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.

Luke and the Gay Luncheon … You Knew There Was More To The Story …

Luke and the Gay Luncheon … You Knew There Was More To The Story …

As we discussed earlier in the week, plans are underway for LGBT “supporters of Luke” to get together with him over lunch to discuss LGBT issues.  A few key LGBT designated leaders have been invited.  This was confirmed by local LGBT business owner and chair of the Delta Foundation, Gary Van Horn, in the comments […]

Ulf, Canine Cop, Responsible for Every Civil Rights Violation in the History of Pittsburgh

Ulf, Canine Cop, Responsible for Every Civil Rights Violation in the History of Pittsburgh

What's more important for local social justice – the stability of the Thomas Merton Center or the culpability of a dead police dog?  I'd like to ask Carole Weidmann that question.  Carole's pants were ripped during an anti-war protest a few years ago and the culprit may have been Ulf, the dog who was shot […]

City-County Merger: Here’s The Homosexual Agenda

City-County Merger:  Here’s The Homosexual Agenda

Simply put, we cannot support this merger until we have two guarantees. First, we must have the County pass legislation ensuring our civil rights are preserved.  Right now, those of us who live or work in the City are assured protections based on our sexual orientation and gender identity.  At the Big Gay Chat last spring, sponsored […]

And the award for best lesbian commentary on a police issue goes to …

And the award for best lesbian commentary on a police issue goes to …

Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents!  Or PLC as the Post-Gazette's Cutting Edge feature referred to us.  The lesbians are not amused.  Pgh Lesbian is an appropriate abbreviation.  PLC sounds like an 80's one-hit-wonder smushed with a bureaucratic acronym. It is curious that 2 Political Junkies was featured for a LGBT comment whereas we get the nod for […]

Happy Birthday, Ledcat!

Happy Birthday, Ledcat!

Today is Ledcat's birthday and she gets to spend it at a dinner for my work.  Wow!  That's love, folks.  Last night, I threw her a surprise party at Hoi Polloi on the Northside and it was awesome with a capital AWE.  Jessica, Sandra, Daniel, Christopher and Julian did a great job prepping for the […]

California – Why We Cannot Rest On Their Laurels

California – Why We Cannot Rest On Their Laurels

What's good news for Californian queers may mean the battle over same-sex marriage heats up again in Pennsylvania as the anti-gay marriage amendment backers put on the pressure to revive that legislation. They argue that predictions of courts overruling state DOMA laws has come true and call the Pennsylvania House to gird their loins for […]

The Vault: Thy Status is Questioned

The Vault:  Thy Status is Questioned

Wow … rumors abound on the recent closure of The Vault.  I've had word from “the investors” claiming they closed for a few days because the staff resigned and new staff must be found.  Will The Vault reopen or is this sort of like The Vault-lite with whipped cream and everything?  Will the lesbian friendly […]

California Ban on Gay Marriage Struck Down

California Ban on Gay Marriage Struck Down

From CNN.com The California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage Thursday, saying sexual orientation, like race or gender, “does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.” In a 4-3 120-page ruling issue, the justices wrote that “responsibly to care for and raise children does not […]

Good-bye, The Vault, Good-bye

Good-bye, The Vault, Good-bye

Sad news … Brighton Height's The Vault closed its doors tonight for the final time.  As we've mentioned before, the lesbians love this place.  It had what we deemed a “lesbian friendly man-vibe.”  I've probably been there a dozen times since last July and each was better than the last.  I loved the hummus, the ice […]

The Death of Justin Jackson: When Will People Learn?

The Death of Justin Jackson:  When Will People Learn?

This isn't going to be the post you might expect from me.  I am tired of watching families wail on television over the loss of a family member due to the police.  I am very sorry for the loss to the family and can completely understand that in their grief, they need to blame someone.  I […]