Five Articles about Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ History You Don’t Want To Miss (re)Reading

Pittsburgh Pride

I’ve been on this kick lately of reading archived media coverage of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ history. I set up several “Scoop.It” sites to curate the information. One is specific to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh and the other is general LGBTQ Pittsburgh history. Scoop.It is a neat tool – you can follow my […]

40 Ways Being Named to Pgh’s “40 Under 40” Impacted My Life

Sue Kerr

In 2004, I was among the honorees recognized for our contributions to the community via the 40 Under 40 awards sponsored by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP)  I was 34 years old and working FT as a social worker with Family Services of Western Pennsylvania. I was involved with Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ […]

No News Here

Newsmakers? Did you have a female ancestor who made the news? Why? Was she famous or notorious? Did she appear in the social column? I’ve been in the news quite a bit, usually because I’m being mouthy about some issue or cause or something – like helping poor people or fighting discrimination. And yeah there […]

I’d Rather Remember My 39th Birthday

Do you still feel pressure of conform? If no, what age did it stop? Also, Write a post inspired by your sixteenth birthday. Oh, my dear question generator, you are obviously not part of a subculture or a subculture within a subculture. The “pressure to conform” to being straight is all around you. Open the newspaper […]

If I Could Guarantee These People Read My Blog

Pittsburgh Lesbian

If you could have a guarantee that one, specific person was reading your blog, who would you want that person to be? Why? What do you want to say to them? I have a list. It is not in order of preference. First, Mayor Bill Peduto’s deputy chief of staff, John Fournier. It would be […]

Letters to the Editor on LGBTQ Equality

Letter To The Editor Pittsburgh

As disappointed as I am with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s disjointed coverage of LGBTQ issues, I have to applaud the readers who submit letters to the editor with gusto and flourish. Four days ago, Jonathan Dohanich of Monaca wrote to oppose marriage equality  on the grounds of procreation, his distorted understanding of legal protections accessible by […]

Does The Post-Gazette Just Not Like Transgender People?

The Post-Gazette editors are up to it again – shoddy reporting on LGBTQ issues. Not reporting, opining actually. This time, they give Governor Tom Corbett “half a loaf of credit” for supporting HB 300 which would extend non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Republican Gov. Tom […]

Why I Am Spewing All This Heavy Stuff On My Blog

kindness mental illness

Someone recently told me that they’ve enjoyed reading my NaBloPoMo posts where I respond to a daily prompt because it helps them get to know me better and makes them think. That’s high praise. Inspiring people to think is pretty much the end goal for a blog (with occasional calls to action, of course.) I’m […]

A Lump of Coal for Reg Henry and Two for the Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh transgender

It is nearly 2014 and we continue to have to battle with our alleged allies over issues like not using the word “transvestite” (or a thousand other words), especially our allies in the media. Today, Reg Henry’s column in the Post-Gazette hit that low note once again. Given Vladimir Putin’s ill treatment of gay people […]

Post-Gazette Profiles Same-Sex Couple for National Adoption Day Story

The Post-Gazette’s Rich Lord profiled Kizzy and Sandra, a married lesbian couple who adopted a sibling group of 4 this past weekend on National Adoption Day. This day is organized to recognize the thousands of children who are eligible for adoption through foster care – something close to my heart. Kizzy and Sandra were married […]