Lehigh County Commissioner Compares Domestic Partners to Pets

Just when you think … oh who am I kidding? This doesn’t suprise anyone. Speaking on the extension of equal marriage benefits to same-sex couples in the state, Lehigh County Commissioner Tom Creighton made the comments whilst pushing an amendment which would deny equal benefits to same-sex partners of county employees. “The state has a […]

How Government Closure Impacts LGBTQ Community

A few thoughts on how shutting down the federal government could impact the LGBTQ community directly.   1. The Women Infants and Children program is suspended. With more than 20% of lesbian headed families relying on food stamps, these cuts will be immediate and severe to many of those families. It also delays processing of […]

Saturday is Peduto Campaign Kickoff

So Guess Who Found An Entire Archive of Domestic Registry Documents in the Basement?

So … guess what was found in the basement of the City-County Building? Yes, all of the Domestic Partner Registry affidavits. No copies kept anywhere else and they only went looking b/c someone (ahem) raised a stink. So now we have 16 days to complete the rest of the process. Things we’ve learned 1. Repositories […]

City Council to Consider Changes to Domestic Partner Registry

Today I got word that City Councilor Bruce Kraus is introducing legislation to amend the City Code around the Domestic Partner Registry:   Bill No. 2013-1772  Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title One, Administrative, Article XI: Personnel, Chapter 186: Domestic Partnership and Common Law Spouse Benefits, by adding language in Section 186.04: Requirements for Mutual Commitment Registry. […]

Five Ways To Make Labor Day More Meaningful to the Average Person

Labor Day was officially established by Congress in 1894.  I’ve been thinking about its relevancy in today’s world – how does the FOP and the SEIU and Wal-Mart and UPMC tie together? So here are my thoughts on how Labor itself can help me understand.   First, educate us. I’d love to attend a Labor […]

Two Big Federal Wins for Marriage Equality

Thursday brought news of two significant rules that will have an immediate impact on LGBTQ families. First, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a ruling on Medicare: Gay married couples are now eligible for nursing home care through Medicare-funded private insurance in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision against the Defense of […]

Here’s What We Need To Do About HB 300

From the  City Paper (excellent analysis btw):   But the bill might at least get a hearing — and that “is critically important,” Sims says. “We haven’t had people testifying before us about the impact of discrimination, saying, ‘You’re telling me I’ve lived and worked here my whole life, but I’m not treated equally?’” Metcalfe […]

Update or Not

Update or Not

Lawyers have been consulted. The City remains mum. Wait til they hear our counteroffer. Ha.

Has the City of Pittsburgh Lost The Domestic Partner Registry?

What a ridiculous question. How can you lose a registry? So a few days ago, we were informed that we have less than 5 weeks to comply with an “employee dependent verification” audit conducted by a third party contracted through the City (City Council and the Mayor approved of this, unanimously.) These audits are used […]