According to the City of Pittsburgh - Department of Personnel re: the Domestic Partner Registry signed into law June 2008:

There are six partners that have applied for the registry.  Out of the six, five are same sex and 1 is opposite sex.

I assume she meant six sets of partners or six couples (12 partners, total).  Still, six?  Huh? 

We haven't registered.  We were informed by the Department of Personnel and City Council staff that we would receive information as we are one of the handful of gay domestic partners registered as City employee (not in the new registry).  We have *never* received anything.  No notice, no letter, no postcard, no email, nothing.  And, as our benefits haven't changed, there's no need to register.  I see no reason to do so.  We have the affidavit.  What else is there?

How will six couples be leverage to convince an employer to offer domestic partner benefits?  The least you could do is get your own employees registered, Luke.  That would bring the total to nearly 70 couples. 

I still think there's opportunity for this registry to be meaningful, it its grown in such a way that families in greatest need of the benefits can overcome barriers to registering.  A really well done brochure on how to register with very concrete information and specifics could be great. 

Maybe six is a reasonable amount?  I'm meeting with City Councilman Bruce Kraus later this month and I'll get his take on this.  He and Doug Shields got the legislation passed.  Again, it is up to the Mayor's team to execute things. 

A representative from the Mayor's office will be meeting with representatives from various LGBT organizations and entities to discuss the composition of the new Advisory Council.  While the Mayor's planning team has reached out to Leadership Pittsburgh, LP will not be playing any part in the formation of the council.  That's regrettable as the process for establishing a brand new advisory entity would be strengthened by more transparency and some unbiased perspective. LP will work on structural and procedural issues.  Still, I think that first step would make this seem more legitimate. 

There are whispers (and snickers) from multiple corners that this advisory council is just a empty gesture or an attempt for Luke to appear more progressive as he faces reelection and lays the groundwork for his next political steps.  My personal concern is that this board is going to be packed with Luke supporters (mostly gay white male business owners who need a good relationship with the sitting Mayor) and a few handpicked token Ls Bs and Ts. 

Call me cynical if you will, but I'm willing to be wrong on this. I hope I'm wrong on this and certain individuals don't sit on the Advisory Council, creating real opportunity for fresh new voices to engage the Mayor's team on these issues.  It isn't as if he is going to stop paying attention to his donors. 

What could we reasonably expect from the Administation?  Well, we can expect that LGBT civil protections and domestic partner benefits are integral to any City-County merger discussion. 

We can expect that the Mayor take a better look at the internal climate of his employees and determine how LGBT friendly it is. Really is.  Do a survey.  Look at DP benefit applications.  Figure it out.  At least try. 

We can expect the Equal Employment Opportunities manager, Tamiko Stanley, will work to recruit LGBT employees, a task that goes hand in hand with creating a more gay-sustainable work climate. 

We can expect more appointments of LGBT city residents to boards and commissions and not just the art related ones. 

We can talk about increasing sensitivity training for First Responders, but also receptionists and other front line staff with whom one's gay status might come up in conversation while seeking services or information. 

We can expect the Mayor to hire an openly queer person in his office.  Not someone that everyone "knows" is gay.  A person who claims his or her gay identity with pride and dignity. 

We can expect the Mayor to pay attention to the plight of the GLCC and step up to ensure this vital institution finds a new home. 

I can expect that other bloggers will stop having stories to share about Mayoral staff making gay-bashing comments and/or being completely threatened by the slightest hint that they aren't 100% virile manly women-loving men. 

We can expect that at the next ACDC gay meeting, Luke will show up and answer tough questions.  Not send a surrogate. 

We can expect access to the Mayor at events and meetings where this is opportunity for real contact, not just social events and parades.

We can expect something meaningful.  A change in the City culture.  Perhaps that's a tall order, but City Council has done the work on civil protections and domestic benefits.  Now it is up to Luke to execute all of that into a City that truly integrates the LGBTQ community across the board.

So, we need to all turn up and submit names for this board that aren't the usual round of folks.  I have two in mind.  Who are you going to nominate? 

My new job began in earnest this week, leaving me little time to post.  Ledcat and I are readying ourselves for the big LGBT Bloggers and Citizen Journalists Initiative weekend in D.C.  I packed up the woofers' bags for band camp and we are almost ready to go.  I'm excited/anxious.  I wish I had business cards.  But all of that energy is bookmarked by a work holiday breakfast the day we leave and a leadership meeting first thing Monday morning.  So I should be on quite the manic roll by Monday evening.  Except for that free massage I'll be receiving.  A ha!

I hope the conference gives me some perspective on how to improve my blogging.  Or at least some decent cable television and good meals.  :-)

A lot of bloggers put up Paypal links looking for contributions to support their work.  That's not something I find necessary, mostly because I derive great pleasure from blogging.

But I'm in need.  I need a Blackberry so I can blog from the road.  So I'm wondering if any of you tech fans out there are upgrading and willing to donate/hand down your current model.  Not only will you be supporting local lesbian flavored blogging, but all the good social work stuff I do, too.  What more can you ask for?  :-) 

It doesn't hurt to ask.

I'm not sure what I have to offer on this topic tonight.  First, let me direct you to some other offerings.

Pam's House Blend shares some comments from our President-Elect:

Today, because of the work of people like you, women in Kenya who were widowed by the disease, and once shunned by society, have banded together to support and empower each other.  Scientists around the world are discovering and engineering new medicines to give people with HIV/AIDS another chance at life. NGOs and faith-based institutions are marshaling the best of the human spirit to help those affected.  And world governments are coming together to address the humanitarian crisis the pandemic has left in its wake.  I salute President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease. And my administration will continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world.

But we must also recommit ourselves to addressing the AIDS crisis here in the United States with a strong national strategy of education, prevention and treatment, focusing on those communities at greatest risk. This strategy must be based on the best available science and built on the foundation of a strong health care system.

But in the end this epidemic can't be stopped by government alone, and money alone is not the answer either. All of us must do our part.

This year's slogan, "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise" is a timely one.  In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he asked "if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?"  We as leaders must continue to sound that call and encourage others to see themselves as leaders in this fight.  And we must reaffirm our own commitment to confront and defeat this disease once and for all.

Thank you for your extraordinary work that you do each and every day.  I am humbled by your devotion to this cause and look forward to working with you and new partners in this effort in the years ahead.

Towleroad:

33 million people worldwide are living with HIV, which includes 2.7 million total new cases in 2007.

Above is the Keith Haring balloon which debuted on Thursday in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Haring died of AIDS-related complications at the age of 31 on February 16, 1990. He would have turned 50 in the coming year. It is a wish fulfilled for Haring, who always dreamed of having his work in the traditional New York holiday event. Photo by flickr user Ben + Sam.

New York dedicated a long-awaited AIDS memorial for the 81100+ New Yorkers who have died due to AIDS and AIDS related complications.

Catch much more at PageOneQ.

But, what about here in Pittsburgh?  I have to admit that AIDS has not personally touched my life, at least not that I'm aware of right now.  I know that many of my friends, especially those who were adults 20 years ago, have lost dear friends and family.  When they speak about that era, it feels so unknowable to me ... perhaps because I was a kid and oblivious.  Don't get me wrong. I knew about the AIDS pandemic in an intellectual way.  I saw the Quilt in DC one summer. I wore ribbons.  I believed.  I just didn't know. 

I'm amazed that I've come this far.  Far too many of my heterosexual adult female friends and acquaintances engage in unsafe sex practices, either to please their male lovers or out of simple ignorance.  They are playing with fire. My circle of friends in the gay community continues to expand and I suppose that I know people who are HIV+ but just don't "know" it because of advances in medical treatment. 

I hope that President Obama will help us confront and challenge the barriers that threaten the lives around the world.  I hope that here in Pittsburgh folks will continue to support the good work of Persad Center, the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force and the Shepherd Wellness Center.  And I hope we will all work toward the days when all men and women who identify as part of the LGBTQ community live openly and proudly, making good decisions about their sexual activity for their own protection and the protection of their partners.