Life on the Ground in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Yep, The Home of Pittsburgh)

I live about a mile from the vote tallying garage. The past few days have been rife with tension, heightened by the incessant whir of the helicopters from the local TV stations. I can’t figure out why they need to send helicopters when a van would be sufficient. Maybe they are afraid of violence? The […]

KDKA AM Radio Host Repeatedly Misgenders Dr. Rachel Levine, PA Secretary of Health, During Media Call

Marty Griffin misgendered Dr. Rachel Levine, PA Secretary of Health during a media call today. She told him to knock it off. He dithered about being too busy with his very important radio job to prioritize accuracy and respect. Mayor Bill Peduto decided to cancel a planned appearance on another KDKA radio show in response […]

Q&A with Ryan Deto about the role of Pittsburgh City Paper in the region’s curent crisis

Ryan Deto Pittsburgh City Paper

Local media outlets are essential to the work we do on this blog. Chief among those has been the Pittsburgh City Paper, a relationship that has had ups and downs over the years. I’ve been through the tenure of four editors, countless staff and beat reporters, and other staff as well as multiple publishers. I’ve […]

Thank You for Voting Us ‘Best Local Blog’ in Best of Pittsburgh Reader’s Poll 2019

Best of Pittsburgh Best Local Blog

We are in our 14th year of blogging and it has been an amazing year indeed, for good and for not so good sometimes. Being named the OUTstanding LGBTQ Blog in the nation by GLAAD during their 30th annual media awards was pretty damn exciting. It was also one of those moments where you are […]

Local LGBTQ Links We Are Reading – June 16, 2018

This semi-regular feature compiles some links from around the region on LGBTQ themes. It is important to read the information and to pay attention to what your local media is sharing around LGBTQ topics. Here we go … fair warning, that I am not linking the Pridefest stories. Also, not linking to stories about decals on police […]

Why I’m Protesting the Pittsburgh City Paper ‘Best of Pittsburgh’ Reader’s Poll

Pittsburgh City Paper Best of PGH Winner 2016

It is rare enough to receive acknowledgement, much less awards, for blogging. Even more rare are awards when like me, you are well past the average blog expiration date (2.5-3 years.) When I became the first person ever to be voted “Best Blogger” in the City Paper Readers Poll in 2016, I was absolutely shocked […]

RIP Chuck Tierney (March 29, 1948 – Oct. 11, 2017)

Chuck Tierney

A founding father of the regional LGBTQ community has passed, Chuck Tierney. Chuck was a 1966 graduate of Munhall High School. In 1977, Chuck purchased the legendary Holiday Bar on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, along with Chuck Honse. For 40 years, the bar played host to the city’s LGBT community and kept the secrets of […]

Top Things I Wish Pittsburgh’s Best Local Blogger Got To Do

Best Local Blogger Pittsburgh

I’ve been savoring my surprise nab of the Best Local Blogger category in the Pittsburgh City Paper’s 2016 ‘Best of Pittsburgh’ awards. By savoring, I mean that I agonized over how much I hated the accompanying photo, missed the award party because of anxiety and have awkwardly inserted the factoid into as many conversations as possible simply because Ledcat dared me to do so. I said it at least 10 times when I was in a blogging panel. Yes, I did use the phrase, “I traffic in the currency of exposure.”