Gina Gershon. ________
'Doogie Howser wasn't outed, he was 'lanced.' That's a new term to describe celebrities who have been forced to reveal they're gay, said Reichen Lehmkuhl, boyfriend of 'N Sync star Lance Bass. 'It's to be outed by someone in the public media and to a celebrity, and Neil Patrick Harris, I understand, has been 'lanced,'' Lehmkuhl told AP Radio News.' — The Associated Press wire service, Nov. 7.
'In 1970, not a single law protected lesbian, gay and bisexual people from discrimination. Today, 18 states—representing 40 percent of the U.S. population—protect LGB people from discrimination, including Washington state, which was added to the roster this year. And these figures do not include the many municipalities in other states that have passed nondiscrimination laws—places like Kansas City and Indianapolis and Covington, Kentucky. And when you include these local jurisdictions, 49.9 percent of the population lives in a place where anti-LGB discrimination is prohibited.' — National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman addressing the annual Creating Change conference, Nov. 10.
'Let me just say one thing to [ disgraced former U.S. Rep. ] Mark Foley: Mark, whenever you re-emerge from wherever you are, please don't pop up looking to us for acceptance and support, or a toaster—there's no toaster waiting for you here.' — National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman addressing the annual Creating Change conference, Nov. 10.
'Denying committed same-sex couples the financial and social benefits and privileges given to their married heterosexual counterparts bears no substantial relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose. The Court holds that under the equal protection guarantee of Article I, Paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, committed same-sex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes. The name to be given to the statutory scheme that provides full rights and benefits to same-sex couples, whether marriage or some other term, is a matter left to the democratic process. ... The [ existing ] Domestic Partnership Act has failed to bridge the inequality gap between committed same-sex couples and married opposite-sex couples. ... The equal protection requirement of Article I, Paragraph 1 leaves the Legislature with two apparent options. The Legislature could simply amend the marriage statutes to include same-sex couples, or it could create a separate statutory structure, such as a civil union. [ T ] he Court will not speculate that identical schemes offering equal rights and benefits would create a distinction that would offend Article I, Paragraph 1, and will not presume that a difference in name is of constitutional magnitude. ... To bring the State into compliance with Article I, Paragraph 1 so that plaintiffs can exercise their full constitutional rights, the Legislature must either amend the marriage statutes or enact an appropriate statutory structure within 180 days.' — The New Jersey Supreme Court, Oct. 25.
'There are all kinds of fears we accumulate through high school, college, even going back as far as grade school, that are carried into the adult years. That fear can really hold you back. It [ coming out ] has to be when people feel ... they are ready for it. It's hard to live afraid. ... Hopefully, everyone, gay or straight, journalists or doctors or otherwise, can overcome that obstacle, because it stands in the way of you being the best you can be, with your job, with your family, with everything, and not have to be afraid anymore.' — CNN anchor Thomas Roberts, who came out more publicly during a panel at the recent National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention, to AfterElton.com .
'I live in Colorado Springs, home of God. There are more Christian ministries in this town than you can shake a Harry Potter book at. Apparently, this makes us some sort of Christian Mecca. I'm not buying it. The ugly truth is that we are a town divided by hate. It's the granola-eating, pacifist, pro-homosexual tree-huggers versus the holier-than-thou, flag-waving, pro-life Bible-thumpers, and we have been divided for a decade. We don't have time to stand in the park and yell at each other, so we wage war with our bumper stickers. 'FOCUS ON YOUR OWN DAMN FAMILY' is a popular bumper sticker that reveals more about our community than about any organization.' — Self-described 'Christian conservative' columnist Kevin Feldotto in The Colorado Springs Independent Newsweekly.
