I watched the media coverage and Presidential press conference last night with a strange mix of relief and sadness. I can't rejoice in someone's death, but I am hopeful that his death will lead to a better world for all of us.
From Pam's House Blend ...
Is this the final proof that Barack Obama is the legitimate President of the United States?
Pam herself posts extensive media clips with a little sober commentary of her own and the transcript of the Presidential remarks.
And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.
The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it's the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.
Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
Towleroad has clips of the spontaneous rally at the White House last night.
Politgot from Metro Weekly has similar clips with much more detail and on the ground interviews.
The president reiterated that this war is, in no way, a war with Islam, and that bin Laden was not a religious leader, describing him as a mass murderer, and that his victims included many Muslims. The President continued, "So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity."
"Tonight we are once again reminded that American can do whatever we set out mind to," the President continued. "That is the story of our history, whether it?s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the word a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power but because of who we are, one nation, under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Authorities have been searching for the terrorist leader since the September 1, 2001, attacks. Capturing or killing Osama bin Laden fulfills a goal first set by President George W. Bush.
Finally a few reminders of the losses to the LGBTQ community from LezGetReal.
So what does all this mean? A simple reminder that while these are LGBTQ media outlets, they do step outside of the "gay agenda" to report. Clearly, this is a significant moment in American history, including the LGBTQ community. I'm not seeing references to "agenda items" like the repeal of DADT or the repeal of DOMA to provide family benefits to LGBTQ soldiers. I'm reading good reporting and interesting commentary on an event that transcends our identity as gay Americans. But those are valid issues to raise in the coming days and returning to our struggle for full equality in our nation, a nation a little more secure, is one of the things that does make America great.
Frankel has proposed legislation that would outlaw discrimination in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants and public bathrooms. Several counties and municipalities -- including Allegheny, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg -- already have local anti-discrimination ordinances, but Mr. Frankel said it's time protections are offered statewide.
The majority of Pennsylvanians support his effort, according to poll data released this morning by Equality Pennsylvania.
Statewide, 69 percent support legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the work place, public housing and public accommodations, according to the poll. Meanwhile, 24 percent oppose such legislation, 6 percent are undecided and 1 percent refused to answer.
Susquehanna Polling and Research surveyed 1,200 registered voters in February. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.58 percentage points.
"Those who oppose this legislation are on the wrong side of public opinion and on the wrong side of history," Mr. Frankel said.
First, he has to get past Darryl Metcalfe and the State Government Committee.
"This is a long haul, and it shouldn't be," Mr. Frankel said. "But it's our responsibility to continue to advocate."
Frankel has proposed legislation that would outlaw discrimination in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants and public bathrooms. Several counties and municipalities -- including Allegheny, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg -- already have local anti-discrimination ordinances, but Mr. Frankel said it's time protections are offered statewide.
The majority of Pennsylvanians support his effort, according to poll data released this morning by Equality Pennsylvania.
Statewide, 69 percent support legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the work place, public housing and public accommodations, according to the poll. Meanwhile, 24 percent oppose such legislation, 6 percent are undecided and 1 percent refused to answer.
Susquehanna Polling and Research surveyed 1,200 registered voters in February. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.58 percentage points.
"Those who oppose this legislation are on the wrong side of public opinion and on the wrong side of history," Mr. Frankel said.
First, he has to get past Darryl Metcalfe and the State Government Committee.
"This is a long haul, and it shouldn't be," Mr. Frankel said. "But it's our responsibility to continue to advocate."
Interactions between members of the LGBTQ community and the Pittsburgh Police can be fraught with complexity, whether it be a domestic call or sorting out the potential for what would be classified as a hate crime. Let me state here that crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are not recognized as hate crimes in Pennsylvania, but they are recognized on a federal level. So for simplicity sake, I am going to use the term hate crime and leave it to another post to sort out the nuances of how a hate crime might be prosecuted under federal law. Legislation for Pennsylvania to include these as protected classes has been introduced. We'll see.
2010 saw two somewhat high profile incidents involving alleged hate crimes against members of the LGBTQ community. I say alleged with intent, b/c the ensuing complex police relationship leaves us with very few answers.
Now my understanding is that the number of documented and/or reported hate crimes against the LGBTQ community is very small. The question at hand is whether the low numbers are due to a reluctance to report, a lack of diligence on the part of the Pgh Police or the simple fact that the crimes are not happening.
The reluctance to report and the sensitivity of the Pittsburgh Police are intimately tied together. For any given situation, the nuances are really tough. Did the Police intentionally not show up for the Dyke March for four years or was it miscommunication? Did the lack of follow through filing a complaints with the CPRB or OMI reinforce the perspective that it wasn't worth their time? Where did the accountability begin and end? From my point of view, the police response during the 2010 Dyke March was perfectly appropriate, but there's a little inkling in the back of my head wondering if I hadn't kicked up such a damn fuss about it ... I guess we'll see this year if they get the same support without a pghlesbian fuss. On their own merits as citizens exercising their right to assemble and speak freely.
Therein lies the crux of the issue -- how are we mutually accountable with the police officers, supervisors and City leaders to ensure our community is well-protected and served by the police force?
In 2010, there was an incident in Bloomfield late in the evening in which it was alleged that several members of our community were assaulted. The incident generated outrage and a very large impromptu vigil. To my knowledge, it did not generate a police report. Ensuing conflicting reports on what actually transpired only served to reinforce the existing divide between the "gay" community and the queer community, a fact evident by who showed up with a bull horn and who actually used it. It also troubled elected officials who do not have relationships with individuals often most vulnerable to these types of crimes and least likely to attend meeting in the Mayor's conference room. Thus, the onus is on the "gay" community to forge those connections and represent.
Later in the summer, a bicyclist was assaulted near the East Liberty/Stanton Heights area of the City. This was a little different situation. There were other similar assaults being reported. The police were not on the scene quickly so the victim sought medical attention and tried to file a report after the fact which is a legitimate way to approach. He and supporters voiced concerns that the police were not attunted to the fact that this might be a hate crime separate and apart from the other assaults.
Complicated stuff. It is challenging to file a police report. The offices are not warm and welcoming, but built for efficiency and safety. The police force is less staffed that you might think, putting these types of crimes far down on the priority list once the immediate safety of the victims has been determined. I don't think the LGBTQ community has a clear sense of these realities and that is one serious problem. Filing a police report, whether in the aftermath of a traumatic event or in the forbidding atmostphere of the Zone offices, is not always satisfying. Sometimes the police are going to give unsatisfactory answers, such as referring incidents to magistrates and sometimes people are going to just say "screw it" and the cycle of unreported crimes continues.
This leads to the following that need to be addressed.
Point one - the lack of information about the way the police operate.
Another blogger, Thomas Waters, (click link to read his take on the meeting) asked City Councilman Patrick Dowd to have a conversation about the Stanton Heights/East Liberty (henceforth, Zone 5) incident and perceived insensitivity of the police. Dowd faciliated a meeting including Zone Commander Timothy O'Connor and the responding officer who promptly outed herself to the group. They had a frank discussion about the realities I outlined above. While they did not pursue a hate crime investigation, they did conceive of a plan to explore this issue of police sensitivity more closely.
I met with Dowd over coffee in late April 2011. I had not heard of this initiative to explore the issues of police sensitivity to the LGBTQ community until his campaign manager, Mac Booker, brought it up at the Steel City Stonewall Endorsement meeting. When we met, Dowd seemed surprised that I hadn't heard of this meeting. He was counting on data from the LGBTQ community to drive next steps, which he believes will show that the police ARE appropriately sensitive. He repeatedly emphasized his confidence in the police officers and their supervisors.
He mentioned that the responding officer (I am intentionally witholding name) said the Pgh Police Force was a supportive and good place to work. I don't doubt that's her experience, but I am incredibly skeptical that this is an accurate across the board statement. Simply put, if this were true - there would be more openly LGBTQ police officers. I asked Dowd if he had inquired within the department of personnel as to how many (numbers only, no names) members of the police department had applied for domestic partner benefits. He admitted he hadn't thought of that and we went down a side path discussion about domestic partner benefits in the Department of Public Safety.
Essentially, there are specific officers who are sensitive and do consider "identity" (his word) when investigating a crime. That would hopefully include LGBTQ officers (we know they are there) as well as officers like the cop at the Dyke March who told me about his lesbian daughter. But there's no evidence and without a show of good faith on the part of the police force, there's not going to be more reports made. The barrier is much greater than the atmosphere in the zone buildings.
Point two - the LGBTQ acumen of the Pittsburgh Police Force
The solution is to create "safe havens" for LGBTQ persons to report crimes in the day or days after the incident. For example, the bicyclist could go to Persad a few days later and receive support to have the police send a car to the Persad office to take the report. Persad is in Zone 5.
The eventual goal is to build the relationships necessary to convince the community to go to the Zone and file the reports because they feel affirmed and respected and have a sense of trust that their identity will be appropriately considered.
Dowd is waiting for a year to pass which means in late August of this year, he'll be looking at the data to see how successful this initiative has been. He's very careful to voice support for improving the police-LGBTQ relationship without blaming anyone for the problem, but he's candid enough to say that without reports little can be done. He believes that the data will educate us on how police services are delivered to the LGBTQ community.
So this is a good step for Zone 5, but if you file in Zone 5 for a crime committed in another zone -- there's a time lag as the information has to be passed to the appropriate zone. There's also the issue that it may take a long while the a car to show up depending on other priorities. Finally, the police may not take a report because the issue is more appropriately referred to a Magistrate.
Three areas fraught with complication - going to the wrong place to report your crime, the uncertainty of a response time, and the need to follow through with the Magistrate for documentation purposes. It doesn't make it a "bad" or unworkable plan, just one that requires a lot of good information. It also needs to be considered a model for the other zones, each of which would need to identify a "safe haven" of their own.
Point three - shows of good faith on both sides
That's a good thing because it creates more positive relationships between the police and the LGBTQ community.
I'd propose working with the entire City Council and the Zone Commanders to identify potential safe havens.
Zone 2 - the Gay & Lesbian Community Center
Zone 1 - Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church
Zone 3 - Councilman Bruce Kraus' satellite office
Zone 4 - Rodef Shalom
Zone 6 - Focus on Renewal (no idea how gay friendly they are)
That's just off the top of my head.
Another issue is that this is a top down issue. The Administration sets the tone for the top brass and it trickles down. It should gush down, but let's be realistic about change if change is warranted.
I'd propose that Chief Harper send a high ranking member of his command force to speak at PrideFest. Someone who is already trusted like Rashelle Brackney, Commander of Zone 1 or Thomas Stangrecki, Commander of Major Crimes. Not a PR person. A leader who can make solid commitments on behalf of their own teams.
I also think the police should set up a booth at PrideFest. That's where the PR people belong -- explaining the procedures for filing reports, the way 911 prioritizes calls, the lack of units on the streets each shift (maybe they won't say that), and most importantly of all -- listening to what the community has to say and taking that information back to Chief Harper. And Patrick Dowd who got this ball rolling.
I dare say they should participate in the march, but let's start with basics. Pridefest is the best way to reach thousands of LGBTQ persons, from the affluent white gay men to the mostly closeted working class queer identified folks. That's where the police can show good faith on their part - stand on the stage and set up a booth.
Dowd made another insightful point. If, as he believes, the police are providing sensitive responses to crimes involving the LGBTQ community, leaders on both sides should be cultivating that organic relationship to get Pittsburgh to the point where we have openly gay and lesbian officers who are involved in recruitment.
He's ambitious, eh? :-)
Dowd believes all officers should be liaisons, but I disagree a bit. After Pridefest is over and things get back to day to day, it would send another show of good faith to the community if Chief Harper appointed an official liaison to the community -- someone from his team. This would permit leaders in our community to go right to the top when there's a situation to be addressed. This would also create open lines of communication between all leaders as to what tools need to be utilized -- CPRB, OMI, reports, magistrates, etc.
I do think boiling this down to the first step is a smart move on Dowd's part. He's an academic and he knows the value of hard data. If we can't convince people to file reports, we are heading nowhere. I think his "safe haven" approach has merit and I'll be interested to see the results this fall. Let's be precise though. He's collecting data on how crimes are reported and hopes to demonstrate the police are sensitive to LGBTQ identity. It gets a little sticky when you try to define a hate crime since there is no legal definition for the police force to use. It also gets a little sticky when someone uses the safe haven approach to report a crime that is not identity related because they feel safer doing so. Further complicating the issue are situations where the alleged perpetrator is also LGBTQ.
My personal opinion is that the police force is not necessarily LGBTQ friendly. I supect your average police officer doesn't give a damn about sexual orientation when taking a report because they see horrors every day so a same sex couple reporting a robbery isn't exactly shocking. Does that mean they are respectful and/or sensitive to the potential for a hate crime? No. When you factor in crimes involving the transgender and transexual communities, you add an entire other level of complexity and sensitivity. I suspect "fag" is not an uncommon expletive in the sense of demeaning any man, not just gay men. I suspect openly gay male police officers don't exist and I can count the number of openly lesbian police officers on one hand (and the not openly lesbian police officers on the other). I'd love to see that personnel data (not names, of course).
But I also think that can change. Dowd's conversations are important because it sends a message to the community that City Council cares about these issues. It also is pretty cool to have police officers out themselves in a group setting. And I'm sure the police appreciate Dowd's faith in their sensitivity to these issues.
When I voiced my doubts, he asked me if I could faciliate conversations between openly lesbian police officers and community leaders. Others are attempting to do that so I don't want to step on anyone's toes. I'm up for trying to help. Right after Commander Stangrecki comes to Pridefest.
Where Dowd and I disagree is the point of who moves first in the chess game. It isn't a game, it is an analogy so don't beat me up over it. I think the public servants should show good faith even before this year of data accumulation is completed. I think the people most vulnerable to crime are furthest from the locus of LGBTQ influence and access. Dowd did acknowledge that I'm less likely to be treated poorly by the police because I am educated on what I should expect and (hopefully) would have the presence of mind to demand it when reporting a crime, hate based or otherwise.
There's plenty of room for growth. Check out what DC Liasion Unit is doing. And units around the country here. Tampa had an openly lesbian Chief. (first woman, too). Charlotte NC has formal forums. The opportunity is there.
I'm hoping to have more informationi from Persad on this project. In the meantime, Dowd is up for reelection and kudos to him for taking on a sensitive issue when he would be seeking the endorsement of the FOP and the LGBTQ community. I have no doubt Dowd sincerely believes what he says and I am confident he was reporting accurately from his meetings. I also believe he'll follow up.
And kudos to Thomas Waters for getting the issue of police sensitivity to the LGBTQ community on Dowd's radar. I'll be interested to see where their collaboration will lead next once the year has passed.
This is just too good/bad for anything other than a direct quote. The candidates for Chief Executive from both parties were meeting with the Executive Women's Council of Greater Pittsburgh yesterday. Let's set aside whether they were addressing ladies, women or girls. Actually, let's not. What kind of campaigh staff doesn't review this with a candidate who must routinely use antiquated/offensive language or perhaps they simply don't know any women? I don't know. It boggles the mind. I just hope the campaign managers caught it and begin a remedial course in "Women's Advancement in the 20th Century."
I am happy to report that no one came to the gay Democrats endorsement and called us "the gays." Of course, Chuck McCullough wasn't there. He actually seems to believe gays don't exist as you will see ...
When asked if they support same-sex benefits for county employees, Fitzgerald unwaveringly said yes, Raja said he had to study it and Flaherty said he would follow whatever policy Dan Onorato puts in place.
"I don't believe in that concept whatsoever," said McCullough.
<head on table>
Fitzgerald has his own opinion, a record of pro-LGBT action and the Stonewall endorsement. Great answer and glad to see he's going on the record to bring fairness to the County workforce. I'd love to hear how he plans to roll this out, but he clearly shines on this issue.
To be fair, that's not hard to do when you are dealing with the assorted buffoonery that follows.
Flaherty is letting Onorato take the lead on this? WTF does that even mean? In 20 years of public service, Onorato has cast two anti-gay votes out of two opportunities to vote. His sole concession to the gay community was signing a piece of legislation two years ago. We are told repeatedly that he lobbied for the Human Relations Commission, but his stubborn refusal to provide health insurance for his employees makes me wonder if he pulled a fast one on the gay community. It has been two years. That is a lot of doctor's visits, trips to the ER, dental visits and other health situations that have arisen among the LGBT County employees.
If the Emporer is wearing new clothes, he did not have a gay fashion designer. So why is Flaherty saying something so utterly just stupid? It is clear Onorato is not going to cast a gay vote/take gay action (ha) before his next statewide run. And if he is waiting until he's a lame duck ... shame on him for playing politics with people's health. I think that runs against his role of overseeing the Health Department. But getting back to Flaherty ... is he painting himself as a successor and, if so, why on this really small issue? It is a position that hurts gay people --- he sought our endorsement just two weeks ago --- and it hurts the region's ability to attract business.
Raja wants to study the issue. I'm going to send him information. Seriously. He may be playing coy, but he suggests that he's open to learning more. I don't expect a Republican to make this move because it would cost too much with the base, but still ... the answer made sense.
And McCullough. I mean, what do you say? Let's revisit the quote.
I don't believe in that concept whatsoever," said McCullough.
Does he not believe domestic partner benefits exist? I'd be happy to show him my Highmark insurance card listing Ledcat at the insured and myself as the dependent. Or the bills. Or the additional takes we pay on this "income"
Or does he not believe domestic partners exist? There's an official City registry! We have recognition of our domestic partnership by a municipal government. Plus, he's welcome to come to dinner (don't tell Ledcat I invited him - we'll pretend he dropped by) and see what a domestic partner household looks like.
Does he think we should fund our own health insurance, one little old lady at a time? Cause my domestic-partner-believin' church tells me that is wrong.
The answer lies in an earlier comment ...
He refused to commit to placing any percentage or number of women in leadership roles, instead saying he should be judged on other battles he's fought for UPMC Braddock, against reassessments and the drink tax, and would fight for women too. "I'm here to do God's work . . . I have your back," he said.
I'm sure all the girls in the room felt incredibly reassured.
A few days ago, Ginny Montanez came out as a Republican on her very popular blog, That's Church.
But this Sunday while reading an article about the Port Authority service cuts that went into effect today, I was first shocked to see the 67J was cut, because I assumed that was a pretty profitable and popular route. But I was the most shocked that transit union president Patrick McMahon said this to the media:
?Dan Onorato ? union buster,? Mr. McMahon said. ?That?s the label you will have whatever else you do in your life. You stink. You?re a Republican.?
The very day I outed myself as Virginia Montanez instead of PittGirl, Chad Hermann at the Radical Middle latched on to this letter to the editor I wrote when George Bush was re-elected, wondering how my readers were going to like me knowing I was a Republican. This resulted in some uproar from readers who were shocked I ever voted for a ?war criminal.? Yes. WAR CRIMINAL. I voted for him because as you already know ME LOVE KILLING! GRRRRR.
Nearly 170 comments followed, many of which were very supportive of Ginny. What struck me? How many people were willing to "accept" her Republican lifestyle because she isn't like the rest of them. They liked her in spite of party affiliation.
Say what? Now I do not know Ginny personally, even though we brushed elbows at a fundraiser last summer. I don't always agree with her and I have admittedly cast an envious glance or two at her comment sections.
But here's what I do know. When I asked her to help me raise funds to provide holiday gifts to families experiencing homelessness and/or living with mental illness, she did it. She simply said "How can I help?"with no concern that holiday gifts for 44 year old mentally ill men living in a shelter is not content for a very sexy blog post. It is just real. She helped and there was absolutely no question from her about the worth or value of the cause. She just helped.
Here's what else I know. Republicans are good people. A very dear friend of mine is a conservative Christian fundamentalist. I don't love him in spite of these facts. I love him because he lives the real values, not the hyped-up media portrayed values. I love him because we can agree that people need affordable housing and just disagree on how to create it. I love him because when I called him at 11 PM with an emergency, he was there by 8 AM the next morning and again the next day and the next. He isn't a stereotype to me and he isn't an exception. He reads me something, we argue and then we go have lunch. It is all good. I don't have enough fingers to count the ways he lived up to his values while the rest of us were talking about it.
My Dad is a Catholic Republican who loves George Bush and Rick Santorum. I try to talk with him about issues, but he has none of that talk. He is just glad I ended up with a lawyer, albeit a female, and treats her exactly like he treats my sister-in-law.
My point is that I love my friend and I love my Dad for who they are, not in spite of it. That's what I expect from them, right? No "lifestyle" comments, no "Sue and her friend" comments. My friend actually asks me a lot of questions and thinks my trust in the federal government is more perilous than my sexual orientation.
I write a political blog and I have taken swings at Republicans and probably did the very thing I'm railing about.
When I saw the piece in the Post-Gazette about Ginny, I just stopped what I was doing. She wants good public transportation, so do I. It sure seems like we can write a big list of "things Sue and Ginny agree about" if we tried.
If you told me you liked me in spite of the fact that I'm a lesbian or because I'm not like "those" lesbians, I would take a deep breath and smile while sweetly asking you to explain and just watch you dig yourself in deeper and deeper to show what an unbelievable homophobe you really are. I might punch you, but Ledcat frowns on potential lawsuits.
I like Ginny because she thinks 44 year old men living with mental illness in a shelter deserve a holiday gift just like kids and you and lesbians and George Bush. I think George Bush deserves a holiday gift. Seriously. But remember I'm the lesbian who wants to be an evangelical (remind me to tell you that I might actually be able to pull that off).
Ginny doesn't need me to defend her. But I will say that I learned a lesson about my broad strokes. There is a difference between Republican parties, strategies, tactics, plans and belief systems AND people who are Republican.
One thing I admire about Western PA Republicans is their willingness to be honest. There are a lot of Republicans in Democrat clothing and I find that abhorrent and self-serving the highest degree. But I also find it abhorrent to deny women reproductive healthcare. That's where it gets tough to sort out motives and beliefs and so forth.
It is a murky path we tread, but let's try to be a little more genuine. I have Republican friends, people I love and admire and appreciate. I have to work harder to remind myself that I am swooping them up into stereotypes. Perhaps that's inevitable when you blog politically, but it doesn't feel very good.
Frankly, if I had lunch with Ginny, I'd probably be more concerned about her pigeon-hating than her opinions on unions. I like pigeons. And unions.
And I like Ginny for putting this out there. Good conversations require self-disclosures, both lofty and otherwise.
Saturday, April 9, 2011, my new friend Lucille Prater-Holliday will hold a fundraiser at the Shadow Lounge from 6-8 PM. Tickets are $10.
Lucille is running for City Council in District 9 (East Liberty, Homewood, Point Breeze, Garfield, etc).She is challenging incumbent Rev Ricky Burgress.
Ricky Burgess has repeatedly slapped the LGBT community in the face in SPITE of his former tenure ass a PATF board member.Most recently, Burgess refused to join in the City Council Pride proclamation which is about as tepid support one can offer.Even more recently, Burgess implied that openly gay councilman Bruce Kraus is a ?rich white Republican? who has no idea was it is like to be oppressed.What sort of collegiality is this? What sort of dialogue does that open on meeting the needs of the LGBTQ community in District 9?What kind of stereotype does that put out there about gay people?That?s a sickening cheap shot and serves only to keep LGBT folks in his district deep in the closet.
There are plenty of gay folks in District 9 and Ricky Burgess is hurtin' them all.
This is the District of Hope. Dreams of Hope has performed repeatedly at the Kelly-Strayhorn,Vanessa German opens her newest piece tonight at that same venue. There is hope politically and her name is Lucille Prater-Holliday.She?s a single parent with a strong background on social services.She?s very smart, a powerfulspeaker and isn?t afraid to take the bus down to Grant Street. She has great ideas and a lot of passion.Lucille?s now-deceased sister was an open lesbian for decades when that wasn?t a good idea.Lucille has been poor, has struggled to raise her sons, has stood behind her community groups when they were under assault, has stood up to her own absentee landlord and still makes time to create beautiful green spaces so children have a place to experience green.
She needs your help to challenge a Councilman who isn?t doing anything for our community.It is a chance to invest your $10 and your two hours into the sort of change that will help a very vulnerable district and the larger City.Plus, you?ll be out by 8 and off to whatever great queer friendly activity is next on your agenda.
If you are pissed off about the gay bashings in Lawrenceville and Bloomfield, you should come.
If you know about the underground gay-conversion ?ministries? in Pittsburgh, you should come.
If you want to see Homewood get some attention and resources, you should come.
If you want a smart City Council that stays in touch with the community in a very real way, you should come.
Lucille was endorsed by the Steel City Stonewall Democrats.Revered Burgess didn?t even submit a questionnaire.
Most political fundraisers are FAR more expensive. Lucille also knows that our collective $10 donations can generate change.
The Pennsylvania Institutue has one upped itself with regard to shining a light on the Chik-Fil-A homophobic mentality. Next up is a Pittsburgh based dinner with a keynote speaker infamous from defaming Planned Parenthood with so-called undercover footage.
2011 Friends of the Family Banquet -- in Pittsburgh, PA
2011 PittsburghFriends of the Family Banquet Thursday, May 5, 2011 Pittsburgh Marriott North 100 Cranberry Woods Dr Cranberry Township, PA (Outside Pittsburgh)
Keynote speaker, Lila Rose, is founder of Live Action Films, and has gone undercover to expose the seedy side of Planned Parenthood. At age 22, her recent exposes have been featured in numerous news outlets, including the O'Reilly Factor, CNN, The Washington Post, US News & World Report, The New York Times, and NPR.
Register by April 21. Call us at 717-545-0600 or 1-800-FAMILY-1.
An opportunity to financially support the Pennsylvania Family Institute will be presented.
Lila Rose and her Live Action Films purport to tell the full story, minus the edits. Her website is unbelievable. No mention, of course, of the evidence or facts presented by Planned Parenthood.
This dinner should be a hoot. I bet Darryl Metcalfe will be front and central.
And I told you the Pennsylvania Family Institute was going to move into Metcalfe territory. They already have two more sessions of The Art of Marriage scheduled for late spring. It is a big difference from donated sandwiches to $1,000 table fundraisers. Do not rest easy.
When I asked Hugh McGough to sit down with me and talk about his campaign, I was admittedly most interested in the significance of electing Pittsburgh's second openly gay official (third in Allegheny County). I was unprepared for a thorough schooling in the ways of the magisteria, the judicial politics of the East End and a touching story of a child who believed he could never be a judge.
In 45 minutes. While eating a sandwich at our meeting spot, Amani International Cafe on the Northside.
Hugh has twice run for judge before, both time seeking a seat on the Court of Common Pleas. It has been an ambition of his since his youth - his father was a lawyer so he knew about such things as judges. But as a young man realizing his identity as a gay person, Hugh was also growing aware of the reality that being gay was essentially illegal. A violation of the sodomy law was a felony which prohibited one from serving on the bench. That's an awful lot of discouragement for a young adult, but it seemed to infuse Hugh with more of a determination to use his powers for the good of the community rather than remain in the closet for the good of his erstwhile dream.
Admittedly, I never really had this debate. Even when I came out, it didn't strike me that (sodomy laws were gone in PA in 1972) that my life was criminal even while I was acutely aware that my life was reviled. I've known Hugh for years, understood that he wanted to serve on the bench, but had no idea how that ambition was shaped by homophobia. I never really thought about it more than the challenges of running as an openly gay man or perhaps enduring behind the scenes homophobia.
Hugh is running for the Magisterial District Court (commonly known as Magistrates) seat in the East End, a highly revered bastion of progressive politics. When the current magistrate announced his intent to retire, Hugh saw the oppotunity to fulfill his dream in a district disproportionately represented by voters who were familiar with him and his work. Sort of an unexpected window opening after the previous election door swung shut. Twice. Then sort of "hey, what about this?" Hugh turned his eye to a different type of judicial role, one that is really on the front lines of sorting out the legal responsibilities, protections and so forth for all parties involved, before they turn downtown. The magistrate can also be the final word on smaller financial matters (under $12,000 which doesn't seem that small to this social worker at all).
What I knew know about district magistrate judges was pretty much 1) they were very helpful when I had to evict someone and 2) two unsuccessful candidates in my district put their flyers through the mail slot which is illegal and does not bode well either for being lawful or setting aside their own self interests. Neither won. **Note to candidates on the Northside - I'm paying attention.
Apparently, this is the last vestage of a dated legal system that predates the Revolutionary War. Justices of the peace presided over the peace and eventually morphed into the present day magistrate who actually has a significant amount of legal work even while operating without a significant amount of required legal knowledge. I kind of knew you didn't need to be a lawyer, but I was surprised that you don't even need a high school degree or a GED. You just need to go to magistrate school for one month and pass the test. Then you consolidate your power baise, raise your sons to run for Mayor and, oh wait ... never mind.
I guess I was so taken with Hugh's professionalism about the position, his knowledge of the types of cases and his years of experience appearing in district court as an attorney, that I'm just aghast the rest of us don't take it equally seriously. I can smirk a little because my magistrate - for whom I did vote - is a licensed and well-respected attorney, Derwin Rushing. No violation of US Postal Law by him, thank God.
So the East End may choose to elect yet another practicing attorney. Hugh's opponent in the race is City Councilor Doug Shields, whose paralegal background proves more legal experience than many of the seated magistrated and plenty of practical experience as in political matters. The lesbians love Doug. I just wish he'd stay on City Council to protect us from yet another round of legacy leadership that will take a decade to mature into independent critical thinking. Doug, why are you eroding the progressive base that keeps my family safe on multiple levels? I fee like we are doomed to political version of SORAS (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome).
This could be one of the more interesting races the East End has known since ... well, I don't know since when but I bet it will be close to what happens when Dan Frankel retires. Minus the weeping (mine).
In all seriousness, Hugh has an impressive resume, both legally and in terms of community services. He has plainly put a lot of earnest thought into how he can combine his dream and best serve the people who have always had his back. That's not a bad way to make a career move.
How interesting for Pittsburgh that we have a four way race for a magistrate seat, a four way race for two City Council seats and a three way race for another. I'm learning more every year how politics is local.
