Thomas Waters | | thomascwaters.com

Pittsburgh Council Members Honor Stonewall Riots: 50th Anniversary with Press Conference

Pittsburgh, PA- Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25th at 9:00 a.m. on the City-County Building’s Portico, City Councilperson Erika Strassburger and Council President Bruce A. Kraus will stand in solidarity with community leaders to honor the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a landmark event in the struggle for LGBTQIA+ rights. Also, Councilperson Strassburger, Council President Kraus, and the City’s Commission on Human Relations will announce the introduction of legislation to strengthen local protections against discrimination based[Read More…]

June 24, 2019 — 0 comments — Activism, Gay Pride, general, LGBT Discrimination: Exploring Laws and Policies

The first Pride was a a riot? Really?

It isn’t hard to find memes and T-shirt’s, that announce Pride month by claiming that “the first Pride march was a riot.” This is true in some regards and misleading in others. We celebrate Pride in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York City. A police raid on the Stonewall Inn in the early morning hours of June 28th, 1969 set off riots over multiple nights and is considered today to be the[Read More…]

June 7, 2019 — 0 comments — Activism, Gay Pride

The Kevin Hart Controversy

Every one of us- gay, straight, bi, pansexual, asexual- have internalized homophobia. Because we grew up in a culture that condemns queer people of all stripes.We all learned to hate the queers. We also all share some implicit biases, and often against black men. And for those black men there is an intersectionality to the way all of these isms and messages both came at them, and became a part of their identity. Few of us can know what it is like to be in Hart’s shoes now, or when he made the jokes and stuff, or his life experience before that.

January 7, 2019 — 0 comments — general, Homosexual

Will Gays Ever Stop Attacking Each Other Over Positive Stuff?

You and I have very different ideas about what canonization looks like. In my opinion, we need to spend more time and energy recognizing, praising and supporting all of the actions of others that fight homophobia, racism and all of the status quo that perpetuates the suffering you speak of.

January 6, 2018 — Comments are Disabled — Activism

The Very Queer Christmas Story.

This post first appeared in December 2013 queer (kwîr) adj. queer·er, queer·est 1. Deviating from the expected or normal; strange: a queer situation. 2. Odd or unconventional, as in behavior; eccentric. See Synonyms at strange. 3. Of a questionable nature or character; suspicious. 4. Slang Fake; counterfeit. 5. Feeling slightly ill; queasy. 6. Offensive Slang Homosexual. 7. Usage Problem Of or relating to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, or transgendered people. n. 1. Offensive Slang Used[Read More…]

December 23, 2017 — Comments are Disabled — Biblical Commentary, Queer Look at the Bible

A Gay Man Sees Equus at Pittsburgh Public Theater

The other night, my husband and I had the opportunity to see Equus at Pittsburgh Public Theater. Equus has won an enormous number of awards, but I actually knew almost nothing about it, except it involved a horse and some nudity. After seeing it, I’d be hard pressed to think of a single play which is as erotic and intellectually evocative at the same time. If you love very good theater, this show is one[Read More…]

October 22, 2017 — Comments are Disabled — general, Review

Breaking: Ted Martin to step down from Equality PA

Received this press release: HARRISBURG, Pa. – At its board of directors meeting on June 4, 2017, the Board of Directors of Equality Pennsylvania accepted the resignation of Executive Director Ted Martin. Martin’s last day with the organization will be June 30, 2017. “It has been a tremendous honor for me to serve as executive director. I never foresaw myself staying for seven years back in 2010, but I am glad I did,” said Martin.[Read More…]

June 9, 2017 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general, LGBT Discrimination: Exploring Laws and Policies

12 Tips to make the Most of LGBTQIA+ Pride

Every June, I post some semblance of this list. These points apply to Pride each and every year, and are applicable to Pride anywhere, even though I’m in Pittsburgh PA and writing with our Pride at the center of my thinking. Here’s my list of 12 tips for making the most of LGBTQIA+ Pride: • Remember why we are celebrating Pride in June, and where the notion of a yearly remembrance and celebration came from.[Read More…]

June 7, 2017 — Comments are Disabled — Gay Pride

Memorial Day: Leonard Matlovich

We know about Leonard Matlovich because he outed himself, but there are thousands and thousands of lesbian, gay, bi and trans persons who have served and died for our country and the cause of Freedom and Democracy

May 29, 2017 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Pittsburgh Pride: The Resistance Is Progressive

We (queer activists) aren’t acting for the whole of the queer community or marginalized communities if we are calling for gay rights at the expense of clean drinking water, unpolluted land, and the constant feeding of high profits to the companies that cause environmental damage.

May 28, 2017 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, Gay Pride, general

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