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:

ActivismOther

The Week in LGBTQ – February 17, 2013

February 17, 2013 by

Laurel from Pam’s House Blend takes a look at the Gallup poll results on the number of LGBTQ persons in each state. She questions if the data reflects actual disparities in the number of LGBTQ residents in the respective states OR the willingness to openly identify as LGBTQ in more repressive environments. Take a look […]

Activism

Another Trans Bash #Fail Tied to Melissa McCarthy

February 16, 2013 by

Last week, we reported on an issue with CBS using a trans slur in their sitcom “Mike & Molly” which stars actor Melissa McCarthy. The slur “shemale” was used by Mike in the show; McCarthy was not in the scene, but people called on her to speak out given the vicious attack she endured at […]

CultureOther

I’ll Stumble For You – More Social Media Homophobia! (Biphobia & Transphobia, Too)

February 15, 2013 by

Quite a few folks find my websites n’at via StumbleUpon – great, I think. When you add a page to that site, you insert a few tags, select a category and indicate if its “safe for work” – now I interpret this as meaning 95% of my blog posts are fine with the exception of […]

ActivismCulture

CBS “Mike & Molly” Uses Trans Slur on Most Recent Episode

February 13, 2013 by

The good news is that CBS is meeting with GLAAD to discuss the latest in their ongoing #fail when it comes to depicting LGBTQ characters on their network shows. The bad news is that its February 2013 and they are still working on this. That latest offense was a trans slur used during Monday’s Valentine’s […]

Other

LGBTQ Women’s Group at Pittsburgh’s Gay & Lesbian Community Center

February 13, 2013 by

Monday evening, Ledcat and I went to the new discussion group for women at the GLCC – it was the second gathering. It seems off to a good start and I personally found it to be a positive experience.  Just as a quick overview in case you are considering attending – meets every other Mon […]

Politics

France National Assembly Paves Way for Marriage Equality, Adoption Equality

February 12, 2013 by

From the Washington Post: After months of philosophical debate and massive street demonstrations for and against, the French National Assembly on Tuesday authorized same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples, despite France’s long history as a homeland for Roman Catholic tradition. The legislation, passed 329 to 229 with 10 abstentions, was France’s most far-reaching social […]

Other

Let’s Get Jen Tyrrell on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

February 12, 2013 by

My friend and blog team member Jen Tyrrell would be a perfect guest on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Jen is a trailblazing pioneer in the Boy Scouts of America. Jen is a mom (like Betty DeGeneres) who wants a better world for her kids. Jen and her family have a “thing” called kitchen dancing. Seriously. So […]

ActivismOther

Pentagons Extends Some Domestic Partner Benefits to Same Sex Families

February 11, 2013 by

Here’s some good news.   Army Veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson today praised outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta for his decision to extend to nearly the full extent permitted under current law the benefits available to gay and lesbian service members and their families. Though Panetta’s announcement did not include a number of important […]

ActivismCultureOther

I Still Want Melissa McCarthy to Play ME in a Movie

February 10, 2013 by

In January, I was profiled on a website called 12 questions where I – you guessed it – answered 12 questions about my exciting self. It took me a long, long time to answer the question about what piece of art moved me and edit my bio. A long time. What took me less than […]

ActivismPolitics

Rallies for Public Education, Transit This Week in Pittsburgh

February 9, 2013 by

Sunday afternoon marks the “Rally for Public Education 2013” at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. The organizers plan to review the public education elements in the Corbett Budget and discuss the ongoing battle to preserve quality public education resources for all children. Featuring: • performances by Anne Feeney, Vanessa German, the Squirrel Hillbillies, and […]