Check this out from the City Paper 

The March 18 anti-war march from East Liberty to Oakland has gained a new queer contingent. And the weekend?s activities -- which mark the beginning of the Iraq War?s fourth year -- has spawned concerts and opened a Greensburg front this year as well.

In addition to the usual groups, headed up by march sponsor The Thomas Merton Center in Garfield, the March 18 demonstration will include the new Steel Queer N?at queer artists collective.

The group was formed in November, says member Cole Lea of Wilkinsburg. ?We haven?t had as much visibility as straight white men who are good speakers,? Lea says. ?Political activism is crucial to our survival as queer artists. This is an extension of our day-to-day lives.?

Here's more on the queer group -- SteelQueer N'At BlowOUT on 3/24!!!!!

Friday, March 24th at the Pittsburgh Eagle (1740 Eckert St in the N. Side, 412.766.7222). Doors open at 8:30 p.m., show begins at 9:00 p.m (on time!). 21 and over.

Immerse yourself in a world of fly, fresh queer artists. SteelQueer N'At is bringing you eclectic artsits, performers and musicians. Look out--we've got quarterly queer cabaret blowouts to showcase the best talent Pittsburgh has to offer. Everything from soulful singers to sensual burlesque acts. We've got what you want and what you didn't even know you need. We're connecting creative queer folks in the Burgh! Come enjoy our show--we'll make you dance, laugh, and we guarantee you'll be back for more! See you there!
Tickets available from the Big Idea Bookstore (504 S. Millvale in Bloomfield) or A Pleasant Present (2301 Murray Ave in Squirrel Hill) - $5 in advance, $8 at the door, but we expect this show to SELL OUT!

From Progressive PA Politics ....

SHAME! Part III. Clear Channel won't run anti-Gerlach billboard.March 16, 2006Speaking of limiting democracy, Clear Channel won't let supporters of Lois Murphy (D) to
advertise on their billboards in the 6th CD.  Clear Channel, which owns most of the
billboards in the district, says they won't run a billboard (see above) that links incumbent
Jim Gerlach (R) to Tom DeLay and asks Gerlach to return the money DeLay gave to
Gerlach's campaign.  Clear Channel, according to the Murphy campaign, refuses to run
the billboards because the billboards "might make Jim Gerlach mad.?

From the ACLU lobbiest:

"He feels that we can still win this battle, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO PUT A HUMAN FACE ON THIS AMENDMENT!  State legislators and state senators need to meet people, both GLBT and straight, who oppose this amendment.  IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to set up district office visits to speak with them about how this amendment impacts you, your family, your friends. The ACLU Community Organizers, working with the Women's Law Project, will be helping people set up these meetings and working with them on how to speak to elected officials."

We are trying to up an appointment with our state representative, Mike Diven.  You need to do the same thing.  You being gay and straight people.  Married, unmarried and in between.  Here's the links for the ACLU and for the Women's Law Project.

According to the New York Times, advertising in gay media has been on the rise. Rivendell Media, an advertising representative for gay and lesbian media outlets in Mountainside, N.J., said spending in publications aimed at gay audiences rose 2 percent in 2005, to $212 million. From 2003 to 2004, spending increased 28 percent. This year, Rivendell expects another large increase.

"Smart companies would say it's all about being inclusive anyway," the chief executive of Rivendell, Todd Evans, said. "Its so funny how laissez-faire it is now to advertise to this market."

28% increase in LGBT targeted advertising spending?  So much for the impact of the wingnuts boycotts.   (18 wingnut homo-hating groups have reinstated a boycott of Ford b/c of its continued advertising investments in LGBT media sources.  Note that the original boycott had 43 participating groups. I'm not going to post a link to this garbage so you can just read the NYT for all the details).

Homo-bloggers around the country have been noting this little-boy cott as an example of just another desperately petty attempt by the wingnuts to isolate homos.  But the evidence don't lie!  We are a firmly entrenched target market for lots and lots and lots of advertising dollars. 

The national LGBT labor organization Pride at Work has issued a statement making the excellent point that boycotting Ford is only going to hurt more American working families (30,000 workers are due to be laid off).  

So all you anti-gay marriage zealots need to step up and explain to these 30,000 families how lesbians pose a greater threat to their families than losing their jobs, health insurance and pension.  I'd really like to know.