The question popped up at the Big Queer Rally as to how County Chief Executive Dan Onorato would vote on the proposed Human Rights Commission.  No one seems to know.  Now you can ask.

Onorato to host cyber town hall meeting

Pittsburgh Business Times

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will host what is being billed as a "cyber town hall meeting" on the county's Web site Thursday.

County residents can e-mail questions for Onorato during or prior to the Webcast, and receive his responses via streaming video.

"I'm looking forward to interacting with residents in this virtual forum and discussing issues that are important to them," Onorato said in a statement. "We hope to make cyber town hall meetings a regular occurrence, and I encourage residents of all ages to participate in the first one on Thursday."

The online meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Questions should be emailed to askonorato@alleghenycounty.us. A link to the Webcast will be on the county's home page Thursday morning.

This is perfect timing.  If everyone who reads this sends Dan a question about his stance on this ordinance and also cc's me, I will forward the number of questions submitted to the folks organzing around this issue.  If Dan doesn't respond and a sizeable amount of people asked him, that would be telling, huh?

Thanks to one of our readers and Big Queer Rally attendee for sending me this information. 

Post Big Queer Rally, here's a few tidbits for your perusing pleasure.

Tony Norman explains why equality is equality.  I must admit that I wrote to him a few weeks ago and asked him to consider a column. He promptly responded and indicated that at least five other people has also contacted him.  I never followed up and I actually don't know who those other people were but think it is very good news that so many people saw that connection. 

Discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation remains a daily humiliation for too many of our fellow citizens. It isn't even a dirty little secret. It is sanctioned by local practice and years of prejudice.

L. Carlos Diaz of Franklin Park writes to the editors about the "social limbo" caused by denying gay people the right to marry. 

And, you probably recall, the hearing before County Council is set for Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 5 PM.  I will not be attending, but I hope you can.  Organizers will have stickers to hand out at the doors so you can identify yourself as someone who thinks people deserve equal treatment. 

Otherwise, I've been pretty much occupied with trying to feel better.