Sue

Sue is the founder of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents blog, established in 2005.. She has an MSW from the University in Pittsburgh and a BA in Political Science from Marymount University. Her undergraduate claim to fame is a six month stint as an intern with then Congressman Rick Santorum in 1991. Born and raised in West Mifflin, Sue attended college in Washington DC, then graduate school in Louisiana and ended up in Kentucky doing social service ministry. She returned to Pittsburgh in 1997. She now lives on Pittsburgh’s Northside with her wife, Laura. She was among the first out LGBTQ people named to Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 in 2004 and is a graduate of Leadership Development Initiative Class VII. After being fully and permanently disabled in 2010, Sue has continued to serve the community. She founded the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project to address hunger and environmental issues. In 2015, she launched the #AMPLIFY LGBTQ archive in conjunction with a two-year artist in residence stint with Most Wanted Fine Art. Sue and her wife have fostered over 25 kittens through Pittsburgh CAT and Homeless Cat Management Team, and now manage multiple community cat colonies in their neighborhood. In 2020, Sue cofounded the Pittsburgh MasQUe ProjecT to support the queer and trans community during the pandemic, distributing tens of thousands of face masks and other supplies throughout the region. In 2021, Sue created the #PghCatFolx projects to support neighbors working with community cats. Under that heading came the Dr. John P. Ruffing DVM Pet Food Projects, memorializing one of her very best friends who died in 2007. In 2021, Sue worked with community leaders to develop and establish a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities (PLC) where she currently serves as Board President. PLC absorbed the #PghCatFolx projects. Also in 2021, Sue was the first person in history appointed to the City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission and was unanimously elected as one of three inaugural co-chairs. Her blogging has garnered numerous awards Favorite GLBT Media Publication - 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 (Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter Reader’s Poll) Favorite GLBT Social Media - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter Reader’s Poll) Best Local Blogger - 2016, 2019 (Pittsburgh City Paper Reader’s Poll) LGBTQIA Pittsburgh’s Best Blogger - 2020 (SisTersPgh, People’s Pride of Pittsburgh) Outstanding Blog - 2019, 2022 (GLAAD Media Awards) Sue has also personally been honored Person of the Year - The Advocate Magazine, 2022 15 Lesbian Icons - LGBTQ Nation, 2023 LGBTQIA Pittsburgh’s Best Lesbian Activist - SisTersPgh, People’s Pride of Pittsburgh 2022 Sue believes in identifying and filling gaps in supports & services rather than recreating the wheel. She uses both her undergraduate and graduate degrees on a regular basis as a blogger and activist and regularly circulates her 1991 internship photo just to shake things up on her social media feeds. Her own experiences with cPTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other health challenges have fueled her health blogging and activism. She also writes extensively about her family history, drawing on her amateur genealogy hobby. The blog regularly reviews arts and cultural events as well as exploring restaurants, soap opera storylines, and hyper-local news. Sue and her wife Laura have been together since 2003. They were married on a very cold February 2, 2021 in their backyard at a very small ceremony co-officiated by their pagan priestess friend, Anne, and then-Mayor Bill Peduto. They have six niblings, four in Pittsburgh and two in Philadelphia.

Posts by Sue:

ActivismCivil Disobedience

Two Black Minnesota Women activists and a US Army Veteran called out a Christian pastor who works for ICE. Now they have been arrested.

January 22, 2026 by

UPDATE all three have been released Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly. Three community leaders and activists. Today, they were arrested by the federal government for their role in a recent protest at a St. Paul Christian Church helmed by an employee, an agent of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Some parishioners were […]

#PghCatFolxPLC

Successful winter cat shelter workshop builds community while helping caretakers

January 18, 2026 by

We had great time yesterday at the Betty White’s Birthday Winter Cat Shelter Workshop, Over 20 neighbors got together at Allegheny City Brewing on the Northside. Owner Amy donated the space and provided complimentary beverages. Nearby Bistro-to-Go sent coffee (January weather) and cheesecake bites (Betty White reference.) The good news outcome – we collectively made […]

#PghCatFolxPLC

Multiple Items Stolen Temporarily Shuts Down Local Pet Food Pantry

January 16, 2026 by

This project has operated for over a year without much incident. The few mishaps we had with pet distributions were miscommunication. People were helpful to each other, careful when they had to move bags around, quick to alert us of issues like a bag breaking open. Sadly in the past six weeks, we’ve had at […]

#PghCatFolxNeighborsPLC

Volunteer to Distribute Cold Weather Cat Shelters This Wintry Weekend

January 14, 2026 by

UPDATE: Please read this post for an update on the pet food pantry being robbed. There are all sorts of winter shelters to help colony cats endure the worst weather. Some are heated where this is electricity, some are made from multiple layers inside a big Rubbermaid tote, some are cute little wooden houses painted […]

Media

I wish it need not have happened in my time

January 13, 2026 by

On September 12, 2001, I was scheduled for an interview with a Post-Gazette reporter about a job fair I was coordinating in October. My boss made me call the journalist to confirm the appointment. As we all surmise, they were covering a far bigger story. I knew that journalist would never talk with me again […]

Entertainment and MediaGayIn Memoriam

Anthony Geary challenged masculinity in the soap opera genre

January 11, 2026 by

Remember him as Anthony Geary, a gay male actor with many theater credits and a great 30 year on-screen love story, followed by another great 20 year love story. That’s what he wanted even though he acknowledged he would always be remembered as Luke Spencer. Yes, he played the character who revolutionized daytime drama, across […]

HealthHome and Housing

Impious and irreverent ‘sweary’ calendars are good for your mental health

January 10, 2026 by

I like calendars – being oriented to date and time are good mental health practices. I like calendars with attitude. And cats. In 2025, I had three wall calendars and one daily tear away calendar. The tear away was filled with women’s quotes, but in a bland way that focused on traditional messages. But I […]

ActivismImmigration

Ice Out for Good Events in Pennsylvania

January 9, 2026 by

This list compiled from social media listing. Check carefully for local details. Many of these events are organized by chapters of Invisible, others by similar groups. Two events were previously scheduled that are not part of this specific action, but are part of the cause. Please send me (or tag me @Pghlesbian) in photos I […]

Media

Where do we go from here?

January 8, 2026 by

I’ve been giving serious thought as to what comes next for this blog. This was before the City Paper closed and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced its closure. Both are not good. And makes me thinking more important. Typically this time of year, I’d be gearing up for the Political Q&A series, but last year’s disrespect from […]

Media

GLAAD Media Award Nominees Reflect Evolution of Independent Journalism

January 8, 2026 by

Nominees for the 37th GLAAD Media Awards were announced this week. As you may know, this blog is a two time winner in the Outstanding Blog category (2019 and 2021.) I removed myself from consideration in this category because two is good. The category has morphed into Outstanding Independent Journalism, a choice I applaud. Blogs […]