'Today's decision by the New York Court of Appeals, which relies on outdated and bigoted notions about families, is deeply disappointing, but it does not end the effort to achieve this goal. As that essential process moves forward, it is up to the state Legislature to act to protect the equal rights of every New Yorker.' — Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean after New York state's highest court ruled 4-2 July 6 that the state ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional—and punted the question of any change in law to the legislature.
'I would sign the marriage equality bill because I believe if we can get behind people to build a lasting relationship, that is a good thing.' — California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides at a July 7 press conference. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage last year. It was the first time any U.S. legislature had passed such a bill. Schwarzenegger and Angelides face off in November.
'Bush can in no way risk alienating the ultra-right-wing bonk-job contingent that put him in office ( they are, considering Bush's 32-percent approval rating, the only ones left even remotely supporting him—even though, according to many estimates, they're starting to abandon him, too ) , and hence all policy and all agenda items from here on out will be even more vicious and desperate in an attempt to shore up the base. Hence trying to mutilate the Constitution to ban gay marriage. Hence attacking The New York Times and claiming newspapers are endangering American lives. In other words, Bush's latest nasty, Rove-designed salvos and upcoming attacks to save a sliver of power and pride and sneering GOP control are just the beginning.' — San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford, July 7.
'The history of this [ the Democratic ] party is civil rights, women's rights, human rights, labor rights, gay and lesbian rights. And for us to hold up civil unions and say that separate is somehow now equal—when just a year-and-a-half ago we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board—is transparent to the people. They see through the Democrats.' — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to RollingStone.com, July 13.
'Late in the book, [ Mary Cheney ] describes hissing a furious expletive at the TV when Senator John Kerry referred to her as a 'lesbian' in the third 2004 presidential debate ( she prefers referring at arm's length to 'my sexual orientation,' as if it were an intransigent military position, perhaps, or a pesky shadow she just can't shake ) . She was angry, among other reasons, she writes, because 'he had used the word 'lesbian,' instead of the more common and politically neutral term 'gay.''' — From a New York Times review of vice presidential daughter Mary Cheney's book, July 10.
'Sometimes I'll meet a guy at a bar and they won't stop talking about her. After the eleventh question, I'll say: 'That's enough, I'm not her. Call her up. You want to ask her that question, call her up. Give me a fucking break.'' — Madonna's gay brother, Christopher Ciccone, to Britain's Attitude magazine, July issue.
'I never really tried to hide it [ my homosexuality ] . I just lived my life naturally and did what I wanted to do, but I didn't put it in anybody's face.' — 1960s pop-music star Lesley Gore ( It's My Party ) to Los Angeles' Lesbian News, July issue.
'I can easily go off and not be communicative. ... So [ my longtime partner ] Lois is good for me because she likes to talk everything through from the color of the toilet paper to the kind of soap we use.' — 1960s pop-music star Lesley Gore ( It's My Party ) to Los Angeles' Lesbian News, July issue.
'If someone loved my music as a teenager and now finds out that I'm gay and it helps him or her in some way, then that's great. It is a double-edged sword, though. God only knows what the old fans think. I'm not really sure. Most of the new music I am putting out now is only available online, so it involves a younger audience. They are very accepting and very open and they do seem to be supporting the new album. Some of the older fans aren't computer-savvy. It's not even something they want to get into, so I'm not really sure what the balance is there.' — Lesley Gore ( It's My Party ) to Los Angeles' Lesbian News.
