Do you want Ricky Burgess to be the Mayor of Pittsburgh?

Mayor Peduto Ricky Burgess

This weekend, sitting members of Pittsburgh City Council and the Councilor-elect Bobby Wilson are debating whom to elect as their President. They will vote on Monday at 3 PM. The two contenders are Ricky Burgess, District 9, and Corey O’Connor, District 5. There are lots of factors to consider, including their legislative records and leadership […]

Marcellus Shale and Ricky Burgess

Marcellus Shale and Ricky Burgess

A few days ago, I wrote a little chastisement of Reverend Burgess' vote for regulating the drilling for natural gas within the City in lieu of standing against it.  I received an off the record email from a Burgess supporter explaining the nuances of the law and the Council's ability to defend citizens in this […]

Theresa Kail-Smith Named Pgh City Council President

After genuinely worrying about the potential to put a Christian pastor with a disturbing history into the role of President of Pittsburgh City Council, I am truly relieved even buoyed to share that they unanimously chose Theresa Kail-Smith From WESA Pittsburgh City Council unanimously voted to make District 2 Councilor Theresa Kail-Smith Council President on […]

Pittsburgh City Council Unanimously Calls for Pittsburgh Marathon to Remove Chick-fil-A Sponsorship

On Wednesday, October 17, all nine members of Pittsburgh’s City Council signed a request to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon organizers (P3R) requesting that they remove Chick-fil-A as a title sponsor. We, the undersigned, are writing to respectfully request that P3R remove Chick-Fil-A as the title sponsor of the 2019 Pittsburgh Kids Marathon. The […]

Small Update: Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson

C.d. Kirven

Earlier this week, LGBTQ folks and allies across Texas gathered in vigil for the two women and solidarity with one another. From LoneStarQ GetEQUAL TX’s Cd Kirven, who organized the vigils, told those who gathered in Dallas that she wanted to hold LGBT-affirming memorials to honor how the couple lived. At a family-organized vigil in […]

Rainbows on Cupcakes and Pressure on Peers

Pittsburgh Blog

Tell us about a time when you didn’t bend to peer pressure, and you swam against the stream. AND Write about anything you’d like, but make sure that all seven colors of the rainbow — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet — make an appearance in the post, either through word or image. Hello. My […]

Pittsburgh City Council Elects First Openly Gay President

Bruce Kraus Pittsburgh

January 6, 2014 ushers in the much-anticipated progressive Peduto Administration to the Mayors Office, but also marks another significant milestone for the City with the election of the first openly gay man as President of City Council. In 2008, Bruce Kraus became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to City Council. He was reelected in […]

City Councilman Burgess Doesn’t Seem To Think LGBTQ Identity Reflects Diversity

City Councilman Ricky Burgess believes – nay, insists – that the next President of City Council be a person of color. And he’s willing to step up to the challenge.  Burgess notably the only member of that body who refuses to sign the Pridefest Proclamation because Pride is too “sexualized” has also historically  ignored the […]

NaBloPoMo: Energy From Sisterhood

NaBloPoMo: Energy From Sisterhood

This weekend, an acquaintance wrote to me and used the term “Sister” which – to be honest – freaked me out. She intended it to be a reflection of our shared experiences as women living in a man’s world. To me, the term sister has two meanings. First, it is used very flippantly among the […]

Do You Believe Stonewall Democrats Are Relevant to Political Discourse?

Do You Believe Stonewall Democrats Are Relevant to Political Discourse?

Stonewall Democrats – national – is in dire straights financially. This is deplorable. I don’t agree with their positions on all things, but I agree very much with this particular statement: In far too many places, the Democratic Party structures at the state and local level maintain a less than hospitable attitude toward LGBT equality […]