Carl Matthes: Is Tim Cook, now head of Apple, qualified to be President of the United States? Check! Oh, and did I mention that he’s gay?
An Elephant for Sister Sarah
By
Carl Matthes: Just in time to take advantage of the uptick in movie ticket sales is ”The Undefeated,” a film that will hopefully “reflate” the political life of America’s Republican sweetheart, Sarah Palin.
Roger Ailes and Boycotting Fox
By
Carl Matthes: While Fox News still dominates cable news ratings, ol’ Roger wants something more: if he, personally, can’t be the 2012 Presidential Republican nominee, he wants to be the man who owns the 2012 nominee.
Secretly, Netanyahu Agrees to Pre-1967 Borders
By
Carl Matthes: There they were – all over TV – two men sitting, looking at each other. One sternly intense. The other looking defensive, almost scrunched into his chair.
Power, Sex, and Money
By
Carl Matthes: Imagine, the finest and best that God could call from His earthly flock to serve in His Holy Church did nothing wrong because when they were molesting young children, they were just “responding to social turmoil.”
Shriver to Schwarzenegger: “Hasta La Vista, Baby!”
By
Carl Matthes: So how big a surprise is it that muscle-bound Arnie was sleeping with the hired help? That he was a liar and a cheater during his 25 year marriage to Maria Shriver?
Glenn Beck’s Secret Files?
By
As congratulations poured into Washington thanking President Obama and our nation’s military for killing Osama Bin Laden, I tuned in FOX News to see what Glenn Beck might be saying. Beck was on and began talking about the celebrations across our nation saying they were a “silly spectacle” and reminded him of the way Palestinians [...]
On Trump, FOX, and God
By
Carl Matthes: Birthers, the life-blood of Republican primary voters, stoked by FOX News, have fanned the flames of raced-hatred towards President Obama by claiming he is not “one of us.”
Bottom Line: No Clown
By
Carl Matthes: Deciphering FOX’s wording into actual English, Ailes really said to Beck, “Get out. We’re overstocked with clowns and you’re not a cash cow anymore.”
Armenians and Gays Together
By
Carl Matthes: The 1998 establishment of Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS) to help lgbt “Armenians who are looking for friendship, support and a sense of belonging in the community.” GALAS held its fifth annual Armenian LGBT Conference titled “Breaking Through”
Defense of Marriage
By
Carl Matthes: Boehner has a secret plan: hiring the unemployed to defend marriage. Makes perfect sense. With over 60 million marriages in the United States and 13 million unemployed, each unemployed person would end- up defending five-and-a-quarter marriages.
Focus on the Family: Bully Pulpit Christianity
By
Carl Matthes: A schoolyard bully is someone who intimidates, is overbearing and tyrannical. Who better fits that description than someone who uses a Christian pulpit to turn the all-encompassing Love of God upside down and then uses it to bully God’s children?
Democrats and Gun Control
By
Carl Matthes: Since the Democrats aren’t fighting for gun controls, I suggest they become head cheerleaders for gun proliferation. Outflank the Republicans and make the case that America needs more than the 350,000,000 guns the FBI estimates is currently available.
A Murder in Uganda
By
Carl Matthes: At David’s funeral, the presiding pastor used the tragedy to actually rebuke homosexuals saying that “they would go to hell.” Incited sympathizers stormed the pulpit and grabbed his microphone.
Expanding Gun Rights
By
Carl Matthes: One last thought, Rep. King, to be even more safe, why not amend your bill to say that a gun may not be carried within your congressional district when you’re there?
The American Family
By
Carl Matthes: Imagine, in the 21st century, a church orthodoxy which “punishes” life-long, educated adult ministers from loving Christ-centered families for following their conscience. Amazing! I am sure that even Christ had to look away.
Religion’s Ugly Head
By
Carl Matthes: After speaking directly with God, the current Leading Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 86-year-old Boyd Packer revealed last year that Mormons must form an alliance with Catholic Bishops in California to stop the desecration of Christian teaching. The aim of this unholy alliance? Stop same-sex marriage.
Magic Johnson and AIDS Healthcare Foundation
By
Carl Matthes: It will soon be 20 years – Nov. 7, 1991 – since Magic Johnson went before a packed news conference at the Forum in Inglewood, California, to reveal that he was HIV positive and would be retiring from basketball. For the world of sports, it was a devastating announcement.
I Will Defend My Mother’s Purity!
By
Carl Matthes: What prompted TCT to produce “Fabulous”? Andy recollected, “We have always been huge fans of Paul Rudnick’s work with his play “Jeffrey” recently produced in Austin at the Arts on Real Theatre. “Most Fabulous” is a play with a lot of humor, but with a lot of heart as well. We pride ourselves in staging all types of live theatre and with much variety to every season. We always hope to appeal to the wide range of people who make up the Austin theatre community.”
Hate Crimes Legislation’s Torturous Path
By
Carl Matthes: As you may remember, 21 year-old Matthew was pistol-whipped, bludgeoned and lashed to a fence post, just off an isolated rural road, during one of Wyoming’s cold, lonely October nights. He was left for dead by his killers. Eighteen hours later Matthew was discovered still alive, but in a coma. “I mistook him for a scarecrow,” said 18 year-old Aaron Kreifels. Five days later he died. In 1998 America, Matthew was just one of 33 anti-gay murders.
La Mission
By
Carl Matthes: Not to be missed is Peter Bratt’s “La Mission,” a film brimming with street and domestic violence, and laced with homophobia, search for ethnic identity and machismo. Starring the talented Benjamin Bratt, Peter’s younger brother, “La Mission” refers to the Mission District in San Francisco, the real-life, growing-up family neighborhood of the Bratt brothers.
Will California Kill State Research into Homosexuality “Cure”?
By
Carl Matthes: Lowenthal’s bill would add to California’s law books present-day science and values which were absent in 1950. The State has not conducted research into homosexuality for decades. “This (present) code simply mischaracterizes and institutes bigotry against the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community,” echoed Mario Guerrero, a director of Equality California.
Rescuing God
By
Carl Matthes: It’s Springtime in America. Rebirth is rampant and organized religion is in the news. Unfortunately, it’s not the good news of renewal, faith and understanding. But rather, the church is in the spotlight over the worst possible actions and charges: child molesting and hate have engulfed church leadership. Victimimzed are the faithful and the innocent. From the Catholic Church and the Pope to Westboro Baptist Church and Minister Fred Phelps, God, to borrow the phrasing of Sinead O’Connor, needs to be rescued.
Hypersexual Disorder: Stop Blaming Gays and Lesbians
By
Carl Matthes: It’s time to stop putting the blame for violent or predatory sexual activity in the military on gays and lesbians. Even facing unfair characterization and laws, gay men and lesbians enlist. They serve loyally, even though they must lie about their sexual orientation. And, yet, they remain willing to possibly give, ultimately, their life for their country.
South Africa: A Model for the Future
By
Carl Matthes: Desmond Tutu, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel Peace Price winner, has lent his name to the fight against homophobia saying, “Homophobia is a ‘crime against humanity’ and ‘every bit unjust’ as apartheid.” Brad Pitt, in a 2007 Vanity Fair interview of Tutu, remarked, “So certainly discrimination has no place in Christianity. There’s a big argument going on in America right now, on gay rights and equality.”
LGBTs Make Gains
By
Carl Matthes: Despite a lack of movement towards equal rights on the national political stage for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Americans (Where are you Democratic Liberals and Progressives when we need you?), there are three important LGBT gains as we enter 2010.
Prop 8 Trial: Call to Action
By
Carl Matthes: Those of us who want to see Prop 8 overturned have this remarkable chance to make our voices heard by calling for the trial to be televised in the interest of transparency and accountability. The Courage Campaign Institute, one of the principle organizations working to overturn Prop 8, is teaming up with CREDO Action to collect as many signatures as possible asking Judge Walker to televise the case.
PCL offers monthly Open House Events on the 2nd Saturday at 2pm and 3rd Thursday at 6pm. Click here to learn more.
LGBT Issues for Breakfast
Carl Matthes: Aren’t we all tired of looking to the Bible for condemnation of the human condition? Aren’t we ready to be adults and accept, that with all aspects of life, there is diversity?