor (and all around groovy white guy) Marty Levine quotes two female bloggers - Maria of 2 Political Junkies and Pittgirl who chooses to remain anonymous. They include a grammatically challenged excerpt from this blog and that's pretty much it for diverse voices. I'm not suggesting the City Paper ignored minority or alternative voices -- I'm pointing out that they don't appear to exist in Pittsburgh. Two chicks and an irreverent lesbian do not an alternative media make.

Where are Pittsburgh's African-American blogs? What about the disability community? We have a significant number of immigrants. Or what about our vibrant young art community -- especially those who are politically aware and active? They are all over MySpace so its certainly not about a lack of intimacy with technology. And the responsibility lies among those of us who are counted among minority voices -- we can't simply cede control of yet another medium to the powers that be and decry their lack of attention to us.

My opinion? The blogosphere and the Burgosphere are rife with the same issues that keep alternative voices suppressed in the mainstream -- access, leisure time, affordability, collegiality, literacy, etc. To the detriment of us all.

We can keep talking about which white guy done the other white guy wrong. We can keep the bathrobe/coffee cup iconography sacred. We can keep posting comments on each other's blogs. But until we find a way to make this whole 'sphere accessible to our sisters and brothers who are disenfranchised, disempowered and dissatisfied with the status quo ... then let's not kid ourselves about being out of the mainstream.

Gay-B-Gone!

Sue — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:35:45 -0500

h/t Pam's House Blend

Tony Norman: Isaiah Washington "irrelevant" to reality of homophobia within African-American community

Sue — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 09:59:34 -0500

From today's Post-Gazette:

Is it religion that fosters this willful ignorance and compulsion to deny basic civil rights to other oppressed minorities?
Why is the black church so complicit in taking up the cudgel of discrimination when so many organists, choir leaders and assistant pastors are obviously gay? What accounts for this shameful lack of honesty and tolerance?
Certainly, the non-religious corners of African-American life are proudly and defiantly homophobic. It's another pathology this community has to come to grips with sooner or later.

Artful as always, Tony Norman attempts to elevate the furor around Isaiah Washington to a level of discourse that's actually relevant to homosexuals, particularly African-American gay men and lesbians (and bisexuals and transgender individuals). Rather than validate the absurd call for Washington's "Grey's Anatomy" character to turn gay, Norman dismisses Washington's acting impact, characterizing his role in the larger dynamic as simply another reinforcement of a stereotype that straight black men are homophobes.

Let's face it, though he's a competent enough actor, he's no Andre Braugher, Hugh Laurie or Forest Whitaker. You don't think "brilliant thespian" when Washington's name comes up. You think grumpy guy with a stethoscope.
Not only did Washington offend homosexuals by slurring T.R. Knight, he embarrassed straight, black folks like myself who aren't eager to deal with the stereotype that all black men are homophobes.

Turning Washington's character gay simply perpetuates the notion that being gay is a punishment, a curse to be born, an anathema to all straight men who aren't in touch with their femine side. Its a stupid suggestion made by small minded people who don't understand that playing a gay man on television has nothing in common with being gay. All the artificial swish in the world won't penetrate his thick skull unless he genuinely opens his mind. And, frankly, I don't care if he does. I'm much more concerned about the thick-skulled Peter Akinola, Archbishop of Nigeria's Anglican Church in terms of impact on the lives of gay people.

Tony's finger pointing at the faith communities within the African-American community is well-done and much-needed. But, to be fair, here in Pittsburgh there is also much needed work to be done on the part of the mainstream (aka white) gay community reaching out to include gay minorities.

Queer Shout Out to Sparkly Crippled Disco Babe on the Bus

Sue — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:42:13 -0500

Our great friend and all-around grooviest of the cool chics - Jennah - has gotten herself quote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on a matter of great import to every one of us ... the proposed Port Authority transit cuts.

Jennah is one of the amazingest people in the world -- she takes no shit but does it with an infectious grin and disarming soft voice. She was my very first lesbian date, having the misfortune to meet me while I was in the midst of great longing for my very first lesbian love. In spite of my pathetic yearning, we became good friends and have shared many a cup of tea and spicy Asian dish over the years. Plus, she always notices when I get a little mention in the paper. Always notices. And always encourages me to keep speaking up, shouting out and screaming when necessary.

Jennah leaps to my mind when people moan and groan about getting involved as a volunteer or activist. She does both on a regular basis as well as juggling a full grad school course load and internships, plus all the usual family and personal commitments. She describes herself as "sparkly crippled disco babe" an evocative lyric that beautifully captures her essence.

So this is my shout out back to Jennah. I'm glad you made the time to attend the transit hearings and spoke with the press. The transit cuts may be necessary to keep the system afloat, but the necessity does not invalidate the deep pain and suffering they will cause and disproportionately so for the most vulnerable in our society.

You rock, Jennah!