Gay Rights | LA Progressive

Why “Narrow” Prop 8 Decision is Good for Marriage Equality

February 8, 2012 By Paul Hogarth

Paul Hogarth: While it would have been great to have the Court rule sexual orientation a “suspect class” and put Prop 8 under a strict scrutiny test, that would have made the decision far more likely to be reversed.

Hazing or Hate Crime?

January 25, 2012 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Rev. Irene Monroe: We may never know if Champion’s beat down from “hazing” was an accidental homicide or an intended hate crime.

Rose Parade Protest and Gays Make History – Again!

January 14, 2012 By Carl Matthes

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

January 10, 2012 By Carl Matthes

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”

January 8, 2012 By Carl Matthes

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.

Black LGBTQs Finding Voice for the Future

January 5, 2012 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Having voice in the Black Community is still an arduous struggle for its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) community. As we cross over into 2012, one of our biggest accomplishments in 2011 has been the various ways in which LGBTQ of African descent have employed different public venues to be heard. These following venues [...]

Perry Pandering

December 22, 2011 By Carl Matthes

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!

Black LGBTQ Community Doesn’t Support Its Own

December 15, 2011 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Rev. Irene Monroe: A lack of financial support from the black LGBTQ community has contributed substantially to all the print and online black LGBTQ publications folding.

Bishop Eddie Long Takes a Sabbatical

December 7, 2011 By Sharon Kyle

Sharon Kyle: Bishop Eddie Long announced he will be taking a sabbatical. Reported in the AP, this comes days after his wife Vanessa announced that she had filed for divorce

Wife of Bishop Eddie Long Does Not File for Divorce

December 2, 2011 By Sharon Kyle

Bishop Eddie Long — described as “one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement” — has gone through a year of scandal, starting with allegations of sexual relations with several members of his ministry for teen boys. (Specifically, it was alleged that Long had sex with four boys in [...]

Queer Politics for the Birds

November 16, 2011 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Rev. Irene Monroe: Same-sex coupling is not a new phenomenon in the animal world. However, its disclosure and acceptance of it comes in a homophobic society that will attempt to pathologize it.

Cook for President!

November 14, 2011 By Carl Matthes

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?

Transgender, Victimized and Black

November 2, 2011 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Rev. Irene Monroe: It’s not easy for any person of African descent to be LGBTQ in our black communities, but our transgender brothers and sisters might feel the most discrimination.

Presbyterian Church’s Ordination of Gays Bittersweet

October 23, 2011 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Rev. Irene Monroe: As a church that is borne out of a liberal Protestant Christian tradition, the Presbyterian Church’s problem with its LGBTQ worshippers is a history of how it not only broke the backs and souls of the many who wanted to serve, but also how the church recklessly discarded the gifts we bring.

Flying While Gay

September 28, 2011 By Rev. Irene Monroe

Rev. Irene Monroe: I like to know how many heterosexual couples have been or would be thrown off Southwest Airlines for kissing? Would it even be an issue?