There's a lot happening in the Queer 'burgh -- gay political groups, queer art collectives, a lesbian chorus, comedy shows, art shows, movies, dinners, fundraisers ... the list goes on and on of all the cool groups and organizations making a difference for you and your family.
Often overlooked is the contribution of your average homo who takes it upon her or himself to do something proactive to build the kind of community in which s/he desires to live. Both of these people, Bob and Sheila, are friends of mine who I believe put their money where their mouths are for the greater good of the entire community. And they set examples for the rest of us who have a tendency to mouth off, but take no action.
Sheila thinks there isn't enough cool stuff for lesbians or, perhaps more precisely, that lesbians have trouble connecting with women with similar interests. There are email list for biking lesbians, hiking lesbians, even kayaking lesbians. Sheila liked to dance, go out to dinner, travel and hang out. So Sheila started her own group, Lesbos of Pittsburgh.
I've known Sheila for several years and she is one of the most straightforward people in my life. She goes to all the events, including many fundraisers. She tries all sorts of new activities from potlucks to mini golf to art shows. And I really admire her for stepping up to create a sense of community for women who walk in her shoes. I'm on several other local LGBT email lists and only one comes close to creating a sense of community (Pittsburgh Potluck Womyn for those of you who are curious).
Bob is an old friend of Ledcat's and a relatively new friend of mine. He's interested in politics (like most of us), but he's made it a personal priority to help elect gay-positive candidates. Unlike most of us, Bob puts his time and money where his mouth is. He writes countless letters to the editor and letters to elected officials and letters to all the rest of us telling us that we should be writing, too. He's even dedicated a portion of his website to promoting the candidates he think will best serve the needs of the LGBTQ community in his districts.
Interestingly, both Sheila and Bob live outside of Pittsburgh, outside of Allegheny County even. But they both still identify with our city and want good things for the entire LGBTQ community. They aren't just focused on their neighborhood, card club or small group of likeminded friends -- they put themselves out here for all of us.
That's cool. Wish more of us could pull that off.
