Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Word trickled out Sunday about the upcoming Pgh hearing on SB 1250 which would amend the constitution of PA to permanently ban gay marriage.  And other stuff, too.  But no one on the right is talking about the negative backlash for their families beyond the voo doo protection from homo marriage.

I have had a dozen email messages today from various groups trying to muster the troops for Thursday.  The odds are not good — the hearing is in the middle of the day, we have had four days notice and, frankly, our side is not well-organized. I know that might make me a traitor to the cause to admit that publicly, but someone has to cry wolf.  Because we seemed a lot more organized last time and barely won that round.  This hearing was scheduled on 4/3 and Pittsburgh's queer community first heard about it on 4/6.  We lost three, almost four, days of prep time and no one seems to have a good answer to that.

You know *they* are organized.  And well-funded.   And will be there in full force on Thursday. 

I also know that local bloggers seem very well-organized to tackle this hearing.  No one has to convince them that it is newsworthy which means thousands of blog readers are going to get some insight beyond a 30 second sound-bite on KDKA.  I say work with the bloggers. 

Look at Pam's House Blend.  It is one of the largest sources of LGBT information, period.  We could build on that energy here in Pgh AND tap into the terrific support of our heterosexual blogging allies, who frankly outnumber the gay bloggers.  Far outnumber.

If you can be there on Thursday, it will make a huge difference.  Every gay ally counts.  Don't let parking or crowds or rush hour traffic deter you.  You can be damn skippy sure it won't keep the Cranberry home-schooling Christo-bigot housewives from loading up the SUVs and rolling into town to defend their marriages. 

Our folks are doing their best with really limited resources.  Things need to change and each of us has to step up to be part of that change.  My best suggestion is to join Steel City Stonewall Democrats.  They broke the news about the hearing before any other local source. In some cases, it took 24 hours for other groups to catch up.  Co-chair Kris Rust assures me they are expanding scope to work on issues, not just campaigns.  Go to this hearing.  Wear your sticker and be counted.  Then go home and join Steel City.  Stop by their booth at PrideFest.  Read up on their slate.  See how their endorsed candidates for state offices vote on this issue. 

And, hey, gay groups — use the bloggers.  Not just me, for Pete's sake.  18 bloggers participated in Blog for Equality.  They are paying attention and you just need to send them an email to start a dialogue, potentially reaching thousands of readers. 

Be part of the solution.