Are You a Homosexualizer?

What’s the best (or rather, worst) backhanded compliment you’ve ever received?  Oh my, the list of insults guised as compliments is pretty long.  First, there are the homosexualizers – people who use slurs and derogatory or dated language, but insist they love me. One of the frequent offenders is “sexual preference” which I’ve written about […]

ROY G BIV is a Friend of Mine

Mnemonic Device

When was the last time you experienced writer’s block? What do you think brought it about — and how did you dig your way out of it? What do you think of when I say the term “mnemonic device”? My most recent bout of writer’s block hit me last week, “write” after Ledcat left for her […]

Is Maria Bamford Procrastinating Her Reply To My Tweet?

Maria Bamford

Last night, I coaxed Ledcat into watching a 49 minute comedy show on Netflix with me. Fully knowing that watching Netflix means we’ll end up covered in cats, we curled up on the sofa to take in “The Special Special Special” featuring Maria Bamford. Maria Bamford is a comedian that I had not heard of […]

Ten Fabulous “Special Rights” for LGBTQ Public Employees

Special Rights Gay

In response to the conversation about domestic partner benefits from PA municipal employers such as Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, some have raised concerns that same-sex couples will be receiving “special gay privileges” which is unfair to unmarried heterosexual employees. It is probably fair to look back into history at the civil rights movement and […]

I Owe Bill Peduto an Apology

Pittsburgh Pridefest

Last night, Bill Peduto made his first official Pridefest appearance as Mayor at OUTrageous Bingo. He came in looking very relaxed and comfortable in a blue bowling shirt and took the mike like a pro. He acknowledged the longevity and importance of Bingo, Shepherd Wellness and the Gay & Lesbian Community Center. He called a […]

Storyteller Staci Backauskus From Pittsburgh Pride Theater Festival

Pittsburgh Pride Theater

The Pittsburgh Pride Theater Festival returns for it’s sixth season this weekend. We caught up with Judy Meiksin yesterday to learn more about the event. Today, we’ll talk with one of the authors, Staci Backauskus. You can read our interview with director Ted Hoover from last year. The festival runs the first two weekends in June on the third floor of Bricolage Theater on Liberty Avenue. […]

It Is Difficult To Get A Man (RuPaul) To Understand Something When His Salary Depends Upon His Not Understanding It

RuPaul Transgender

Editor’s Note: Please welcome a new contributor, Jamie. She starts off her work with Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents with a post introducing herself and delving right into a frontburner issue. – Sue The quote from Upton Sinclair that: “it is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding […]

Four Ways to Take a Mental Health Break (at Starbucks)

Mental Health Month

Remember when someone would use the “mental health day” reason to take a day off from work? Well, today is Mental Health Month Blog Day (that’s a mouthful) which I like to think of as a mental health day in the middle of mental health month. The goal? Mental Health Month Blog Day to educate the public […]

That One Time At The Dyke March

Pittsburgh Pride

So one year, I was asked to speak at the Dyke March. I was flattered, but I’ll say right here – I blew it. I was absolutely terrified to speak with this group of women and felt like I had nothing to say. I was super anxious and I did not prepare and it was […]

Stryker: Trans issues at ‘a historical moment’

We’re at a “historical moment in the media” for trans people, says Susan Stryker, historian, author, filmmaker, activist and director of the Institute for LGBT Studies at the University of Arizona. Stryker delivered the annual Margaret Morrison Lecture at Carnegie Mellon University on Monday. Part of CMU’s celebration of Women’s History Month, the lecture is […]