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.

Big Lesbian Welcome to Correspondent Shelly

Big Lesbian Welcome to Correspondent Shelly

Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents is pleased to welcome our newest correspondent Shelly. We’ve known Shelly for several years — she is very active in the local LGBT community. Her writing, you will find, is articulate, insightful and from a slightly different perspective than Ledcat and me. Three’s Company, too! Welcome aboard Shelly! Sue

A Reply to Rep. Daryl Metcalfe

A Reply to Rep. Daryl Metcalfe

Dear Mr. Metcalfe: Your information about the history of marriage is far from accurate. Marriage, as an institution, was first recorded less than 4400 years ago. It was first created as an economic institution: a way of insuring that a man's children were actually his and that his wealth, accumlated over generations, would pass onto […]

Anti-Gay Graffiti at Geneva College

Anti-Gay Graffiti at Geneva College

From the KDKA.com website comes this brief story about a second round of hate laced graffiti in one month on the campus of Geneva College in Beaver Falls.  The first time, it was solely racial slurs, now its expanded to anti-gay and anti-Semitic remarks as well. Geneva officials and students state they are trying to avoid […]

Is America headed toward 1870 and 1930 era Germany?

Is America headed toward 1870 and 1930 era Germany?

My partner and I went to see the play “I am my own Wife” last night. I know it didn't get a good review in the City Paper, but we both liked it. But, of course, this little post isn't about reviewing a play. According to the program that gave the history of the play, […]

Update on Rich White People, Upper St. Clair and Uncle Eddie

Update on Rich White People, Upper St. Clair and Uncle Eddie

I was wrong!  On Monday, I credited the USC decision to reinstate the International Baccalaureate Program as a sign of hope.  From the PG: Funding will come from a combination of $45,000 raised by families of the students and $85,000 guaranteed by Gov. Ed Rendell to the district, board members said. I just shake my […]

Update on PA Marriage Amendment

Update on PA Marriage Amendment

  From the PA-GALA website, an update on the PA marriage protection amendment … The Anti-Marriage Amendment (HB 2381) is on the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Agenda for the week of Monday, April 24th!  A vote on the Amendment could be held anytime this week! PA-GALA needs you to contact your State Representative and ask him or her to oppose the Anti-Marriage Amendment. Ask your […]

Trib : Portland Proves Hate Okay

Trib :  Portland Proves Hate Okay

The Trib's Mike Seate steps up for his turn on the Rene Portland homobashing situation and considers Portland a viable candidate for Pennsylvania politics. [I]nstead of offering any apologies or explanations for her bigotry and paranoia, Portland held a news conference last week where she refused to answer any questions. In fact, she pretty much […]

Take Heart: Rich White Liberals Can Drive Back the Wingers

Take Heart:  Rich White Liberals Can Drive Back the Wingers

From a blurb on the Post-Gazette website comes the nugget that the Upper St. Clair School District is reinstating the International Baccalaureate program in the face of a hailstorm of protest and a pending lawsuit.  IB is an educational curriculum that proposes to give students an “international” perspective in the classroom.  Obviously, its a propaganda […]

Lesbians Host ManXposure 2006

Aren't they cute?  These are two of our canine crew members, Alexander and Amadeus.  We've been working on a 7 month quest to help them come to terms with their apparent fear of men.  Hence … MANXPOSURE 2006 Essentially, we ferret out our male friends who aren't afraid of big dogs and invite them over […]

Hurrah for Dana Elmendorf!

Hurrah for Dana Elmendorf!

Local gay advocate Dana Elmendorf asks Pennsylvania to consider why Darryl Metcalfe and his band of merry men are rushing the marriage protection amendment to the House floor?  This was in the PG. UPDATE  11:27 AM:  And this was in Friday's Tribune Review.  Good job Dana!