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:

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Sue and Ledcat Review the County Non-Discriminationi Ordinance Celebration

July 10, 2009 by

Just random thoughts after attending what was supposed to be the signing ceremony for the Alleghen County Human Relations Commission ordinance.  Somehow it got signed two days ago.  So what we had instead was a lot of build up to Dan Onorato pretending to swish a pen around on paper.  I would ask for a […]

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Letter to the Editor: Marriage Equality

July 8, 2009 by

Always a lift to read a suuportive letter to the editor.  Not a fan of “sexual preference”, but I agree that marriage equality is about the community and region as much as it is about individual civil rights.  Local leadership: the next step The leadership in our city has done so many things right over […]

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Gay Bashed Downtown

July 7, 2009 by

From Wikipedia Gay bashing is an expression used to designate verbal confrontation with, denigration of, or physical violence against people thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) because of their apparent sexual orientation or gender identity. Similar terms such as “lesbian bashing” or “queer bashing” may also be formed. A “bashing” may be […]

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Fort Worth

July 6, 2009 by

The Post-Gazette carried the NYT story about the police raid on a gay bar in Ft. Worth.  You can read the full story at Pam's House Blend.  Ft.Worthians have created a new organization and defined this a unifying moment for the city's gay community. Related to that event, here's a post from a new radical […]

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Candidate for Allegheny County Council Tom Michalow’s chimes in on the Human Relations Ordinance

July 5, 2009 by

Tom Michalow is running against sitting County Councilperson Matt Drozd for a northern suburban district.  Tom made time to attend the Council debate on the Human Relations ordinance and expressed disbelief at the “arguments” of the 6 dissenting members.  I like how Tom positions this as a human rights issue.  I am pleased to see […]

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Statement from City Council President, Doug Shields

July 4, 2009 by

More statements about the passage of Allegheny County's Human Relations ordinance I am pleased that the county in some way recognized that all people have rights to be protected from discrimination based upon sexual identity. I am disappointed that a very simple constutional concept – equal protection under the law –  causes so much political […]

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State Representative Dan Frankel on the Allegheny County Non-Dscrimination ordinance

July 2, 2009 by

Rep. Dan B. Frankel, State Representative, 23rd Legislative District  I’m sorry I can’t be here today in person to commend Allegheny County for addressing this critical issue of fairness under the law; but I wanted to put it on record that I very much hope you’ll see fit to create a Human Relations Commission for […]

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Pgh Councilman Bruce Kraus on the Allegheny County Non-Discrimination ordinance

July 2, 2009 by

Public comment of Pittsburgh City Councilor Bruce Kraus at the July 1, 2009 Allegheny County Council meeting.  Years have passed since the Stonewall Riots gave birth to the fight to achieve social equality for GLBT people everywhere, and yet today, still the struggle continues. We struggle against the modern day Anita Bryant’s of the world, […]

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Pivotal Civil Rights Victory in Western Pennsylvania

July 2, 2009 by

With the passage of the Allegheny County Human Relations Commission ordinance, Allegheny County has taken a step forward with regard to statewide equality for the LGBTQ community.  I was privileged to be in attendance at last night's meeting and witness this little bit of history.  I want to share with you the reflections of various community […]

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Allegheny County Update

July 2, 2009 by

The vote was 8-6.  After a heated exchange, Allegheny County now has a Human Relations Commission and LGBTQ persons have protections.  It ain't perfect, but it is progress.  I am tired from tweeting the hearing and enjoying Chinese food afterward with a group of celebrants.  More tomorrow.