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:

AMPLIFYGay

Mitch, 27, Describes Life in Butler County as a Gay Man #AMPLIFY

November 3, 2016 by
Butler County Gay

Have you ever experienced discrimination based on your identity? Specifically, in a job setting, when applying for housing or while in public. While living in Butler, whether past or present, it is not safe to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community or perceived to be a member. When living in Butler, I received threats, was harassed, had my car vandalized and have been physically harmed as a result of being gay and prior to coming out, for being perceived as a gay person. I think a mistake is being made if people deny a problem exists. Just because someone says something does not exists, doesn’t mean it doesn’t.

NaBloPoMo

Complete Honesty Has Consquences #NaBloPoMo

November 3, 2016 by

If you could be completely honest with no regrets, what would you say and to whom? I would ask all of the adults in my family why they protected a child molesting rapist, but didn’t protect the kids. All of us. Actually, I would never ask that question because I’m unwilling to be the instigator […]

NaBloPoMo

I Joined a Committee. Dear God. #NaBloPoMo

November 2, 2016 by

When was the last time you did something brave? What happened? This prompt has me somewhat stumped. When you live with anxiety, bravery takes on a whole new level. It can be brave to talk to the cashier or ask someone in an aisle to help you reach an item on a higher shelf. There’s […]

NaBloPoMo

A Tall Drink of Water To Help My Mental Health #NaBloPoMo

November 1, 2016 by

It is NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) and I am going to participate by blogging every day of November in response to the official prompts. It is more of a blogging exercise for me than anything else, but please read away … When you’re having a bad day with your mental health, what do you […]

AMPLIFYGay

Kierra Darshell is Pittsburgh’s First Lady of Drag #AMPLIFY

November 1, 2016 by
Kierra Darshell

How do you describe your identity? Black gay man and female impersonator

Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It was hard being the only son but my Mother was very supportive and my Father wasn’t at first but with time he was much better accepting he had a gay son.

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Fabulous and truly living in my truth!

Activism

Butler City Council Postpones Vote on Nondiscrimination Ordinance

October 30, 2016 by
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 […]

Recreation/Social

Mayors Bill Peduto, Bill de Blasio Drop by OUTrageous Bingo UPDATED

October 30, 2016 by
OUTrageous Bingo Pittsburgh

The Mayor of New York City was campaigning for Katie McGinty and Hillary Clinton at gay bingo in Pittsburgh. As you can imagine, the crowd went wild. But when Mayor DeBlasio took a seat to call a game with an able assist from Peduto, I was charmed to hear the crowd yelling at him because he called too many ‘O’ numbers in a row and resisting his attempts to launch into a round of ‘Happy Birthday’ in the middle of the game. You come to bingo, you call bingo. LOL

AMPLIFYBisexual

Alexa, 22, Talks About Acceptance as a Bisexual Woman #AMPLIFY

October 27, 2016 by

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? I wouldn’t say I’m fully out but I’m working on it. If I’m talking to people and they ask if I’m seeing anyone I am nervous at first to say I have a girlfriend but I do and I am proud of myself after. I need to get past my concerns on what other people think of me. I need to work on what I think of me. We are “official” on social media and both our families know also.

AMPLIFYQueer

Ira, 30, Identifies as Pansexual, Genderqueer and Possibly Agender #AMPLIFY

October 25, 2016 by
pansexual genderqueer Allegheny County

Name: Ira Age: 30 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: They/Them How do you describe your identity? I identify as pansexual and genderqueer, or possibly agender. I just don’t “get” gender I guess? I don’t care about it in my partners and don’t feel it applies to me personally. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? […]

Activism

Butler City Council to Vote on NonDiscrimination on Thursday

October 23, 2016 by

This week, City Council in Butler, Pennsylvania will vote on an ordinance to create municipal level protections for residents based on protected classes (gender, race, religion, etc) including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. For months, members of PFLAG Butler have been working tirelessly to educate members of council and the larger community about […]