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. 

If you have photos and/or video from Saturday's rally that you would be willing to share, please forward them to me. I'll post on the blog, but also share with other organizers.  I'm especially interested in any video of the song that Janet Edwards led.

 

Yesterday was a complete blur for me.  One moment, I'm sipping coffee with Adam waiting for anyone show up at the rally site and then next I'm sipping tea with Adam waiting for anyone to show up at the post-rally dinner site.  In between, about 125 assorted folks showed up, set up and paid attention to over a dozen speakers. 

The event itself was a surreal fusion of rally and public meeting.  Most of the speakers were politicians, sharing their perspectives and pledging support on a variety of initiatives not necessarily on the agenda, such as the City-County merger.  The location boasted a large tent with plastic siding and a lot of chairs which folks set up in somewhat tidy rows, lending an almost revival feel to the whole thing.  There were a few signs, a lot of whooping and enough folks milling around to keep it just disorderly enough to feel genuine, but Reverend Janet Edwards leading folks in her version of  "We are climbing Jacob's ladder" definitely wasn't your typical gay rally activity. 

In fact, Revered Edwards message was very non-traditional as she urged people to reclaim their communities of faith by coming out and calling for social justice within those structures.  Her song caught the imagination of the Post-Gazette reporter covering the event and I promise to print the revised lyrics soon.  I've been saying all week that she's a rock star and her point that we cannot forge a true social justice movement without tapping into communities of faith is amply supported by the outcome of Proposition 8 in California. 

I was also struck by how many stayed for the entire event, especially the speakers.  The politicians who weren't there the entire time had told me in advance that they had other commitments, but for the most part -- everyone hung out in a 20 degree sleety afternoon to listen to people talk about LGBTQ rights.  It was cool in every sense of the word. 

Another one of many highlights for me was the tearful comments of Miranda Vey, who spoke very much from the heart about equality and fairness.  She bantered back and forth with emcee Gab Bonesso about the newly forming Pittsburgh chapter of Dykes on Bikes and really gave a lot of heart to a mostly intellectualized discussion.  She also demonstrated great class and maturity, putting the need of her specific group aside to focus on the larger issues and I was so very grateful to her for demonstrating leadership. 

Another shout out for the volunteers who worked the advocacy table -- Jess, Jamie and Ellen.  It took great spirit to sit still for multiple hours in that weather and they did a great job sorting things out, getting people what they needed and taking ownership of this very unglamorous task.  Someone commented to me that I had the "cushy" job of mingling with the speakers, but it was actually a pretty easy task -- everyone I asked was immediately on board. It was actually fairly simple as far as tasks go.  The actual on-site job was a bit like herding cats as the speakers mingled and chatted, but a very relaxed atmosphere made that work.  Plus, I got to stand up near the coffee and walk around to shake off the chill. 

The event was advocacy oriented, not coffee-drinking speaking herding oriented.  The folks who put together the handouts worked pretty darn hard to compile and disseminate the information.  All the speeches in the world won't necessarily translate into action if you provide useful information for follow up.  While it was awesome when Gab Bonesso led us in a group telephone call to Dan Onorato, the series of individual calls he hopefully receives on Monday and Tuesday are what matters.  So thanks to everyone who was part of making those informed calls happen.

Media coverage has been good.  Dana Elmendorf chatted with KDKA's Mike Pintek for an hour Friday night and deftly handled a wide range of national and local topics. WDUQ did a piece on their Saturday news updates.  WTAE was there. There was a pretty good piece in the Post-Gazette along with a lovely photo.  Rust Belt Radio was there.  And, of course, the City Paper.  And all these outlets set aside recent sensational events to focus on the advocacy agenda which reflects very well on the hard work people have been doing for years.

Ledcat wants the computer so she can share her perspectives.  I do want to say a very special thank you to our emcee, Gab Bonesso.  I believe Mr. Potter described her as "on her game" and that's so true.  She was a great sport about frigid temperatures, she was super prepared and she kept things rolling along in a very smart and funny style.  She is beyond a doubt a very much-underutilized talent in the queer community and I hope that shifts. 

Sorry for the lack of critical analysis.  It would hardly be fair since I was more occupied trying to figure out the identity of the "important looking guy" in the back of the crowd (Kevin Acklin) and all that good stuff. 

The important work begins now, my dear readers.  We have four days to drum up the attendance and testimony at the County hearing, but there's more work to be done.  If you are kicking yourself for staying home and missing all the fun, go to www.steel-city.org and get involved.  Make some calls, volunteer for the GLCC, do something. 

Finally, I do want to share my father's insight upon learning I was going to a gay rights rally in the sleet and snow.  "Do you have your Terrible Towel?" he asked.  That's so Pittsburgh.  So bring your Terrible Towel on Thursday and do all of our Dads proud.

 

 

 

Chalk one up for mainstream media as our very own Chris Potter stood in the freezing cold for several hours to film today's "Big Queer Rally" and then raced back to his office to be the first out of the gate in reporting on this event.

Me?  I went to Squirrel Hill and ate sushi.  What can I say?  I was rather cold.  And hungry.

I did post some photos to Facebook earlier that afternoon.  Ha.

The event?  Oh, it was great. I'll need to sleep on it since I have the luxury of being in second place.  I did not see other bloggers there so I think I'll have a few hours to compose my thoughts.  I suspect Gab and John might chime in on Monday. 

It can be sort of boiled down to this.  We counted about 125 people in attendance.  It was cold.  14 speakers addressed the crowd in less than 120 minutes.  Gab Bonesso is amazing.  WTAE and the Post-Gazette showed up along with folks from various alternative media outlets.  Important stuff was said.  The founder of Pittsburgh's Dykes on Bikes chapter, Miranda Vey, was the emotional heart of the event. 

It was a pretty inspirational, if ridiculously cold, afternoon.  Go read Potter. 

The rally is still on, kids, weather be damned.  I'm sipping coffee and planning how many layers I need to wear while I figure out my morning schedule.  See you there! 

Saturday

10

Precip:		40%

It has been a tumultuous week here at Lesbian Central.  Backstage drama, frontpage drama, workplace drama and I think I burned the back of my throat swallowing thai tea to be polite while waiting for my takeout. 

The ordinance is losing steam, my friends.  We lost another co-sponsor, Bob Macy from my hometown area of West Mifflin.  No word on why he withdrew his sponsorship, but this is really personal now.  I could actually show Councilman Macy the dents in the lockers at West Mifflin High School where the gay kids were shoved on a regular basis.  I can take him on a walk through the Waterfront and recreate the night we were harassed by a group of young men.  I could take him to my parent's living room (a house financed by the credit union where he works) and have a man with 40 years in the mills, many Republican votes and a regular attendence at Mass explain why his daughter's partner is part of the family.  I could do all of this. 

What can you do?

Well, I hope you are still planning to come out on Saturday for the Big Queer Rally.  Emcee Gab Bonesso is working on some great stuff for you.  Speakers and guests now include State Representative Chelsa Wagner, City Council President Doug Shields, City Councilmen Bruce Kraus and Bill Peduto, City Controller Michael Lamb, and the sponsor of the County ordiance, Councilwoman Amanda Green.   Unconfirmed possibilities include US Congressman Mike Doyle and State Representative Dan Frankel. 

Even more cool than our awesome elected allies.  Reverend Janet Edwards.  You may have read a thing about her on this blog.  Political pundit John McIntire.  He likes gay people.  Reverend Deryck Tines.  Had an exhibit about drag queens.  Sandra Telep.  Did you know the AFL-CIO has a whole gay thing going on?  And a few words from leaders of local groups that you need to know about, including Steel City Stonewall Democrats. 

We might have some entertainment from the Renaissance City Choir and/or a local singersongwriter.  There is a strong possibility of FREE coffee donated by Starbucks.  Plus, we've got a contingent of every day folks who volunteered their entire Saturday afternoon to make this event a big advocacy success. 

What we need is you.  Join this impact so we can get mobilized to tackle the damn ordinance.  I know it is probably going to be cold.  So its Pittsburgh.  Wear layers.  We aren't on the river.  We are surrounded by tall buildings.  And there will be a tent with a heater if your toes get too cold.  Diane Gramley will be sitting at home, sending telepathic messages to her minions to pick up the phone on Monday and chip away at this ordinance. 

We don't have that luxury.  On top of everything else, Ms. Gramley gets to wave a frontpage Post-Gazette story involving sex, drugs, death and allegations of "pay for play" as proof positive that we are the hedonistic, sex fiends she so often describes in her diatribes.  Great.  It doesn't even matter to her if it is true.  She is gonna use it to her advantage.

So, we need you to show up on Saturday.  It is really important that you come in from the suburbs, find a place to park in Oakland and bring your family to this event so we have ample evidence that Gramley is wrong about our community.  We need to generate the kind of media interest that lands us on the front page in Sunday's Post-Gazette in a positive story.  A photo of hundreds of gay families and individuals braving a cold winter's day because they --- YOU --- believe that we deserve equality.  We need people to come home from church and make the connection between what they profess to believe and our lives when they read a quote from Reverend Edwards.  We need the labor movement to recognize that yeah, it is worth a phone call to a former steelworker (Councilman Macy) to remind him that a fair workplace is good for the economy. 

The thing is ... what can I say to convince you to come out? 

How about this.  Today, my blog generated more visits than ever.  Today, I counted more than 30 comments posted on various threads which is pretty big for me.  A lot of those were voyeurs, sure, but a lot were new to this blog and they poked around more than a usual visitor.  They looked at photos and read old stories and it really became about more than the "big scandal' that drew them here.  It was kind of like they were getting to know our community through this one small prism.

So, you have an opportunity to help them get better acquainted with our community.  There will be laughter and solemn moments.  There might be a soap box.  We might recruit some people. 

In the end, there will be you.  Please. Join the impact. 

See you Saturday.

UPDATE:  I'm deleting comments.  If you have an opinion, fine.  If you can prove wrongdoing, contact the MSM or email me privately.  Otherwise, stick with opinions not unsubstantiated accusations.  If you see something that needs deleted, email or call me --- I'm trying to keep up with it.

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Even though I had a call about this story last night, I have no idea what to say about this.  I really don't.  From above the fold on Page A-1 of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

A racy Strip District club at which a man died Sunday was threatened with closure by the city of Pittsburgh in August but it was allowed to continue to operate after its politically connected owners approached city officials.

Although Club Pittsburgh is zoned as a health and fitness center, the city initially ordered it to close because of other adult-related activities that didn't comply with its operating permit. The club's Web site has pictures of nude and partially clothed men in erotic poses and a complaint filed with the city claimed there was open sexual activity at the club.

Those owners, Peter Karlovich and Steven Herforth, hold political fundraisers at their Mount Washington home, including one for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in May 2007. When the Bureau of Building Inspection threatened to close the club, they appealed to Council President Doug Shields, and then to the mayor's Chief of Staff Yarone Zober, who connected them with city lawyers.

After talks with the club, the city lawyers told building inspectors to let it stay open pending discussions that never occurred.

Sadly, none of the owners or their representatives expressed regret over the fact that someone died on their property.  That's pretty tactless, especially when you are claiming people hate you for being rich (which is probably true).  Even one sentence expressing condolences to the family of Cleophus "Jaylin" Pettway for his death would have been classy. 

Ironically, this article demonstrates that the gay community has reached some level of equality.  The police raided the Stonewall Inn.  The Bureau of Building Inspection sent a letter to Club Pittsburgh.  Stonewall patrons and owners fought back using direct action.  Club Pittsburgh fought back by placing a call to the Mayor's Office and changing their website. 

They did exactly what any other heterosexual owned business would do when facing a threat to their business. They made a few calls and there was no need to take the streets to get BBI to back off. 

Sources tell me that there is some sort of "Save the Bathhouse" committee forming in an attempt to turn this into a gay civil rights issue. 

So, we have a lot of gay issues on your menu.

* a county ordinance to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression under siege by the right wing.  This ordinance is losing more sponsors and is being threatened to be stripped of the trans inclusive pieces.

* a statewide battle over Hate Crimes and Anti-Discrimination legislation

* the inevitable attempt to pass another Marriage Amendment in Pennsylvania

* federal battles over an inclusive ENDA, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and DOMA

* the need for a new home for the GLCC

* the Mayor's GLBT Advisory Council (too bad on that whole campaign contribution issue transparency, huh?)

* funding struggles for human service providers like Persad, PATF, Shepherd Wellness and more

* saving Pittsburgh's Bathhouse from zoning and ordinance inspections.

Sadly, the last item makes the front page of the Post-Gazette which has barely mentioned any of the other issues.  And they pretty much like gay people.  Sigh.  We get on the front page because of the implication that gay money is compromising the ethics of Mayor Ravenstahl.  I wonder where I've read that before?

I have no idea if the City looked the other way any more than they look the other way for heterosexual business owners.  Was this just an attempt to sensationalize the unfortunate death of Mr. Pettway?  Sex and ethics scandals sell papers, especially if they involve gay sex and Mayoral ethics.  They don't even have to be true.

I've never been to Club Pittsburgh so I have no idea what kind of business they run.  I only know the philanthropic side of Steve and Peter and have been a guest in their home one time.  If they bought off the Mayor, shame on them. 

Now do you see why I kept harping on the need for full-disclosure on the campaign contributions for anyone associated with the Mayor's GLBT Advisory Council?  I'm just gonna finish my coffee and know that my gut instincts and those of many commenters on this blog were right. 

I do have a pretty reliable source telling me that the digging isn't going to stop here.  I sincerely hope there's nothing more to find.