Sue

Sue is the founder of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents blog, established in 2005.. She has an MSW from the University in Pittsburgh and a BA in Political Science from Marymount University. Her undergraduate claim to fame is a six month stint as an intern with then Congressman Rick Santorum in 1991. Born and raised in West Mifflin, Sue attended college in Washington DC, then graduate school in Louisiana and ended up in Kentucky doing social service ministry. She returned to Pittsburgh in 1997. She now lives on Pittsburgh’s Northside with her wife, Laura. She was among the first out LGBTQ people named to Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 in 2004 and is a graduate of Leadership Development Initiative Class VII. After being fully and permanently disabled in 2010, Sue has continued to serve the community. She founded the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project to address hunger and environmental issues. In 2015, she launched the #AMPLIFY LGBTQ archive in conjunction with a two-year artist in residence stint with Most Wanted Fine Art. Sue and her wife have fostered over 25 kittens through Pittsburgh CAT and Homeless Cat Management Team, and now manage multiple community cat colonies in their neighborhood. In 2020, Sue cofounded the Pittsburgh MasQUe ProjecT to support the queer and trans community during the pandemic, distributing tens of thousands of face masks and other supplies throughout the region. In 2021, Sue created the #PghCatFolx projects to support neighbors working with community cats. Under that heading came the Dr. John P. Ruffing DVM Pet Food Projects, memorializing one of her very best friends who died in 2007. In 2021, Sue worked with community leaders to develop and establish a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities (PLC) where she currently serves as Board President. PLC absorbed the #PghCatFolx projects. Also in 2021, Sue was the first person in history appointed to the City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission and was unanimously elected as one of three inaugural co-chairs. Her blogging has garnered numerous awards Favorite GLBT Media Publication - 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 (Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter Reader’s Poll) Favorite GLBT Social Media - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter Reader’s Poll) Best Local Blogger - 2016, 2019 (Pittsburgh City Paper Reader’s Poll) LGBTQIA Pittsburgh’s Best Blogger - 2020 (SisTersPgh, People’s Pride of Pittsburgh) Outstanding Blog - 2019, 2022 (GLAAD Media Awards) Sue has also personally been honored Person of the Year - The Advocate Magazine, 2022 15 Lesbian Icons - LGBTQ Nation, 2023 LGBTQIA Pittsburgh’s Best Lesbian Activist - SisTersPgh, People’s Pride of Pittsburgh 2022 Sue believes in identifying and filling gaps in supports & services rather than recreating the wheel. She uses both her undergraduate and graduate degrees on a regular basis as a blogger and activist and regularly circulates her 1991 internship photo just to shake things up on her social media feeds. Her own experiences with cPTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other health challenges have fueled her health blogging and activism. She also writes extensively about her family history, drawing on her amateur genealogy hobby. The blog regularly reviews arts and cultural events as well as exploring restaurants, soap opera storylines, and hyper-local news. Sue and her wife Laura have been together since 2003. They were married on a very cold February 2, 2021 in their backyard at a very small ceremony co-officiated by their pagan priestess friend, Anne, and then-Mayor Bill Peduto. They have six niblings, four in Pittsburgh and two in Philadelphia.

Posts by Sue:

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Spring Fling Women’s Dance set for April 18

March 21, 2009 by
Spring Fling Women’s Dance set for April 18

  Ladies, ready to dance?   WHO?          WOMEN'S DANCE with D.J. Adele                                PLUS Vendors, Raffles, Door Prizes!   WHERE?   Absolute Ballroom  6617 Hamilton Ave.                              Pittsburgh, PA. 15206            (Across the street from Animal Rescue League)   WHEN?        Saturday, APRIL 18th, 2009, 7 PM                              Ticket sales start March 1st […]

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“Patron Party” to support the important work of Persad Center

March 21, 2009 by
“Patron Party” to support the important work of Persad Center

I realize the absurdity of writing about a fundraiser immediately after posting about poverty, but there's a very important connection … the services of Persad Center, the region's LGBT mental health service provider.  “Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art” is a clear way you can help. Ledcat and I will be live-blogging this year's “Celebrate Life, Celebrate […]

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Study Examines Gay Affluence Myth

March 21, 2009 by
Study Examines Gay Affluence Myth

The Washington Blade has an interesting article on the myth of gay affluence.  A recently published survey by the Williams Institute of UCLA reveals that the percentage of lesbian and gay families living in poverty is significantly higher than same sex families. A new report from a think-tank on sexual orientation reveals how poverty is affecting […]

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Pennsylvania HRC on HB 300

March 19, 2009 by
Pennsylvania HRC on HB 300

Human Relations Commission Chair Stephen Glassman has a well-written, thoughtful argument in support of the passage of HB 300.  It is unacceptable that such basic civil rights are not ensured for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals under current Pennsylvania law. The city of Pittsburgh has recognized this, passing a local ordinance several years ago […]

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Post-Gazette reports Rock the Dome Rally

March 18, 2009 by
Post-Gazette reports Rock the Dome Rally

The Post-Gazette has the story on today's Rock the Dome Rally in Harrisburg, organized in support of HB 300 which would extend protections based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity.  People shouted, “End discrimination now.” A little girl held a sign, “My 2 Mommies Deserve Equal Rights.”' A man held a sign, “Would […]

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Emergency Food Distribution

March 16, 2009 by
Emergency Food Distribution

Do you need food assistance? Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is here to help. Evening Food Distribution at the Food Bank warehouse in Duquesne Targeting Unemployed & Underemployed Families Thursday Evening, March 26, 20095:30—7:30 pm NO NEED TO PRE-REGISTERPLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING CONTAINERSTO TAKE YOUR GROCERIES HOME TO HEAR A PRE-RECORDED MESSAGE ABOUTALL DIRECTFOOD BANK […]

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Cherry Jones; HRC

March 16, 2009 by
Cherry Jones; HRC

Two quick items of interest today. Rob Owens from the Post-Gazette has a nice interview with award winning actress and CMU grad Cherry Jones, who is currently portraying the President on 24.  I've never seen 24, but I do admire Jones' after seeing her in the “What Makes a Family” Lifetime special with Brooke Shields […]

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PG coverage Presbytery vote

March 15, 2009 by
PG coverage Presbytery vote

I am pleased.  The Post-Gazette's coverage of yesterday's vote by the Pittsburgh Presbytery is a balanced report on the complexities of “gay issues” in communities of faith.  Rather than a reductionistic portrayal of people of faith as vigorously anti-gay, Ann Rodgers presents multiple perspectives from various heterosexual members of the Pittsburgh Presbytarian community. At issue […]

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Back to Basics: Letter to the Editor

March 14, 2009 by
Back to Basics: Letter to the Editor

A. Altmyer of McCandless wrote in to the “Letters to the Editor” page to share his or her belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman.  He makes a series of disjointed, but not unfamiliar points. 1. We are founded on Judeo-Christian values. 2. The majority of Americans are Christians who believe […]

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March 14, 2009 by

Tonight, Ledcat and I stopped by Peduto's campaign event at the Schenley Ice Rink.  My last visit was like 1987.  It seems different.  There was no skating in our party.  We came, we mingled, we munched and we listened.  Here's an old picture.