Happy Ninth Blogiversary!

I remember sitting in our attic at my PC thinking “What should I say?” immediately followed by “Who will read it?” And then I wrote this first blog post. As we head into our tenth year of Corresponding all things LGBTQ Pittsburgh, I’m sort of amazed that I’ve lasted this long. Not the concept, but […]

Ten Most Popular Blog Posts of 2014

2014 In Review

  These are the posts that drew the most viewers in 2014. It is an interesting mix of LGBTQ specific information and human services/poverty stories. Most of the stories are local, but not all. I think this reflects some of the balance I strive for on the blog. 10. Toys for Tots Distribution Information  – this […]

A Thank You Note To Share from Persad Center

Rainbow Thank You Note

A lovely follow-up to a post I wrote earlier this week. One of the gentlemen from Persad’s SAGE program sent along this thank-you note (written at 4 AM on Boxing Day) in response to your generosity: Hi;I wish to thank you again for the lunch and the company. But I REALLY was floored by the […]

Pgh Reaches OUT to LGBTQ Elders For The Holidays

Cards for Persad Center

Funny how social media conversations can lead you down unexpected paths. I had recently posted about the creative name variants people use when they send holiday cards to our family (we are an unmarried lesbian couple who have been together for 12+ years.) – this is a pet peeve! A few people asked if they […]

Can You Save Xmas Without a White Savior Complex?

Pittsburgh Saves Christmas

Perhaps not the direction you expected me to go after spending the day asking you to donate to help the #PghSavesXmas project? Actually, writing that hashtag over and over really had this question front and center for me all day long. I was resisting using phrases like “It’s a miracle” or “I’m crying” when someone […]

Will Pittsburgh Save Xmas?

Holiday toy drives are complicated beasts, sayeth this veteran of ten plus years of coordinating drives. On the one hand, donating gifts for children at the holidays seems very much in line with the holidays themselves. It makes sense that kids deserve presents and that sharing our excess is a very holiday-ish thing to do. […]

24 Year Old Trans Woman of Color Keymori Johnson Murdered in Georgia

Keymori Johnson

Three days after the murder of Deshawnda Sanchez in Los Angeles, a Georgia woman became the 13th trans woman of color known to be murdered in 2014. *I know this number is disputed so please feel free to leave a comment or email me with corrections. Keymori  Shatoya Johnson was 24 years old living in […]

34 Year Old Gay Pgh Man Missing for Two Months

Andre Gray

  Black lives matter. Andre Gray is a 34 year old black man who has been missing for two months from his Lawrenceville home. Andre is also part of the LGBTQ community – according to his family, he came out when he was 30 and had recently been involved with someone. Andre is also known […]

UPDATED Help LGBTQ Seniors in Pgh During the Holidays With a Holiday Card

Send a Card to A Senior Citizen

An off-hand comment on Facebook brought to light a true need in our community – LGBTQ elders who are alone during the holidays. Kathi Boyle, coordinator of older adult services for the Persad Center, is part of a national group called SAGE, Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders has asked me to share that there […]

Don’t Ask Me To Extend an Olive Branch Unless You Have Your Facts Right UPDATED

Dove

Bruce Barron, a Pittsburgh resident and former staffer for Rick Santorum, penned a loathsome piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette requesting that the LGBTQ community offer Christians an olive branch. He’s suggesting that we allow Christian business owners “conscientious objector” status with regard to discriminating against LGBTQ persons in private business matters. Like baking wedding cakes. […]