Matthes successfully ran Lesbian News Magazine from 1994 until 2022. The Lesbian News, more commonly known as the LN, had the distinction and responsibility of being North America’s longest running lesbian publication. Founded in 1975 in Southern California by Jinx Beer, LN began as the lone voice for lesbian issues and evolved throughout the years under Matthes’ leadership to become the nation’s foremost voice for lesbians of all ages.

Some of the iconic cover stories have included names such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Ellen DeGeneres, Marlee Matlin, Hillary Clinton, Toni Braxton, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Judith Light, and Janet McTeer.

Her numerous contributions to the LGBTQ+ community earned her a slew of recognitions and awards. She was the recipient of the 2002 Women’s Night Gay & Lesbian Center’s “Lesbian & Bisexual Women Active in Community Empowerment Award;” the 2002 “Business Alliance of Los Angeles Community Involvement Award;” the 2003 Southern California Women for Understanding “Community Service Award;” and the 2012 Vox Femina Los Angeles “Aria Award.”

A native of Los Angeles, California, Matthes graduated from Dorcey High School and attended UCLA for a brief period. She played the saxophone in high school and was a competition bowler for many years.

At the young age of fifteen, she went to work at Great Western Savings in the print shop and developed a passion for printing. By the time she was in her twenties, she purchased Superior Printers and ran it for decades. However, something else kept tugging at her heartstrings. Ella felt lesbians weren’t receiving a lot of support and visibility and wanted to do something about it. So, in 1994, she purchased Lesbian News Magazine from Deborah Bergman who had acquired it from its original owner, Jinx Beers.

Ella Matthes built a mission statement around her vision for all lesbians. “The editorial vision of the LN has always been to inform, entertain, and be of service to women who love women of all ages, economic class, and color. We hope women from all walks of life will not only find something of themselves in the LN, but also be accepting of those with differing opinions. Lesbian News is our small contribution to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender liberation movement.”

She is survived by her brother Carl Matthes and her wife Gladi Adams. Ella and Gladi had been together for 26 years and married July 13, 2013.

Donations in her name can be made to the June Mazer Archives in West Hollywood, CA.

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Moments ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that bans on the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in four states — including our Tennessee case — do not violate the U.S. Constitution.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act last year, we have experienced a sea change in the freedom to marry, with nearly 40 court victories across the country in favor of marriage equality.

While today’s decision hurts loving couples and families in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, this case isn’t over, and we know the tide is turning. We know — one day soon — every person across the country will be able to marry the person they love.

We will not rest until this decision is overturned and until no matter where you live, you have the freedom to marry the person you love. But we can’t do it without you.

We need you to stand with us. Will you join us in the fight for equality and justice by donating today?

Onward,
Kate Kendall

Make a donation at NCLRights.org.

The post NCLR: A setback for marriage equality first appeared on Lesbian.com.

A new study has revealed some interesting correlations between lesbian women’s identities and their traumatic life experiences.

As PsychCentral is reporting, lesbian and bisexual women are overall more likely to report childhood abuse and adult sexual assault than heterosexual women, according to a new study published in the journal “Sex Roles.”

Read more at Huffington Post Gay Voices

The post Lesbian and bisexual women more likely to have encountered child abuse and sexual assault first appeared on Lesbian.com.

While less reliable than your GPS, gaydar is the sixth sense that no lesbian wants to be without. Dutch researchers revealed results of a study that shows gays are generally more discerning and detail-oriented and, as a result, more likely to pick up on the subtle cues that allow us to find each other in a crowd. If only there was an app for that! Oh, wait, there is, it’s called Grindr.

The BBC is giving us “Lip Service” and we’re happy about it
Twitter was abuzz this week as series 2 as the Brits call it (season 2 here in the States) of the lesbian television drama “Lip Service” prepared to come to a close with the sixth and final episode airing May 25. No doubt the chatter will continue as fans await word regarding a decision on series 3.

Former “Queer Eye” guy outs fellow Food Network star
Things heated up in the kitchen this week as former “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and current “Chopped” host Ted Allen appears to have spilled the les-beans in regard to fellow Food Network star Anne Burrell. Those in the know say Allen disclosed Burrell’s sexuality during an interview with Sirius XM’s Romaine Patterson set to air Monday, May 25.

First Obama and now Mickey Mouse
Disneyland was indeed the happiest place on earth for one lesbian couple this week when they were granted permission to wed on the grounds of the Tokyo resort. Which of the Disney princess will be the first to come out of the castle?

Long live the Queen
The seemingly never-ending speculation about Queen Latifah’s sexual orientation may finally be put to rest as she headlines Long Beach Pride May 19 – 20. In related news, the sky is blue.

The post News: Gaydar is real, say Dutch researchers first appeared on Lesbian.com.