Redefining Family
Does your family say “I Love You” yet it feels empty? You are not alone. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have faced this reality. Host Jonathan Wilson explores how and why we must overcome this obstacle in his podcast Redefining Family. His show spotlights stories of resilience as his guests share how they have redefined their definition of who they consider to be their real family. Heartfelt, honest, and vulnerable, these stories of overcoming shed light on what family actually means.
Redefining Family
Erick Matos - Showing Up For The Ones You Love
On this week's episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan starts the show by opening up about his time at The Men Having Babies Conference in San Fransisco. Jonathan then has a wonderful conversation with Erick Matos, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and a public policy specialist with nearly a decade of experience in state and local government.
Erick opens up about what it was like growing up in a religious family in a small town, and when it was that he first realized that he was gay. He talks about everything from the desire to be a good Christian son, to his first closeted relationship in college, to then finally deciding that he wanted to live authentically.
Erick also talks about the importance of having a close circle to support you, whether they are blood relatives or not. And of course, how to show up for the ones you love.
******
About Erick Matos
Erick Matos (he/him/his) is a public policy specialist with nearly a decade of experience in state and local government. He currently works for a public health insurance plan that provides affordable coverage to over 2 million low income Los Angeles County residents. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Services and Policy from the University of Southern California. Erick grew up in a religious family in Central California, having struggled internally for years before finally accepting his identity as a gay man. He lives in West Hollywood with his partner Jon and their beloved dog Niko.