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:

Main PagePolitics

PA Court Says Expansion of Hate Crimes Law Unconstitutional

November 16, 2007 by

Not much time to blog tonight, but you should know about this.  The Commonwealth Court struck down language that expanded hate-crimes legal protections for persons based on sexual orientation and physical disability.  Repent America and beloved psycho-Christian Michael Macavage took the Legislature to task for adding these protections onto an agricultural bill. Here's what Pam […]

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When Lesbians Don’t Weep

November 14, 2007 by

Early Saturday morning, my friend of 23 years died.  He was 41 years old.  I received the call Saturday and I cried all the way home from the training I was co-facilitating.  Note: co-facilitators come in handy when your friends die.  Out of the past four days, I've cried about three hours give or take.  […]

Gay things to do in PghMain Page

HandMade Arcade: Cool Crafts or Conspicuous Creation?

November 12, 2007 by

Ledcat and I rolled into Point Breeze today for the Handmade Arcade which is giant fair of handmade stuff held at Construction Junction. Last year, I enjoyed the event with a few reservations, most notably about my number one bitch — gigunda baby strollers.  This year, the event was spread over two days and we intentionally […]

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The loss of a friend

November 11, 2007 by

Yesterday, I received word that a long-time friend had passed away early in the morning.  I was stunned because I hadn't realized that he was that critically ill.  I was horrified because I had let so much of our contact lapse over the past few years.  As the day progressed, I was anguished as an […]

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My Holiday Shopping

November 9, 2007 by

This year, I want the Complete First Season of Maude on DVD.  Last year, I got the Complete First and Second Seasons of Family.  I remember being scared of Maude as a child.  She seemed kind of mean and the long flowing 70's frocks struck terror in my child heart.  But she also seemed cool […]

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Ennui at Lesbian Central

November 9, 2007 by

What to blog about?  I'm sort of all politicked out what with the election and ENDA.  I did get a missive from the AFA of PA informing me that Christian bookstores must now hire homosexuals.  Sigh.  But it didn't seem worth fretting over.  So here's some light stuff … Take a poll on your favorite […]

Faith and ReligionMain PageMarriagePolitics

The Morning After … Debra Todd, ENDA and

November 8, 2007 by

I'm sure by now you've made the rounds of the usual suspects … Comet, Burgher, Junkies, McIntire, Smoke Ball … I could go on and on …. frankly, I didn't have the gumption to drag my ass out of bed any earlier than usual to Wednesday morning quarterback the election — with a gay twist.  […]

Main PageMarriagePolitics

Does He or Does He Not? Gay Leaders Remain Mum on Ravenstahl and Civil Unions

November 6, 2007 by

10 a.m. at Lesbian Central and I'm taking a coffee break to review the blogs as we head into election day …the Burgh Report, 2PJ's, the Comet, the Angry Drunk Bureaucrat and even our dearest Ms. Mon. What I cannot do for you, dear readers, is clarify if Mayor Ravenstahl has had a “Come to Jesus” […]

Main PagePolitics

It is 7 PM and Luke is reportedly now in favor of civil unions

November 6, 2007 by

Well, I am the suckiest lesbian correspondent ever.  It is five hours post Luke/homo meeting and not a single one of my contacts has, well, contacted me.  Meanwhile over at The Burgh Report, the Burgher has the scoop … wait for it … Luke now supports civil unions.  Apparently, he was confused by the question.  […]

Main PagePolitics

Endorsements You Should Know About

November 5, 2007 by

Setting aside the Mayoral race for a few inches … consider what the Gertrude Stein Club of Pittsburgh and the Steel City Stonewall Democrats. It is a little confusing figuring out the actual slate for the General Election, but you can follow through to read the questionnaires for yourself. Last spring, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee […]