UPDATED Pittsburgh Will NOT Enforce Free Speech Zones at Pridefest

Pittsburgh Pridefest

That was quick. This came in from the City of Pittsburgh via Sonya Toler. Sight and Sound zones are outside of the following locations: 100 Wood Street PNC 1st Side Park BNY Mellon Plaza PNC Triangle Park 620 Liberty Avenue Liberty Center Federal Building Corner Adjacent from the Federal Building The Zones will be there […]

UPDATED Pittsburgh Designates Zones for LGBTQ Community To Protest , Gives 24 Hour Notice to Community Groups

Pittsburgh Pridefest

UPDATE Saturday: Since I wrote this at 11:30 PM Friday, the City has changed the policy about free speech zones and will not require people to use them. More here. I think Mayor Bill Peduto made a significant error in judgment this week regarding Pridefest by failing to disclose plans for “designated areas for protestors” […]

Delta Foundation, Mayor Peduto Resist Transparency About Pridefest Security Plans

Pittsburgh Pridefest

Let it not be said that this divisive blogger doesn’t *try* to get along. I began emailing The Delta Foundation and Mayor Pedutor’s PR folks (Tim & Katie) on May 9 with questions about security plans, prompted by the decision of Repent Amarillo to file a lawsuit against the City of Fort Worth for constraining […]

What Are the Safety and Security Plans for Pittsburgh Pridefest?

Pittsburgh Pridefest

Protestors with an avowed anti-LGBTQ bent haven’t historically been a significant presence at Pittsburgh Pridefest. Yes, here and there. But it was really only in 2014 that they garnered the sort of attention that they craved when Repent Amarillo protested at the City County Building, strolled down the Pridefest route and then set up a […]

Dear Allegheny County Council – I Don’t Trust Your God

In God We Trust

I have a very concise message for Sue Means, Chuck Martoni, John Palmiere, Ed Kress, Heather Heidelbaugh, Tom Baker, the members of Allegheny County Council who want to erect a plaque in the County Courthouse with the motto “In God We Trust.”  (h/t 2 Political Junkies) No, we don’t. You might trust in God, but I […]

Repent Amarillo Targeted Northside Church – Watch How They Respond #NSFW

Repent Amarillo

A week before Pittsburgh Pridefest, members of Repent Amarillo were spotted protesting outside of Community Presbyterian Church in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. I just found the 50 minute “street preach” video and it is both sad and amusing. It is also something people are going to underestimate.  This is #NSFW because of the […]

Five Essential Lessons From Pittsburgh Pridefest 2014

Pittsburgh Pridefest

I am breaking my silence on events that unfolded at Pittsburgh Pridefest. As some of you know, my partner of eleven years is an investigator with the City’s Office of Municipal Investigations so I do not comment publicly on active investigations of alleged police misconduct. But there are some serious problems with how the LGBTQ community is responding to this […]

ENDA, Religious Exemptions, and Why Non-Discrimination Matters

Repent Amarillo

Most people do not believe this so let me open with a statement of fact – in most of the United States (and Pennsylvania) it is legal to fire someone or deny them a rental unit or service because they are LGBTQ.  It is legal. It doesn’t have anything to do with “right to work” […]

Seeking Photos of Protestors at Pgh Pride

Pittsburgh Pride

During the Sunday Pride festivities in Pittsburgh, a local woman recorded an incident involving a confrontation between anti-LGBTQ protestors and members of our community. The incident resulted in a young woman allegedly from our community being detained by the police with allegations of misconduct by the officer involved. (I use allegedly because she has not […]