'I went to the Riga Pride and all I got was a bag of shit.' — A T-shirt being printed up by organizers of Latvia's Riga Pride 2006. The July 22 parade was banned by the city and a court, and when the would-be marchers left a church service, antigay protesters pelted them with bags of excrement.
'I understand why people think we're gay. There isn't a definition in our culture for this kind of bond between women. So I get why people have to label it—how can you be this close without it being sexual?' — Oprah Winfrey talking about best friend Gayle King in 'O, The Oprah Magazine,' August issue.
'I'm gay. I'm super gay. And I guess that makes Anderson Cooper gay, too.' — A line by actor Jim Rash's character in an already-taped episode of the upcoming new ABC sitcom Help Me Help You. Executives from the series told the New York Post July 21 that they probably will remove the line before the episode airs.
'I tried being a lesbian when I was 15. There's nothing to share really—I tried it and it didn't work for me. So I don't ever fantasize about other women.' — Singer Cyndi Lauper to the Palm Springs gay magazine The Bottom Line, July 21.
'I don't want it in the drawer burning its way into my mind while I'm trying to get a good night's sleep.' — Gay actor Sir Ian McKellen telling Out magazine that he tears the antigay page from Leviticus out of Bibles in American hotel rooms, in the August issue.
'I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said [ that I was gay ] , it would overpower everything. I didn't know: Could that be the end of 'N Sync? So I had that weight on me of like, 'Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did. ... The main reason I wanted to speak my mind [ now ] was that [ the rumors ] really were starting to affect my daily life. Now it feels like it's on my terms.' — Former 'N Sync heartthrob Lance Bass to People magazine, July 26. Bass also revealed that he's in a 'very stable' relationship with Amazing Race winner Reichen Lehmkuhl.
'Yes: 49%. No: 51%.' — Findings of a new poll at POZ Magazine's poz.com site which asked, 'Should you disclose your [ HIV- ] positive status on the first date?'
'News of the World investigators caught the singer red-handed and red-faced as he emerged from the bushes after cavorting with a pot-bellied, 58-year-old, jobless van driver. When challenged George, 43, was wild-eyed and trembling. Trying to hide his face under a baseball cap, he screamed: 'I don't believe it! Fuck off! If you put those pictures in the paper I'll sue! ... Are you gay? No? Then fuck off! This is my culture!'' — British tabloid report, complete with several photos, on gay singer George Michael, July 23. The newspaper said it followed the van driver, Norman Kirtland, home and he stated: 'He [ Michael ] told me I could contact him on the Gaydar website and we just started kissing. He did it very well. ... Then it was fondling and mutual pleasuring. It wasn't full sex but it was fantastic.' Michael has admitted he was cruising London's Hampstead Heath when photographed, but denies having sex with, and is suing, Kirtland. He said he also is suing the photographer for harassment, but will not sue the newspaper.
