Excerpt from Carl Wood’s message Carl Wood’s message at at Joshua Tree Gay Pride Joshua Tree Gay Pride

As with many people in our society, a recognition of the role played by discrimination against LGBT people was not a eureka moment for me, but was rather the result of a deepening and maturing of my personal understanding of the issue.

I was fortunate to be born into a family of social activists, fighters for peace and racial equality. But connecting a general humanism with the specific challenges of sexual identity and orientation has led me to see the struggle for equality as an integral part of the broader fight for social justice.

There‘s a common belief that areas such as the Inland Empire are so filled with intolerant people that espousal of LGBT equality will doom a political candidate. I heard the same things about racial equality when I was growing up in segregated Maryland in the 1950’s. I know it isn’t true.

But things don’t change unless we make them change. As Frederick Douglass said, “Power yields nothing without a demand.” I pledge to be part of that demand, to move us closer to becoming a society of true justice and equality for all.

Carl Wood aims for Carl Wood aims for 65th District Assembly Seat 65th District Assembly Seat November 2

www.wood4assembly.org