Fundraiser for Lucille Prater-Holliday

Fundraiser for Lucille Prater-Holliday

Saturday, April 9, 2011, my new friend Lucille Prater-Holliday will hold a fundraiser at the Shadow Lounge from 6-8 PM. Tickets are $10.   Lucille is running for City Council in District 9 (East Liberty, Homewood, Point Breeze, Garfield, etc).  She is challenging incumbent Rev Ricky Burgress.   Ricky Burgess has repeatedly slapped the LGBT […]

Planned Parenthood Foe to speak in Pittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Institutue has one upped itself with regard to shining a light on the Chik-Fil-A homophobic mentality. Next up is a Pittsburgh based dinner with a keynote speaker infamous from defaming Planned Parenthood with so-called undercover footage. 2011 Friends of the Family Banquet — in Pittsburgh, PA 2011 Pittsburgh Friends of the Family Banquet […]

Exercising Judgment in the East End

Exercising Judgment in the East End

When I asked Hugh McGough to sit down with me and talk about his campaign, I was admittedly most interested in the significance of electing Pittsburgh's second openly gay official (third in Allegheny County). I was unprepared for a thorough schooling in the ways of the magisteria, the judicial politics of the East End and a […]

Update on pro-equality legislation in Pennsylvania

Update on pro-equality legislation in Pennsylvania

State Representive Cohen has introduced a measure that would expand existing law to recognize civil unions.   HB708 has several familiar cosponsors, including Dan Frankel, Jake Wheatley, Chelsa Wagner, Dom Costa, Paul Costa, Mark Gergely.  41 sponsors in total. This legislation has been referred to the Judiciary Committee as of February 12, 2011. Several cosponsors sit in […]

Santorum and “santorum” … the devil is in the Google analytics

Dan Savage is incredibly naughty and wonderful in the same breath.  Thanks to his creative and intrepid readers, the Savage definition of Santorum remains at the top of the Google search for Rick's name.  Rick's wikipedia entry is third.    The Post-Gazette reported that Savage's readers have clicked away to put the santorum definition to […]

Lucille Prater-Holliday: City Council District 9 candidate

I worked in City Council District 9 for nearly five years as a social worker, doing everything from financial literacy to recruiting foster parents.  I worked on community projects, interacted with community leaders and watched East Liberty Station morph into The Village of Eastside. (Read that as metaphor for the slide of East Liberty into the gentrified […]

City Paper on quest for domestic partner benefits for Allegheny County employees

City Paper on quest for domestic partner benefits for Allegheny County employees

The Pittsburgh City Paper explores the frustration of the County Human Relations Commission with the slow pace of  the Onorato Administration around domestic partner benefits. Is anyone really surprised?  After 7 years, really? It won't happen until the next Administration.  Onorato doesn't want to use the political capital on this issue when he's potentially gearing up […]

Trib Letter to the Editor Prognosticates Intro of Pro-Gay PA Legislation

Trib Letter to the Editor Prognosticates Intro of Pro-Gay PA Legislation

John DeBartola from the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter wrote to the Trib earlier this month.  He forecasts introduction of 4 pieces of pro-LGBTQ legislation:  marriage, civil unions, hate crimed and non-discrimination legislation. Both [Senator] Leach and [Rep.] Cohen have agreed to submit their respective bills for marriage equality and civil unions on Feb 7. Rep. Dan […]

A note on trans protections (not) in Ohio

A note on trans protections (not) in Ohio

From Autumn Sandeen at Pam's House Blend comes discouraging news about transwomen and transwomen employed by the State losing employment protections under a new executive order which DOES extend protection based on sexual orientation. Another stark reminder of why we need to keep our queer umbrella over everyone and not succumb to the temptation to toss […]

County Chief Executive Possibilities

County Chief Executive Possibilities

Michael Lamb Rich Fitzgerald Mark Flaherty I’m not sure we can go too wrong with any of these candidates for Allegheny County Chief Executive.  I see domestic partner benefits on the horizon for Allegheny County employees (we are thiiiiiis close) which will pretty much seal the deal in terms of our region being a true […]