Mayor Gainey Appoints Out Trans Latina Maria Montaño as Press Secretary, Unveils Letterhead With Pronouns

Maria Montaño

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey made a landmark announcement today, sharing that he has appointed Maria Montaño as his Press Secretary. Montaño is an experienced communications professional who brings a lot of talent and wisdom to the position. She also happens to identify as a proud trans, queer, Latinx woman. Montaño is possibly the highest ranking […]

PYC Statement on Former LGBTQ Nonprofit Leader John Dawe’s Sentencing for Sexual Abuse

I am glad to see the Pennsylvania Youth Congress coming forward with a clear, concise record of their efforts to hold sexual predator John Dawe and the LGBTQ adults who enabled him accountable for sexual violence inflicted on our youth. This has been known for years. These organizations are no better than the Catholic Church […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Xander Orenstein, Magisterial Judge Elect

We also must remember that your identity is part of your power, but do not let it alone define who you are. There are always bits of who you are that are out there to be discovered and what you will find will surprise and empower you. A few days after Election Day 2021, the […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Gregory O. Yorgey-Girdy, Judge-Elect

Greg Yorgey-Girdy

  As gay people, we are not one to sit around and be quiet. We have a history of being marginalized. In 2020, we had one of the highest voter registrations. It’s queer people getting out and doing it. A few days after Election Day 2021, the Victory Fund released a list of known out  […]

Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission Statement on World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day • December 1, 2021   Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission Honors Those Who Have Died  from HIV/AIDS, Elevates the Dignity of Persons Living With HIV, and  Joins The Call To End The AIDS Epidemic By 2030  Forty years ago, in June 1981, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published an article  describing five cases of Pneumocystis […]

30 Years After My Internship with Rick Santorum, the Official Photo Still Has Political Capitol

Rick Santorum Photo

This photo was taken 30 years ago, December. It was cold. DC is cold in December. I remember this sweater and coat, I felt so grown up. The woman who took the photo was Santorum’s secretary, Deborah (I think.) I was sort of hesitating about traveling in just for the photo, but she insisted I […]

Political LGBTQ&A with Sean Strub, Mayor of Milford

Sean Strub Mayor of Milford

That has always stuck with me, this idea that we as queer people have a special role to play in society and, quite frankly, society needs us today more than ever before. A few days after Election Day 2021, the Victory Fund released a list of known out  LGBTQ  candidates who won their offices. They […]

LGBTQIA+ Commission statement re: TDOR and Transgender Awareness Week UPDATED

Statement on Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021  The City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission recognizes our beautiful, vibrant, and talented  trans and nonbinary neighbors this year during Transgender Awareness Week. We hope this  week finds you happy and healthy. Regardless of your age, your profession, or your race;  regardless of whether or […]

PENNSYLVANIA TOPS LIST OF MOST LGBTQ CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE AT THIRD HIGHEST IN NATION

PENNSYLVANIA TOPS LIST OF MOST LGBTQ CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE AT THIRD HIGHEST IN NATION

A new report from The Victory Fund and updates from GLAAD reveal that Pennsylvania is leading the nation in terms fo the number of elected LGBTQ officials and current candidates. I’m a little tired so I’m going to share the press release. Note that Pennsylvania has 26 out LGBTQ candidates in the 2021 elections, third […]

Congratulations Admiral Levine. And thank you for your service

From the NYT and BBC Dr Rachel Levine, the US assistant secretary for health, has been sworn in as the first transgender four-star officer in the country’s history. The 63-year-old is now an admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Dr Levine, appointed by President Joe Biden, is already the highest-ranking openly transgender […]