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.

Response from Dan Onorato’s Office to my cyber town hall meeting question

Response from Dan Onorato’s Office to my cyber town hall meeting question

This just in from County Chief Executive Dan Onorato's office.  I asked him about plans to offer domestic partner benefits to County employees.  View the meeting here. January 15, 2009   Dear Ms. Kerr:   Thank you for your email.  We appreciate your interest in the cyber town hall meeting.  While the County Executive was […]

Allegheny County: Another report

Allegheny County: Another report

According to Gary Van Horn, the speakers number as follows. 49 for the ordinance 14 against. Hmmm.  So 63 speakers out of 80 showed up. Bram thinks the attendance was split 2/3 for and 1/3 against.  Anyone else want to weigh in?

The Council. Half the room and most of the Council is gone

The Council.  Half the room and most of the Council is gone

It is twenty minutes past 8:00 PM.  Adam says the room is half full.  Interesting.  I can add some commentary here.  It appears the pro-ordinance folks really outnumber the anti-folks.  Here are some thoughts from Adam. Loads of people out in support. Also loads out against. Of those opposed 98% made purely religious arguments. It […]

Allegheny! Excerpts! Gastgeb leaves.

Allegheny! Excerpts!  Gastgeb leaves.

Patricia Weaver Pa family institute. Against! Consequences. Religious schools might not be able to discominate. Photographers might not be able to discriminate. Physicians might not be able to discriminate. Catholics might not be able to discriminate. Also, I'm now going to mischaracterize the law and break the 9th commandment. <Diane Gramley and Tony Perkins kin.  […]

Allegheny County Council: Excertopia

Kishore Jayakumar High school student. Supports. Talks about how hard it is to be out in high school. Says is issue for mental health of county's youth. Like milk speech in real life. But not in Altoona. Really courageous kid! Big applause. <Ledcat has been saying for weeks that bringing in student speakers would be powerful.  […]

Alleg Co Council: Excerpts

Alleg Co Council:  Excerpts

Adam is reporting that Rich Fitzgerald is saying the attendance is unprecedented.  At one point, the line to get into the room was 100 deep.  Good show, friends.

Allegheny County Council: More Excerpts

Allegheny County Council:  More Excerpts

La'Tasha Mayes Black struggle is like gay struggle. Mlk is a natural ally. With new voices of Pittsburgh. Women of color for repoductive justice. Homophobia is like sexism or racism. Thanks amanda green. <La'Tasha was a speaker at the rally this past Saturday.> Alan Wakefield Always with the religious. Do people actually expect laws to […]

Official Response on Ordinance from Vince Gastgeb (R)

Official Response on Ordinance from Vince Gastgeb (R)

This came from a constituent of Councilman Gastgeb who wrote in favor of the ordinance. Thank you for taking the time to write. It is my understanding that the Bill will be going through some amendments over time. In addition, there is a public hearing scheduled for Thursday. With this as well as other anticipated […]

Allegheny County Hearing: Thoughts and More Testimony

Allegheny County Hearing:  Thoughts and More Testimony

Please remember that Adam is using a smart phone to capture and send me these excerpts from the testimony from a standing room only room.  We will happily accept updates and corrections.  This afternoon, Gary Van Horn confirmed with the County that 80 speakers were set to address County Council on this topic.  I love […]

Alleg Co Hearing: Further Updates

Alleg Co Hearing:  Further Updates

Reverend Janet Edwards Vote for the ordinance Am a christian. Greives that most of her peers oppose. 1. You're allowed to be angry, but you're not allowed to hurt. And gay people are hurt. They need protection. And anyway, religions are protected. So everyone claiming that it would make religions have to hire gay people […]