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.

Alleg Co Council: Excerpts

Alleg Co Council:  Excerpts

Adam is reporting that Rich Fitzgerald is saying the attendance is unprecedented.  At one point, the line to get into the room was 100 deep.  Good show, friends.

Allegheny County Council: More Excerpts

Allegheny County Council:  More Excerpts

La'Tasha Mayes Black struggle is like gay struggle. Mlk is a natural ally. With new voices of Pittsburgh. Women of color for repoductive justice. Homophobia is like sexism or racism. Thanks amanda green. <La'Tasha was a speaker at the rally this past Saturday.> Alan Wakefield Always with the religious. Do people actually expect laws to […]

Official Response on Ordinance from Vince Gastgeb (R)

Official Response on Ordinance from Vince Gastgeb (R)

This came from a constituent of Councilman Gastgeb who wrote in favor of the ordinance. Thank you for taking the time to write. It is my understanding that the Bill will be going through some amendments over time. In addition, there is a public hearing scheduled for Thursday. With this as well as other anticipated […]

Allegheny County Hearing: Thoughts and More Testimony

Allegheny County Hearing:  Thoughts and More Testimony

Please remember that Adam is using a smart phone to capture and send me these excerpts from the testimony from a standing room only room.  We will happily accept updates and corrections.  This afternoon, Gary Van Horn confirmed with the County that 80 speakers were set to address County Council on this topic.  I love […]

Alleg Co Hearing: Further Updates

Alleg Co Hearing:  Further Updates

Reverend Janet Edwards Vote for the ordinance Am a christian. Greives that most of her peers oppose. 1. You're allowed to be angry, but you're not allowed to hurt. And gay people are hurt. They need protection. And anyway, religions are protected. So everyone claiming that it would make religions have to hire gay people […]

Alleg Co Hearing: More Updates

Alleg Co Hearing:  More Updates

Over 80 speakers are lined up.  Adam and I are doing our best.  Well, I have the easy part. Peter Harvey, Fair Housing Partnership Fair housing partnership In favor of fair housing 😉 Talking about race, and how there are still problems. Loads of housing discrimination still. Including gays. Landlord “we don't rent to fags.”. […]

Alleg. Co Hearing: Sort of Live Blogging

Christopher Hixson from the local blog After 8 Pgh is sending me posts from the Allegheny County hearing.  These are his interpretations and commentary.  Please email me any corrections on names and affiliations.  Great job, Christopher.     Testimony of John Michael Curlovich Says this meeting is déjà vu from city law. Filed first suit […]

CP on Big Queer Rally; More on Club Pittsburgh

CP on Big Queer Rally; More on Club Pittsburgh

The City Paper's Marty Levine does his usual excellent job with in-depth coverage of the recent Big Queer Rally. Levine focuses on how the crowd responded to the participation of so many local politicians that many interpreted as a strong show of support for the LGBT community. But it was the number of elected officials […]

The Post-Gazette: Human Rights are for everyone

The Post-Gazette:  Human Rights are for everyone

It is pretty simple.  Human rights.  Not special rights.  Not gay rights.  Rights for human beings who are denied opportunities because we are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer.  The Post-Gazette editorial board agrees. Similar laws are on the books in other Pennsylvania cities, but the protection it would afford individuals based on gender identity […]

Onorato on Human Rights Commission ordinance? Ask him yourself …

Onorato on Human Rights Commission ordinance?  Ask him yourself …

The question popped up at the Big Queer Rally as to how County Chief Executive Dan Onorato would vote on the proposed Human Rights Commission.  No one seems to know.  Now you can ask. Onorato to host cyber town hall meeting Pittsburgh Business Times Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will host what is being billed […]