13 Openly LGBTQ Candidates Won Their Elections in Pennsylvania in 2019 ‘Rainbow Wave’

Jessica Semler Bruce Kraus

  This is amazing – 14 openly LGBTQ candidates in Pennsylvania were identified by the Victory Fund in yesterday’s elections. 13 of them won. Two of those candidates were from Western Pennsylvania – City Council President Bruce Kraus won reelection and Etna Borough Council candidate Jessica Semler, an openly queer woman, won her first campaign […]

A History of My Friendship With Mayor Bill Peduto

One of the longest running relationships has been with Mayor Bill Peduto. Our friendship is a very loose use of the word; we aren’t personal friends and have rarely had a lot of face-to-face contact. What we’ve shared has been our investment in LGBTQ and other progressive issues, even though we haven’t always been on the exact same side every time.

On Election Day 2019, Just Vote No on Both Referendum Issues on the Ballot

Vote No Referendum

I’ve already made my case against the Parks Conservancy plan to tax Pittsburghers to fund their important work. Good cause, bad plan. #VoteNo. The other issue on our ballot is an amendment to the Pennsylvania State Constitution known as Marsy’s Law.  The City Paper has a solid history on the legislation for your information. The […]

And I’m in Facebook Jail for 24 Hours

Facebook Jail

This morning, I was driving Laura to work and discussing the various protests scheduled around Trump’s unwelcome arrival in Pittsburgh this afternoon. I told her something to the effect that while I wish I could attend in person, I’m probably more useful using my social media tools to reshare original content from the frontlines. FAMOUS […]

Pittsburgh Organizes Four Back-to-Back Protests During Trump Visit on Weds, Oct 23

Organizing around resisting White Nationalism, Fracking, while demanding Clean Water, and Impeachment. Expect thousands on the streets from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Standing in solidarity directly outside President Trump’s fracking industry speech and campaign rally at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center this Wednesday, over a dozen local activists, environmentalists, politicians, and performers will […]

Ellen owes the Dixie Chicks an apology

While I’m not particularly surprised that Ellen Degeneres continues to lose touch with the experience of typical queer folks, I was dismayed by her comments defending her friendship with former President George W Bush. “We’re all different and I think that we’ve forgotten that that’s okay that we’re all different … but just because I […]

Vote “No” on the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Tax Referendum

Vote No Referendum

Another year, another ballot referendum trying to circumvent the “no taxation without representation” theory of governance. This time it is the Parks Conservancy which wants funding for parks and doesn’t want the hassle of going through the normal City budgeting process. So 2018. The question would ask voters whether they support raising property taxes starting […]

The @PghCurrent Column Where I Call for Pittsburgh To Abolish the Mayor’s LGBTQIA Advisory Group

Delta Foundation Pittsburgh

My latest for the Pittsburgh Current – City Should Dissolve LGBTQIA Advisory Panel It is time for Pittsburgh to establish an Office of LGBTQ Affairs with a dedicated paid staff. This Office will be a resource for all City Departments and Programs, City Council and the City Commissions, Boards, and Authorities. In addition, a LGBTQ […]

A Brief Guide for Sharing Reports of ICE Raids on Social Media via MRAC

Reporting ICE raids on Social Media

Please be thoughtful when sharing info on possible ICE operations on social media. It is not helpful to induce panic in affected communities by sharing unclear or unverified reports of ICE operations. The suggestions outlined here are a good guide via Minnesota Rights Action Committee

If You See an ICE Raid, Police Stop, or Hate Crime via Casa San José Including Emergency Number

Via Casa San José¡Conozca sus derechos!¡Conozca su poder!Siempre pueden llamar a nuestro número de emergencia de Casa San José en esos momentos: (412) 736-7167.Know your rights.Know your power.You can always call Casa San Jose’s Emergency Number in those moments: (412) 736-7167.