Butler City Council Postpones Vote on Nondiscrimination Ordinance

Butler County Queer

The anticipated vote on a municipal nondiscrimination ordinance in the City of Butler was postponed to give advocates more time to work on language.  PFLAG Butler has put together a comprehensive explanation of the ordinance here.  The Mayor of Butler, Tom Donaldson, opposed the ordinance and wants a vote now rather than later, calling the […]

Equality PA, White House To Host Regional LGBT Summit

This looks promising. RSVP to kwilkinson@equalitypa.org

David Talks About the State of Equality in Erie #AMPLIFY

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]

What Are the Safety and Security Plans for Pittsburgh Pridefest?

Pittsburgh Pridefest

Protestors with an avowed anti-LGBTQ bent haven’t historically been a significant presence at Pittsburgh Pridefest. Yes, here and there. But it was really only in 2014 that they garnered the sort of attention that they craved when Repent Amarillo protested at the City County Building, strolled down the Pridefest route and then set up a […]

A Vigil for Andre Gray

Andre Gray Vigil

    I stood in an empty lot, my bag resting on the park bench as I adjusted the hood of my sweatshirt. A few minutes earlier, I was eating dinner across the street.  Then the media outlets called and told me if someone wasn’t available to interview instantly, they would kill the story. Kill […]

Equality PA Development Director Faces Fraud Charges

John Campbell

It is disappointing to read that the new Development Director of Equality PA, John Campbell, has been charged with two counts of fraud. Campbell allegedly stole more than $8,400 from a charity to pay for his personal medical and college expenses while he served as Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association.  Campbell is on […]

Allegheny County Email To Domestic Partners

Pennsylvania Equality

I’ve obtained a copy of the email the County apparently sent to 11 employees accessing domestic partner benefits on Tuesday June 24. I’ve noticed a few concerning issues The email uses this language “effective immediately” with no reference to July 31 or a cutoff date. Media reports added that clarification. Effective immediately is a little […]

Petition: Keep Domestic Partner Benefits Until PA Passes Statewide Non-Discrimination

UPDATE: Nearly 550 signatures in three days. Let’s keep this going.  UPDATE: Over 150 signatures in less than 24 hours. Will you lend your name?Allegheny County in Southwestern Pennsylvania has announced plans to eliminate domestic partner benefits for employees, effective July 31, 2014. Same sex couples who receive benefits have until that date to legally marry […]

Cloning Equality

Pittsburgh LGBT

If you could clone one element from another city you’ve visited — a building, a cultural institution, a common street food, etc. — and bring it back to your own hometown, what would it be? I actually put together an entire plan to do this – to study best practices in LGBTQ municipal equality via a […]

If Marriage Equality Comes to PA, Then What

marriage equality PA

There are six pending marriage equality cases in Pennsylvania right now. Two are in the Federal District Courts Whitewood v. Wolf* Palladino v. Corbett* In State Court Pennsylvania Health Dept. v. Hanes* Ballen v. Corbett* Cucinotta v. Pennsylvania* In re Estate of Burgi-Rios* Whitewood v Wolf is the case with which you are most likely familiar […]