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.

Way to Go Queers: PA Senate Tables Amendment Legislation

Way to Go Queers:  PA Senate Tables Amendment Legislation

I saw it first at Delaware Online followed by the Post-Gazette. HARRISBURG — The state Senate this evening voted to table a bill that would have amended the state constitution to ban gay marriage. The main sponsor, Sen. Michael Brubaker, R-Lancaster, said it had become clear to him that the bill would not pass in […]

Will Pennsylvania outlaw divorce?

Will Pennsylvania outlaw divorce?

Pennsylvania's most colorful Senator — and he would stand out brightly even in the gayest of gay communities — Vince Fumo is proposing to amend the, well, amendment legislation to outlaw divorce with a few exceptions. Mr. Fumo, who leaves the Senate on Nov. 30, said the stated goal of Senate Bill 1250 is to […]

SB1250 – What’s Next?

SB1250 – What’s Next?

The legislation passed in the Appropriations Committee 18 – 8.  Four Democrats voted yes.  Two Republicans voted no.  So now the legislation moves toward a vote by the full Senate.  Yes, that means more telephone calls.  The “yes” votes (pro-Amendment) in SW PA are: John Pippy (R) Barry Stout (D)  – Yikes! Mary Jo White […]

So, Monday is the Big Gay Rally and You Can’t Get to Harrisburg?

So, Monday is the Big Gay Rally and You Can’t Get to Harrisburg?

UPDATE:  I made a call this morning to Fontana's office in Harrisburg.  They are getting a ton of calls, going both directions.  Similar reports from Costa's Harrisburg office.  Keep it up.  Sneak out for a cigarette break, even if you don't smoke, to make the call. I also heard that the rally is noisy.  All good […]

Gay Marriage Round Up

Gay Marriage Round Up

Wow, lots to catch up on … Monday, May 5, 2008 is the Rally in Harrisburg.  Rally?  The Rally Against the “Protection of Marriage” Amendment.  Ledcat and I had hoped to attend, but fate (and work) conspired against us. Are you planning to attend?  I'm hoping for an eyewitness account. Last week, there was a “highly […]

Oh, those lesbitarians …

Oh, those lesbitarians …

Always taking over with their wholegrain, crunchy goodness and all those eggplants! Actually, I'm really starting to dig vegetarian food when it is cooked by Jessica at Hoi Polloi.  Or Ledcat.  Or anyone but me.  But still … does everything have to be vegetarian? What next — recycling bins at Wendys? I regret to say […]

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Three letters in today's Post-Gazette, two for gay rights and one for gay oppression.  Still no letters in the Tribune-Review. Proud papa Edward Walkowski of Brookline simply wants his lesbian daughter and her partner to have equal rights. Edward recognizes the true political agenda of the Amendment supporters: The political leaders pushing this amendment are […]

Bruce Kraus: Excerpts from his testimony

Bruce Kraus: Excerpts from his testimony

The Post-Gazette published City Councilman Bruce Kraus' recent testimony on SB 1250 which would embed a definition of marriage into the PA Constitution.  All I can tell you is that this is a really great read.  Here is my favorite excerpt: With all the challenges that we, as a commonwealth, are facing — deteriorating infrastructure; […]

Richard Simmons is a girly man

Richard Simmons is a girly man

Does the “Richard Simmons isn't a real man/is a girly she man” slur ever go out of style?  Peter McKay is syndicated so I guess not. Here he is describing the fancy office he built in his backyard (is this really supposed to resonate with the average Pittsburgh resident) which his wife decorated and he […]

The evolution of gay-exclusive spaces: are gay bars on the demise?

The evolution of gay-exclusive spaces:  are gay bars on the demise?

I found this article at American Public Media … actually, the teaser ended up in my inbox.  The premise seems to be an exploration of a recent claim by Forbes Magazine that gay bars are among the top ten businesses facing extinction, along with crop dusting and record stores.  Ouch. APM took a look and […]