Girl's Night In rocks.  We hosted a sex toy party for queer women at the GLCC back in 2005.  It was standing room only and big kinds of fun.  This seems waaaayyyy more fun. Click on the image to get more details. 

We don't have plans for Friday evening so this is definitely at the top of my list. 

As we reported, a local woman is claiming that the Celebrate the Night committee unfairly refused to audition her for their variety show because of inaccurate information that she worked as an escort.

Today, the CTN organizing committee issued the following statement:

Celebrate The Night is an event that was created to give women a place to perform, in honor of National Coming Out Day. We are not Transphobic. Transexuals have been welcomed, embraced and involved with CTN via performance, volunteers and on the committee.

Emilia never approached CTN, other than via a request for a meeting with the GLCC. The GLCC is not formally affiliated with CTN.

As to Jessi, we respect a person's right to self definition. Jessi has been inconsistent in self-identification. The escort website is what lead us to other websites where Jessi frequently self identifies as male and that is inconsistent with CTN.

We regret that some have chosen to take offense at this.

Sincerely, CTN committee

Now, I must say that they responded fairly quickly for an all-volunteer organization.  That being said, I find their response disappointing for several reasons.

First, there is an inconsistency.  The email Jessi provided says that she was not being offered an audition because of Internet evidence that she was an escort.  In this message, CTN claims it is because of her gender identity.  Assuming the email was authentic, there's a problem.  Either CTN lied to her and is misleading the community.  That's very troubling.  I hope CTN will step up and explain the conflicting accounts.

Second, there's the claim that Jessi identifies as a man based on information available on the Internet.  AND in spite of Jessi's statement that she identifies as female.  I'm curious if the CTN committee took into consideration the fact that Jessi may be in the process of transitioning (a fact her partner Emilia confirms)?  That begs the question of who gets to determine when a person in transition is a woman, or at least woman enough to perform in a variety show.  Should there be clearcut rules based on legal standards?  Should the committee get to ask personal questions about an individual's anatomy .. a "lift the skirt" test?  Even assuming there is a way to objectively determine womanliness, shouldn't that standard be publicized out of fairness to everyone?  And shouldn't Jessi and others have a chance to defend themselves?  Granted, I shudder at the prospect of forcing transwomen to defend their gender identity to help raise money for the GLCC. 

This event is about National Coming Out Day.  Those of us who were born women have probably had multiple coming out moments throughout our lives.  And we live everyday with a heteronormative presumption that we are, in fact, straight until proven otherwise.  Some of us allow that misperception to go unchallenged for a variety of reasons, sometimes that we are not safe coming out in certain circumstances ... at work, to our family, in our faith communities, etc.  Does the fact that a local poet, singer or comedian remains closeted at work make them less of a lesbian or bisexual woman?  Of course not.

Transwomen also have to come out, sometimes as both a lesbian and a woman.  Isn't that a process we should honor when we celebrate National Coming Out Day?  Shouldn't we be cheering Jessi on instead of punishing her?  Shouldn't we be excited for her and appreciative of her willingness to take the risk of performing in public to help raise money for a good cause? 

Shouldn't she have the same chances as every other performer who may be passing as straight women in certain realms? 

Rather than rail about what I perceive as the underlying generational conflicts at play here, I'm going to skip right to a proposed solution.

I'd like to see CTN give Jessi an audition.  If she makes the cut, great. 

I'd like CTN to turn this situation into a teachable moment for our entire community.  Take the bull by the horns and incorporate the coming out experience of transwomen into the event.  Perhaps include some information in the event program.   Ask some transwomen (Emilia?) to share their experiences and give them a few minutes at the mike.  Solicit some poetry or other performance pieces.  Set up a visual arts display.  Just make an effort to acknowledge the unique experiences of transwomen.

There's a wide gap between claiming to be "not transphobic" and celebrating the lives of transwomen. 

Local rocker Joey Murphy put forth an alternative solution on a local email list.

I'd like to go a step further and challenge the old guard a bit.  Let's see who is a larger cultural force in Pittsburgh, who is more inclusive, who isn't tethered to old, outdated feminist politics, and who throws a better party.   

 

So, how about we put more positiv spin on this  inter-generational dissonance and organize a "Celebrate the NEW, YOUNGER, Night?"  For the same night, or "Celebrate the Dawn of a New Day" - you get the picture.  We can pick a charity to raise funds for, maybe a Women's Shelter,  or Gay Youth Shelter, and challenge their group to a fund raising duel through ticket sales.  I bet we could trounce them in terms of attendance and show what valuing all members of the queer community looks like.

It is great to see the whole discussion move into solution mode.  Joey claims that CTN organizes an event to meet the needs of their friends.  That may well be the case.  I did not attend last year's event (I think I had to work), but I've been to several in the past.  I was usually one of the youngest women there and was not surprised that so many of my friends did not want to attend.  $20.00 can be pretty steep on a social worker's salary especially when you tend to some of the same acts year after year. I understand they have been working on diversifying the performers, so I hope they are working on ways to attract younger women. 

It would be great for them to partner with the Women & Girls Foundation to make the event more accessible to women without the means to attend and incorporating queer-identifying women into the event.

Either way, we hope that CTN will address the escort/male identity conflict to undo some of the damage this debacle has wrought on their organization's reputation.  Being publicly caught in a lie is not a good thing.  The proof is in the email I suspect.

I wonder if Jessi even wants to perform at this point?  If not, then Ledcat and I would like to take Jessi and Emilia out to celebrate women that night.  Thai style.  Anyone wanna join us? 

I had a perfect glass of iced tea this weekend. 

Ledcat and I toodled up California Avenue to Brighton Heights in order to pick up a very generous donation the Vault had made to support a fair housing project.  Being generous in return (and hungry), we stopped for a snack.  Laura had a bottled raspberry soda. I had iced tea.  It was just the right amount of steep!  With just the right amount of ice!  It was the perfect quench on a Saturday afternoon in July.

Could it get better? Oh, but yes.  We ordered the hummus plate and received these warm, luscious, and thick chunks of bread.  The hummus itself was great, but the awesomeness of the bread just put it over the top.  I mean we were licking our fingers. The Vault easily puts both the Square Cafe and Mark Your Mark to shame for their carb-free hummus plates.  Note to both -- veggies good, bread more good.

The head Vault guy was really nice to us and was saying great things about other independent coffee houses in the area.  He also told us all of the baked goods are made by his baker-person three or four days a week.  The cookie I sampled (just to be polite) was delish, but he advised coming back on a Tuesday for the freshest of the goods.

It is a nifty space and very comfortable.  I kind of felt like I was in a club smashed into a garage, but in a good way.  This may sound odd, but it felt like a guy's coffeehouse.  One that lets in girls, but there's a definite testosterone flair to it.  Which is good.  I was totally comfortable.  But you know what I mean?  Flair!

So go to The Vault.  It is easy to find from 65 and there's plenty of street parking.  Order iced tea and the hummus plate.  Savor the bread.  You won't regret it.

It is the most dykeable time of the year!

Pittsburgh's 2nd Annual Dyke March

Saturday, July 21, 2007

5 PM   Mingling time -- make a poster, make a friend

6 PM  MARCH

AFTER MARCH -- byob (bring your own basket) picnic location TBA

All dyke-identified women are welcome to attend.  Male and female allies are asked to march separately alongside the main contingent to show your support.

This event was awesome last year.  Dozens of women of all flavors turned out to march through Oakland with very little ensuing complications.  Ledcat has been helping with the permit/police issues (doesn't she rock, my little Ledcat?) and we are very, very excited. 

Organizer Eli thinks this event is a big step for Pittsburgh's lesbian community, an opportunity to carve out an identity separate from the white gay male driven leadership so dominant at other events.  She's not a separatist, but she does think that spending time solely in the company of lesbians has its benefits.  And there isn't a lot just lesbian oriented in Pgh, at least not activites that have a grounding in political action. 

I love the word dyke b/c it has power and that resonates with me.  I love Eli b/c she cares about political action and can coherently speak about the misogyny in the queer community. 

But this isn't a bunch of scary angry women shaking their fists at "the man" and railing against penis lovers.  It is about women coming together and feeling powerful and strong because of our queer identity. 

You should come.  Look for Ledcat 'n me.  We'll be talking with the police and arguing over who has to carry the picnic basket.

Not much happening locally in the LGBTQ world.  No rancid letters to the editor, no debates over GSAs in the local schools, no closets being opened.

Peduto's announcement is good news for those of us who want an actual Democrat, not the Yinzer Republican Prince in sheep's, oops, lamb's clothing.

For the chicas, coming up on Monday is the monthly Queers: They're Whats for Dinner at the Gypsy Cafe on Pittsburgh's Southside.  Much big fun to be had and a great way to get to know some really cool sisters. 

Also, coming up on January 20 is Operation Sappho a queer/lesbian dance at Ava Bar and Lounge. Dress in red, enjoy 3 dj's and the smoke free environment.

For those of you who love McIntire, there's the Sex, Religion, Politics, Cats, Lesbians, Cheesy Hawaiian Shirts and Geezers Tour at the Club Cafe on Weds Jan 31. Brought to you by Starbucks and Geritol.  Ironically, we cannot go b/c the 11 PM kick-off is past our bedtime.  Plus, they smoke there (thanks for that Danny O!). 

John McCain was dissed by Christian Grand Poobah Jimmy Dobson for being un-conservative.  McCain is now spinning himself into a frenzy to fix things with the wingnuts. Guess what the sticking point is?  Bing!  Traditional Marriage! Pathetic.

Rudy Giuliani, on the other hand, has actually hired a homo-hater for his will I/won't I exploratory team.  Jim Nussle from Iowa is anti-choice and anti-gay. 

Madison, Wisconsin city council Tuesday night approved a measure allowing city officials to include a statement supporting same-sex marriage in their oaths of office. Wisconsin has a anti-homo amendment in their constitution, but Madisonians want to work to overturn it.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

7 PM

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

304 Morewood Street  Shadyside

From the organizers:  

The Transgender Day of Remembrance began in San Francisco in 1999 and has grown to be an event held in many locations around the world. The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Its purpose is to educate others about trans people and to provide support and to the trans people living and working in the area. The ceremony will allow those to come together to remember those who have died, to provide support to each other, and to state that trans related violence and discrimination is unacceptable and must stop. 

h/t Post-Gazette

A documentary about the Rev. Mychal F. Judge, a gay chaplain with the New York Fire Department who died on 9/11, will be screened in Pittsburgh on Sept. 11.

Ian McKellen narrates "Saint of 9/11," which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year. All five festival screenings were sold out.

An obituary published at the time said the chaplain died amid a rain of debris as he went to the Twin Towers to minister to victims. He was 68 and lived in a Franciscan friary across from a firehouse.

His head was struck by debris, according to friars at the Holy Name Province of the Franciscan Friars. Firefighters carried his body to St. Peter's Church on Barclay Street, then to the firehouse, in a scene captured in a memorable Reuters photo.

When TWA Flight 800 exploded off Long Island in 1996, Judge helped console families of victims. Not long before his death, he went to Northern Ireland on a peace mission with a New York police officer who had been shot and left paralyzed.

The Pittsburgh showing of the documentary, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Lesbian and Gay Film Society and Pittsburgh Filmmakers, will be at the Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Ave., North Oakland. The 90-minute movie will start at 7:30 p.m. on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Admission, $5, will benefit the Shepherd Wellness Center. Firefighters and members of the clergy will be admitted for free, with proof of identification.

This Thursday 8/31 is K'vetsch!

This month it's going to be held at Garfield Artworks (just a couple
doors up from the usual spot at Modern Formations) at 4931 Penn Ave in
Garfield (http://garfieldartworks.com/).

It's Pittsburgh's only queer open mic.  There'll be a featured
performer, and then you, dear queers, get your chance to take the
stage.  

Admission is $5, but if you perform, it's FREE!

A group of wingnut bigots has been picketing Lucille's, a Johnstown gay bar for the past several months.  The group's leader, self-styled Anabaptist Preacher Ron McRae, has an illustrious career of hating everyone from Catholics to Mormons to everyone's favorite group, the homos.  From the City Paper report, it appears McRae worships at the feet of Fred Phelps. 

The pickets began the first weekend in July, and have taken place on Friday or Saturday nights. There have been at least seven so far, and McRae has attended most, along with four to 10 other protesters. McRae did not respond to a request for comment.

 

?Some of the women [patrons] are very upset ? [picketers] call them hogs,? Schnur says. And the preachers? group has targeted one slim male patron with, ?Hey, skinny boy, do you have AIDS?? he adds. They?ve also brandished a sign reading ?Sodomites, burn in hell.?

Christianity in action, folks - demeaning and slandering people.  Good to know Jesus is in their hearts. 

The bar's owner, Tom Schnur, has worked with local police and the Human Relations Commission to contain the protestors, carefully trying not to add wind to their sails.  Here's hoping boring the protestors will prove fruitful. 

Each fall, the Gay and Lesbian Neighborhood Development Association (GLENDA) holds their "Dining for Diversity" event which features small invitation-only dinner parties (dining) throughout the city followed by a large open-to-the-public dessert reception and silent art auction. 

GLENDA is a wonderful organization - they offer volunteer opportunities for LGBTQ individuals and families which create opportunities to socialize and meet new people as well as do something meaningful.   And I have used GLENDA volunteers at my agency.  I cannot say enough good things about their mission, their volunteers and their structure.  When people are coming out, I always send them to GLENDA as the most low key way to meet some new gays in a non-threatening environment.

But I never really liked the Dining for Diversity event, primarily because of its exclusive nature.  You had to be invited to someone's house for dinner which creates a sense of being "in or out" of the party.  Being invited to the dessert reception w/o dinner was like going to the afterprom party even when you didn't get invited to the prom.  It just isn't the same.  For an organization focused on breaking down barriers between the gay and straight communities, it felt odd to raise funds vis a vis an event that excluded people. 

This year GLENDA is focusing on "Just Desserts" with no dinner parties in sight.  Yeah!  Putting everyone on an equal footing is a step in the right direction. 

Dining for Diversity

Saturday, September 9

7:00 - 10 :00 PM

Society for Contemporary Craft

2100 Smallman Street

Make a point to stop by and support an organization which distinguishes Pittsburgh's LGBTQ community.  The dessert was fabulous last year and the location is very cool.  Be there!