Carl Matthes: June 2013 may well become one of the most remembered Gay Pride months in the amazingly rapid march by the LGBT community towards equal rights under the law.
About Carl Matthes
Carl Matthes is a native of Los Angeles and has lived in Eagle Rock for 45 years. He is the current president of UGLA, Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance, a grassroots organization in Northeast Los Angeles which provides a support system for gay men and lesbians and education for individuals and the community-at-large on the true nature of homosexuality. He is a former columnist and a current advisor to the Lesbian News, the oldest lesbian publication in America, which is owned and published by his sister, Ella. He was editor of the GLAAD/LA (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) newsletter, a former GLAAD National Board member and served as a GLAAD/LA representative on the LGBT/LAPD Advisory Board. Carl has also been a Board member of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
In July, 2008, Carl was legally married to Carl Johnson, his partner of 45 years, by Los Angels City Councilmember Jose Huizar. It was a unique gay/lesbian double ceremony as Carl's sister Ella and her partner Gladi were also married by Jose.
The Ascendancy of Women
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Carl Matthes: Since 1922, only 44 women have served as Senators. Today, in the United States Senate, the “world’s greatest deliberative body,” there are now twenty female Senators, the most ever serving at one time. While women total over 50% percent of the population, only 20% of Senators are female.
UGLA: 30 Years of Grassroot’s Activism
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Carl Matthes: UGLA members, in addition to being long-term members and officers of NEDC, have been part of the successful visibility and national coming-out campaign the LGBT community instituted since the early ‘80s.
Sequester Showdown: The President Takes Charge
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Carl Matthes: Obama patiently laid-out and explained his thinking and the mechanics of what the sequester was about. He accomplished this with clear persuasive language and in a warm business-like manner, a wonderful change from politician’s usual Washington gobbledygook.
Associated Press Equals Awkward Policy
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Carl Matthes: Hey AP brass, If it’s just too difficult to adjust to how fast the English language is changing as regards the way it’s written, it’s use and meaning, consider recommending the asexual word “spouse” for all partners in all marriages.
Cardinal Mahony: A Tainted Vote
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Carl Matthes: I can only hope that Mahony was better trained at leading souls to salvation than he was at saving children from the abusive actions of some of his priests.
Michelle Obama: The Eyes Have It
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Carl Matthes: While two of the most politically powerful men in the world appeared to be having a sociably light-hearted exchange, it was nonetheless Michelle who garnered world-wide attention when she rolled her eyes during their exchange.
NRA: Neocons Rule America
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Carl Matthes: In a commercial, the NRA recently put the President’s daughters “in the crosshairs.” They have removed any pretense of being a good-faith partner in solving America’s most frightening and heart-wrenching problem.
DOMA Meets DADT
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Carl Matthes: Who knew that one of the consequences of the lifting of DADT and the Obama Administration’s parallel decision to no longer defend DOMA, would be the growing participation of same-sex couples in the life of the military?
Terrorism Around the World
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Carl Matthes: Extremists can always step up to the next weapon of mass killing. Anti-violence campaigns, respect for human life, education and zero tolerance for the proliferation of assault weapons are needed now.
LGBT Victories: “Breathtaking Leap Forward”
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Carl Matthes: These LGBY victories, the work of many volunteers, excellent candidates and smart campaigns, were sparked, in part, by President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden.
Conservatives in 2013
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Carl Matthes: In 2012, conservatives lost the Presidency plus seats in the Senate and House. They see America changing and, wIthout a national leader, conservatives have splintered.
President Obama and the Road Forward
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Carl Matthes: Our country is entering an exciting era. We all are proud of our President and all of us pledge to do our part to ensure a continuing growth of Liberal and Progressive ideas and policies.
Gay Rights: What the Supreme Court’s Decision Portends
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Carl Matthes: For those of us who grew up when homosexuality was a crime, the United States Supreme Court deciding to take up the Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases for review is astonishing.
Rick Warren: Religion’s Ugly Head
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Carl Matthes: Just as NTricky Dick ion denied the results of his own words and actions, Rick Warren is blind to the fact that his words and actions attack and deny the “true nature of homosexuality.” G
Marriage Equality: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
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Carl Matthes: If the Supreme Court refuses to hear the Prop 8 case, legal same-sex marriage will return to California
Election 2012: The Three Rs
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Carl Matthes: Apparenlty, Republicans want politicians to control all the wombs in the nation. And, they don’t care if women are raped or hurt to make their point.
The Bottom Line
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Carl Matthes: Bitterly disappointed that their big ideas were solidly rejected by American citizens, Romney/Ryan, vapid and insipid Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, are now trying to digest a heaping-helping of crow covered with sour grapes.
“I Think Same Sex Couples Should Be Able To Get Married…”
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Carl Matthes: “I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Turns 25
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Carl Matthes: Highlight of the evening was a film directed by Ryan James Yezak and produced by Dana Miller which capsulized the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and AHF’s crusade to fight the disease around the world.
Trayvon Is Everybody’s Son
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Carl Matthes: The President’s most personal message to the family – “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” – is a metaphor. Trayvon represents my son, your child. None of us want any unarmed child, who is walking home from the store while chatting on his cell phone to a girl friend, shot down under any circumstances.
An Open Letter to the GOP: Transvaginally Speaking
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Carl Matthes: I would suggest Mr. Trudeau take us even further down the path of lunacy by composing strips showing similar compulsory exams for men! After all, men are half of the pregnancy equation.
Another California Knightmare
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Carl Matthes: Steve Knight comes by his prejudice naturally as the youngest son of William “Pete” Knight, the man who, in 2000, successfully brought Proposition 22 to stop same-sex marriage.
A Scary and Sad Santorum
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Carl Matthes: If Rick Santorum were Pope, nuns would would be given veils. If he was President, women would be brought into the bedroom only for procreation.
Rose Parade Protest and Gays Make History – Again!
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Carl Matthes: n a historic decision, the 2012 Board of Directors of the Tournament of Roses invited AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to have an official float in the parade.
Lesbians and Miss California USA
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Carl Matthes: Two openly gay women, Jenelle Hutcherson, 26, of Long Beach and Mollie Thomas, 19, of West Hollywood were the first openly gay contestants in the 60-year history of the recent Miss USA California state pageant.
Right-Wing Social Engineering: “Forced Divorce”
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Carl Matthes: It came as no surprise to gay men and lesbians that if ultra-conservatives kept digging around in this year’s barrel of Republican candidates, past Trump, Bachmann, Cain, Perry and even Gingrich, they would eventually reach Rick Santorum.
Perry Pandering
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Carl Matthes: I understand that a remake of “Dumb and Dumber” (“Dumb and Dumber 2”) is in the works. I suggest that the producers contact two governors of Texas who might be perfect for the starring roles!
Abuse and Assault
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Carl Matthes: Society has learned that the force which drives sexually-based assault and abuse is not easily categorized, understood or rooted out. What is understood is that this force is not driven by sexual need; men turn their physical and manipulative powers into a destructive force.
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