It is Freedom to Marry week and nearly 30 people showed in Harrisburg in support of SB 935 which would legalize same sex marriage in Pennsylvania. 30 is pretty impressive considering the weather.

Ha.

Sponsor Daylin Leach:

Now this legislation has 3 cosponsors.  3. 

I am not a proponent of pushing for marriage equality in Pennsylvania.  That doesn't make me an incrementalist because I do believe SW PA Democrats are ridiculous panderers to fear mongering bigots when it comes to civil rights for the LGBTQ community.  Granting domestic partner benefits is about fairness and equality.  I'm realistic enough to know that marriage legislation ignites the bigotry and sends quasi-Democrats even further away from their values (or closer to their real values?). Hence, the lack of domestic partner benefits.  Fear.  Caving into bigotry. Missing the point.

Still, I applaud 30 people for turning out on a miserable day to stand up for equality. 

Well, I'll Towleroad fill you in ...

West Virginia delegates are considering a "drastic" parliamentary move to discharge a bill from committee that would allow debate on a measure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage:

"Bi-partisan support of the so-called marriage protection amendment includes the majority leader as well as minority leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha. He?s one of several delegates becoming frustrated over what he feels are stall tactics to keep the amendment from leaving committee. 'A number of states throughout the country have recognized homosexual marriage and we think we need a safeguard to keep that from happening here and we think the people of West Virginia want that safeguard, so there?s a frustration out there, and we think it should be brought to the House and debated,' said Armstead."

Here's an interesting tidbit from WV Public Radio:

Bi-partisan support of the so-called marriage protection amendment includes the majority leader as well as minority leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha.

Take note of that.  The Democrat leader of the House in West Virginia supports amending discrimination into their constitution. 

Thomas Waters has a thoughtful post about the potential for a similar amendment to make its way to the Senate Floor. 

SB 700  707 has bipartisan support.  Democrats Senator Musto (Carbon, Monroe and Luzerne counties) and Senator Kasunic (Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland and Somerset counties) are co-sponsors of this legislation. 

Is that cool with you?  If Democrats feel safe enough to cosponsor the legislation, more Democrats will safe enough to vote for it.  I bet you know someone in Kasunic's district.  Do you think they could pick up the phone on this snowy day and make a call? Phone calls matter. Let's break it down.

FAYETTE COUNTY
Townships: All
Boroughs: All

SOMERSET COUNTY
Townships: Addison, Allegheny, Black, Brothersvalley, Elk Lick, Fairhope, Greenville, Jefferson, Jenner, Larimer, Lincoln, Lower Turkeyfoot, Middlecreek, Milford, Northampton, Ogle, Paint, Quemahoning, Somerset, Southampton, Stoneycreek, Summit and Upper Turkeyfoot
Boroughs: Addison, Berlin, Boswell, Callimont, Casselman, Confluence, Garrett, Hooversville, Indian Lake, Jennerstown, Meyersdale, New Baltimore, New Centerville, Rockwood, Salisbury, Seven Springs, Shanksville, Somerset, Stoystown, Ursina and Wellersburg;

WASHINGTON COUNTY
Boroughs: Allenport, California, Charleroi, Coal Center, Dunlevy, Elco, Roscoe, Speers and Stockdale

You and your family/friends can call his district office at 724-626-1611.  Just tell him that you don't want to amend the Constitution to include discrimination and then mention ANY ISSUE you'd prefer he focus on -- jobs, health care, senior services, roads, public transportation, education, etc.  Just give him a reason to put his energy into something else.

Review the list, check it twice, and call your folks in these areas.  I know we have gay folks in Uniontown which is Fayette County.  Let's kick this up a notch.

Discrimination is NOT ACCEPTABLE from Democrat Leadership. This is why the inch-by-inch approach you Onorato supporters keep crowing about is holding us down. We need forward momentum (aka progress) not incremental "tolerance" from our next Governor. 

Well, I've been able to get out for work purposes, but Ledcat and I are both struggling with some cabin fever.  Don't get me wrong -- we are so very grateful that our power never failed us and that we managed to dig the vehicles out with some assistance from our neighbors. 

Note:  one real test of a relationship is reconciling different "plans" for desnowing a car.  Then two middle-aged women squabbling about how much of a shovelful is too much just adds to the fun.  Especially when one (moi) has a cold that has kept her in bed for 12 hours at a time. 

Fortunately, we survived and our relationship is stronger than ever.  Well, it better be because Ledcat's car ain't going nowhere for a few days and I have 4wd.  Ha.  I wonder when she'll read this?

Anyway, we've both been home from work (one non-essential City employee and one social worker at a closed agency).  I've been on the phone for hours upon hours addressing site issues and I have to say that I am so impressed with how much effort my team has put into getting to work.  If anyone deserves a big hand, it is someone who sleeps on a hard floor so they don't miss their shift or someone who walks from the Hill District to Oakland (and that means back up a big hill to get home at the end of the shift). The rest of us need to pick up the slack when we get back. 

Speaking of work, I made a grocery run for the sites yesterday.  Took me 25 minutes to get to the local Giant Eagle and then over an hour in the store simply  because I had to backtrack down each aisle to avoid the check out lines.  The frozen pizza section was almost wiped clean (I took the last 6 pizzas for my team in case they remained stuck).  The soda aisle also wiped clean (I snagged a few 12 packs of ginger ale to treat said cold).  Milk was well stocked along with eggs, toilet paper and cereal.  I'm glad the essentials are getting through for delivery. Cat food was also pretty low (at least the fancy schmancy flavors our spoiled felines like). 

Roads weren't too bad until I hit Oakland .... wow.  So terrible.  The Boulevard was horrible and it took me 30 minutes to go three blocks ON TUESDAY because the side streets weren't touched.  I had to back all the way down a street (being pursued by a mail truck) and finally go down the wrong way of a one way street to get near the office to drop off groceries.  Then I traveled to the other site, off Bates, and it was also terrible.  I finally stopped in the middle of the street to unload because horrible parked cars and mounds of snow kept me from the driveway ... it was beckoning me like a well shoveled light in the horrible dark, but alas, not for me.  So staff unloaded and I resisted the urge to scream at people honking at me. 

I came home down Bates and through town.  Town was terrible, too.  I was so happy to get onto the Ft. Duquesne Bridge (state road) that I almost didn't exit 279.  LOL.  We braved a bit more and stopped by Hoi Polloi for lunch.  We had hoped for crowds so we could feel normal, but it was pretty much just us and Christopher. I found an untouched patch of snow and just plowed right through to park.  Then we came home to stare at each other for the rest of the day.  LOL. Seriously, I did another round of shoveling ... I have my "shoveling jeans" in the kitchen so I can just hang them up to dry and then slip them on to head back out.  Then homemade chicken soup and I curled up with a book called "Snow" which is very dreary and makes me appreciate 1) this snow and 2) not being born in a remote part of the world where electricity is a luxury. 

Here's the intersection of North Avenue and Chateau at 9 AM Wednesday.  Neither has been touched by a plow, just tire tracks.

Right now the only problem for us is the wind.  Each time I let the woofers out, a huge gust of snow blows into the kitchen.  Having trouble convincing them to stay outside long enough to take care of business unless I go out with them. I prefer to stand at the kitchen door, making encouraging gestures through the window.  It isn't working. 

So let me get on with the blogging ...

Shamelessly stolen from the Post-Gazette (no paper since Friday so I think I'm entitled) ...

Reverend Janet Edwards let me know that she is now a regular contributor to the "On Faith" section vis a vis Newsweek and Washington Post.  Here's a link to her contributions thus far.  Her most recent piece is about the Super Bowl:

I see this as an expensive effort on the part of Focus on the Family to raise their profile with an eternal hot button. When the ad comes on Sunday, I plan to go to the kitchen for chips. And since I feel so strongly about this, I will stop now, myself, giving Focus on the Family any more attention until their actions show they really want a serious discussion worthy of the women forced by life to think about abortion.

My heart cries out for a meaningful conversation about these important matters and I trust Jim Daly when he says he feels the same way. I wish we could agree that Super Bowl ads are not the way to do it.

I am so pleased that from the midst of a long struggle over marriage equality, Janet will now bring her wisdom and wit to a national forum.  What a wonderful coup for Pittsburgh.  Congratulations, Janet.  We look forward to reading more.

If it is politics and advocacy that catch your fancy, then Steel City Stonewall Democrats has several opportunities to get involved.

 - Social Media Editor

- Development Director

- Recording Secretary

Steel City is a great way to make an impact whether your issue is marriage equality, Don't Ask, Don't Tell or you just want to throw the bums out.  You don't have to be a political whiz; everyone is welcome and it is a great place to learn more about politics.  Plus, you'll get multiple opportunities to interact with elected officials so you can bring your message right to the deciders.

ps:  membership in Steel City is as low as $15/person. 

Another way to get involved with the community is through the Gay & Lesbian Community Center. They are looking for individuals to donate 3 hours a month to staff the Center.

The next CRIS volunteer training dates will be
held at 210 grant street at the GLCC

February 11th at 6 PM (by Aaron)

and February 12th at 6 PM (by Rachel)

Current GLCC Hours are

Monday 6-9 PM
Tuesday 3-6, and 6-9
Wednesday 6-9
Thursday 3-6, and 6-9
Friday 6-9
Saturday 12-3, 3-6, 6-9
Sunday 12-3, 3-6

we have a network of great volunteers who help staff the CRIS desk

Are you willing to give three hours of your time a month for the LBGT
community?

come join us!

For more information email volunteer@glccpgh.org

And there is always GLENDA for ongoing community building projects. 

All three organizations are great partners and worthy of your support.  I encourage you to visit the websites and look for the fit that is best for you. 

I have a pretty intense week at work so I opted to enjoy the moment this morning when I learned that President Obama referenced the LGBT community, especially the Ugandan "kill gays" law, during his address at the National Prayer Breakfast. 

We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are -- whether it's here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.

Full text at Pam's House Blend.

Thank you, Mr. President, for using your bully pulpit to call out faith-based hate. 

While I hate that we even have a National Prayer Breakfast, I am so weary of the inch-by-inch revelations of good Catholic Democrats that I'm going to enjoy what I can get. 

The arrest of a group of Baptists for child trafficking in Haiti illustrates the deep complexities of international child welfare.  I was appalled at the sheer ignorance of these folks ... they have done tremendous damage.  So very sad for everyone. 

Saddest is that every resource focused on this trial means fewer going to earthquake survivors. 

Some nice news for Pittsburgh's LGBTQ families.  The GLCC Board has approved expanding the Kidsfest event to 4x year, including a very special Pride edition.  I hear some nice feedback from folks about this recent event and I think it is a marvelous idea. 

They are accepting application for venders, performers and tabling interested folks.  Don't miss this opportunity to tap into Pittsburgh sizeable LGBT family community.  Ahem, advocacy groups.  I'm looking at you.
 
Spring Kidsfest will be Saturday April 10th from 1-4
 
and Pride Kidsfest will be June 12th from 1-4

So get your kid craft ideas flowing and build connections with a too oft under the radar group of folks ...

The old joke about the divide between Pgh and Philly seems to have some truth which is not funny.

I'm going to try and do a better job of sharing developing Philly news with you. 

Philly has an LGBT Police Liaison Committee.  Dear Lord in Heaven. Can you imagine?  We can't even get a coherent spokesperson on the evening news.

On my quest for new information, I found EDGE Philadelphia.   Kind of club heavy, but there is a little good stuff there. It would be nice to see something like this in Pittsburgh.  Well, it really wouldn't matter because there's no local content and I don't care what rich gay people do in other states.  But I found it. 

ACT UP Philly has a blog.

I like Suburban Guerilla.

And that's it.  I sent 27 email messages out today and got 15 leads back to the same person who can't help me. 

OK, I'm exaggerating. I had 2 cubes of cheese for dinner and the Wii yelled at me for being too rigid so my mood is decidedly lacking in chipper.  For those of you who follow the Wii adventures, I finally FINALLY aced the soccer ball balance game so I did end my session on a high note. 

Seriously.  Philly?  What's up?