This Open Letter to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was first published on my blog, thomascwaters.

com on January 22, 2012

This week, I received an email that described how the Group Freedom to Marry has begun to work with mayors: Freedom to Marry today launched the Mayors for Freedom to Marry project. There are over 70 mayors listed, including Erie PA's own Joe Sinnott! (The other 2 mayors in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia's Michael Nutter and Bethlehem's John Callahan.) Three Pennsylvania mayors are signed on, but you Mayor Ravenstahl are not one of them. Mayor Ravenstahl, can you explain to Pittsburgh's LGBTQ community if you plan to sign on, and if you do not, please share your reasons for not signing on. Pittsburgh has been a space welcoming to the LGBTQ community for many years, having a city-wide non-discrimination ordinance in place, and implementing a domestic partner registry, however the rights of many gay and lesbian couples remain unprotected due to our inability to protect our relationships by legal civil marriage. As Mayor you have been visible as a supporter of the LGBT community, and the community deserves to understand why you haven't signed like three of your Pennsylvania counterparts.

I would appreciate meeting with you to discuss this further, and look forward to your response. Sincerely,

Thomas C Waters, blogger and Pittsburgh resident 412-400-8777 5900 Jackson St Pittsburgh, PA 16206 thomascwaters.com QLATB.com

Link for the Freedom to Marry Mayors project: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/mayors-for-the-freedom-to-marry