'In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country. We don't have that in our country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon; I don't know who's told you that we have it.' — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking at Columbia University in New York, Sept. 24.
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Pictured: Rosie O'Donnell
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'The American Civil Liberties Union today submitted a friend-of-the-court brief to a Minnesota District Court urging it to allow Senator Larry Craig to withdraw his guilty plea because the secret sting operation used to arrest him was likely unconstitutional. ... [ T ] he government can arrest people for soliciting public sex only if it can show beyond doubt that the sex was to occur in public. Solicitation for private sex, regardless if it occurs in a bar or a restroom, is protected speech under the First Amendment. When free speech rights come into play, police enforcement actions must be 'carefully crafted' so that they don't unnecessarily ensnare people who are engaging in constitutionally protected speech. The secret sting operation used by the police to arrest Senator Craig was not 'carefully crafted' to avoid ensnaring innocent speech.' — From a Sept. 17 ACLU press release.
'As I slipped back into celebrity land [ by being on TV's The View ] the tasks multiplied a thousandfold, and the letters addressed to me but having nothing to do with the real me—the mother me, the married me, the friend me—the letters addressed to the celebrity me began to pour in again. ... I had gone four years living alone and now my mailbox was overflowing and people were telling me I was fantastic, the funniest, the happiest, the brightest. [ Then there ] is a shift that happens in the head and that very few celebrities will ever really speak about. ... One begins to believe in the specialness, and a dangerous sense of entitlement takes over. ... When celebrity addiction starts, you become impatient with, and even angry at necessary obstacles. You think you could run a red light or two. And then you do.' — Rosie O'Donnell in her new book, 'Celebrity Detox.'
'It beggars belief that, in an airport with dozens of public facilities, [ Sen. Larry Craig ] just happened to find himself in the one restroom in the entire airport noted for anonymous sexual encounters. ... Most observers will find it inexplicable that a traveler with access to free food and a comfortable and clean bathroom in an essentially private lounge would go out of his way to seek out a public bathroom. It's virtually impossible for an objective observer not to conclude that the senator was in that bathroom cruising for gay sex.' — Bryan Fischer writing at SunValleyonline.com, Sept. 5.
'I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be on The View tomorrow as scheduled. I had made a request that I be interviewed by Joy, Barbara or Whoopi, but not Elisabeth Hasselback. Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple request so I bowed out. It's really too bad because I've always been a big supporter of the show, but I cannot compromise my beliefs. The good news is that I will be on a whole slew of other shows promoting the new album so I hope you can catch me on those.' — Singer Barry Manilow writing on his Web site, Sept. 17.
'I know this sounds trite, but overall it's fairly amazing to see the major Democratic presidential candidates rallying around the idea of equal rights for same-sex couples, united in their opposition to Don't Ask Don't Tell, and advocating the repeal of the key section of the Defense of Marriage Act. It would be even more amazing if we could get a majority in Congress to pass the teeny tiniest piece of gay rights legislation.' — Syndicated gay press columnist Ann Rostow, Aug. 16.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
