How Pittsburgh Men Warn & Explain Women, And How We Persist

Here’s what I see from this perch somewhere between progressive and the queer left – men seem to consistently believe they know what is best for women. Men also seem intent on denying this reality as a false perception by women who talk about the topic. Case in point, rather cases in point. Mitch McConnell […]

Victory! City of Pgh Will Continue to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits to Employees

Pittsburgh Domestic Partner Benefits

I am so very relieved. I just got off the phone with the Personnel Department of the City of Pittsburgh. They confirmed for me that after a review, the City has decided to maintain its existing policy with regard to domestic partner benefits. No one will lose coverage if they remain unmarried. New employees can […]

After 11 Years, Ledcat Still Has My Number

Ledcat

This month, Ledcat and I celebrate eleven years of togetherness. Like many LGBTQ couples who (until recently) had no access to marriage, we’ve used our first date as our anniversary. Thanks to smart planning on my part, we moved in together almost two years to the day later. This minimizes anniversary dilemmas. A few weeks […]

Allegheny County Drops Domestic Partner Benefits for LGBTQ Employees

Allegheny County

In a very dismaying turn of events, Rich Fitzgerald’s County Administration has opted to drop domestic partner benefits less than two years after first extending them. The county’s benefit policy is being adjusted in response to the marriage ruling, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said in an email. “As a result of the Court’s recent decision […]

The Man Always Wins

Pittsburgh Lesbian

Tell us about a time when you fought authority and took a stand against “the man.” Did you win? I usually do not win. And this is why I blog more about soap operas and less about local politics. I stood up to Dan Onorato for misleading people about his LGBTQ voting record and not […]

Former Corbett Admin Deputy Secretary Compares Lesbian to Anti-Semite

This is priceless. I wrote a blog post reviewing a local fish fry at Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic parish in Troy Hill. Apparently, the fact that I set foot in a Catholic church offended someone (technically, I was just in the social hall but whatevs.)   Mr. Philip Abromats was until March last […]

That Time When Dan Onorato Didn’t Make Me Cry

Pittsburgh politics

Eleanor Roosevelt said: “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Tell us about a time you felt your strength. First of all, Eleanor Roosevelt probably didn’t say this. Many other people have said it, including Phyllis Schlafley and Hillary Clinton, […]

Would a Domestic Partnership Interfere with a Civil Marriage?

So I continue to wait for someone to remedy the situation with the City of Pittsburgh, I had an interesting thought. FTR, we are now up to three members of Council, a staffer with the Mayor’s office, the ACLU and the Women’s Law Project all trying to find out what happened to the affidavits. Your […]

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 […]

Pittsburgh PrideFest 2014 and Beyond: Five Things to Consider

We were on 5th Avenue at 11 AM to line up for the Pride Awareness March and hung in until the very end of the day, trekking our way back to our car after 6. The march was terrific – we ended up at the bend where 5th turns into Liberty and so we had […]