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.

24-year-old white Trans Man Ray Muscat Shot to Death by Girlfriend in Michigan

Ray Muscat

Raymond ‘Ray’ Muscat is the most recent victim of the campaign of violence claiming the lives of trans neighbors, a terror campaign. Ray was a 24-year-old white trans man, born and raised in Michigan. Ray was shot to death by his live-in girlfriend who also shot her brother to death and then fled on Sunday, […]

Q&A with Malcolm Kenyatta, Candidate for US Senate

Malcolm Kenyatta LGBT

I am backed by multiple unions and every progressive organization that has decided to weigh in on this race. My support of elected officials spans all across the commonwealth This is the next post of our 2022 primary election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive candidates throughout Pennsylvania. Candidates can be anywhere in Pennsylvania running […]

I am a person who had a mother. And now I don’t.

JIm Pryor

The 1950 Census has been made public and I recently found my 1942-born mother living with her parents and siblings in Munhall. She was seven at the time the census taker visited. It is the first official proof I have from her “permanent record” – she was a little girl living with her family, her […]

We Win ‘Outstanding Blog’ in the 33rd #GLAADawards

I’ll write an actual blog post about this turn of events, my second win and being only the second person in history to win twice, later. Today, I’m going to the movies and cleaning the living room. Thank you.

Official Yard Sign for Pittsburgh Cats Available Now

As I’ve previously shared, our blog works with a new local 501c3, Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities (PLC), on some of our best projects. PLC has no editorial control over this blog and the blog (me) just has one vote on the PLC Board – and other board members who aren’t ever going to just go along […]

Q&A with Jonathan Lovitz, Candidate for PA House District 18

I am the most experienced public servant; the most endorsed and best funded candidate, ready to help flip seats across PA after the primary; and the most prepared to tackle bipartisan issues with proven results. We can never forget that our community includes too many unsung heroes who are beacons of hope for women, communities […]

Q&A with Arvind Venkat, Candidate for PA House District 30

Telehealth is a game changer in access to healthcare, especially for mental health services. Legislation has not moved in the General Assembly on this topic due to abortion politics, specifically related to the use of Telehealth to give women access to reproductive healthcare. As the only physician in the General Assembly, I will be a […]

Watch Five Nominees in ‘Outstanding Blog’ Category Chat with Peppermint Leading Up to #GLAADawards

GLAAD Media Awards Blog Conversation

I love blogging. I also love talking about blogging, reminding people of the power of queer and trans blogs in particular. So when the finalists for the Outstanding Blog category were announced, I saw a perfect opportunity to record a dialogue amongst us to lean into the energy of the ‘blogosphere.’ The blogosphere was a […]

Behind the Scenes with Social Anxiety on the Day of the Hannah Gadsby Show

Mental health Awareness Month Anxiety

This will be updated through the day. I’ve written several posts about this situation. My anxiety is so high that I am trying to document it. We have a plan. We have a schedule. We have four different sets of instructions from the venue. Overnight – very poor sleep. Lots of frightening dreams involving crowds […]

Today is the 30th Anniversary of My Graduation From College #MentalHealthAwareness

Marymount University graduation

On this date, 30 long years ago, I graduated from Marymount University with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science. May 3, 1992. I remember the day in little flashes. I was remaining on campus for the summer months, working at the University’s conference center and preparing to head to Louisiana in the fall […]