Celebrate the Night!

Celebrate the Night is a wonderful little event held each October in honor of National Coming Out day.  It is a variety show with female entertainers including singers, comedians, more singers, spoken word and usually some more singers.  :-)     Its actually very nice and has grown to the point of having to move from the Penn Brew House to East Liberty Presbyterian Church.  One of those events where you see women that you have never met or seen before, which is always interesting. 

They are still accepting applications for talent through July 31.  Send them an email at CTNpgh@verizon.net  or call: 412-655-4444

Just this past week, I realized that Correspondent favorite Eve Goodman had performed last year doing a very fun version of Dancing Queen on her acoustic guitar.  I was working at the refreshment table and could not easily see over top of all the thirsty lesbians, so I didn't put two and two together. 

CTN tends to be an older crowd so it would be really interesting if some of the performers from the Steel Queer N'At collective got involved.  Maybe that's just my generation gap speaking --- I get a little tired of either being one of either the oldest or youngest persons at an event. 

This caught my eye last night while lounging around Tuscany cafe in Southside.  (Doesn't that sound like I do cool things on week nights?  LOL)

You Had to Ask
6/22/2006

I?m still wondering about the Pittsburgh Left. No one can tell me where it comes from. Question submitted by: Catherine Stephens

That's a very good question Catherine.  And Mr. Potter does a fine job exploring this unique phenomenon.  Even I, a lifelong Pittsburgher, did not have a precise understanding.  I'm a bit of coward when it comes to pulling in front of people without clear signals that its okay. However:

No one can pinpoint the origins of the practice, of course. But when executed correctly, the Pittsburgh Left is a justifiable, and maybe even inevitable, response to Pittsburgh?s history and topography.

That's one of the awesome things about the City Paper.  You learn things that seem so obvious, but no one at West Mifflin High School ever made a point to teach us.  About the 1988 boys basketball team, I learned too much.  About Pittsburgh history and topography, not so much. 

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has issued the 2005-2006 State of the Workplace report. 

Take note of these facts:

* 51% of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits

* 86% include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies

* 81% include gender identity in their non-discrimination policies

Obviously, corporate America recognizes that a LGBT friendly workplace is good business. 

This does not bode well for Pennsylvania given our legislative obsession for ramping up anti-gay initiatives.  How will we attract the companies so necessary to create jobs for PA families if we are creating a hostile environment?  It would be interesting to see the Democrats suddenly become the champions of economic development by creating an environment conducive to attracting private investment.  Not gonna happen anytime soon while so many Dems are cowering in fear for losing their seats for even consorting with homosexuals.