I'm really just a drag queen. —Singer Patti LaBelle ( pictured )
'As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples—whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) . ... While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does.' — Barack Obama in an open letter to the LGBT community, Feb. 28.
'I really haven't [ ever kissed a woman ] . And if I had, I'd have let you know. I'd have told you years ago.' — Oprah Winfrey on her TV show, Feb. 25.
'The pilot had been picked up for Will & Grace, and now it was all about casting. And I was sitting in the Bel Air home of a very famous gay director. And when I told him about the script he said, 'Just make sure you don't make it too butt-fucky.' And I said, 'What does that mean?' And he said, 'You never want the American public to have to think about butt-fucking.' And it could not have been better advice. ... I could have gone full-tilt in the first 13 episodes. But I chose to not do explicit stuff, and edgy, edgy gay stuff. Because I wanted people to stay with it, get comfortable with it.' — Will & Grace co-creator Max Mutchnick to AfterElton.com, March 5.
'I couldn't wear some of my giant chicken outfits to the Oscar party, A, because I wouldn't fit in them anymore, and B, because, you know, I'm 61 years of age next month and I don't dress as flamboyant as I used to. ... I'm nowhere near the fashion victim that I was a long time ago.' — Elton John to CNN's Larry King, Feb. 25.
'We are facing an uphill battle again in countries that you thought you'd crossed, you'd done that, you've covered that territory. Because people think, 'Well, you know, even if I do get HIV, I'm going to be OK.' They don't realize the toxicity of the drugs they have to take. And I just think it's so reprehensible, with the information available to them. But they do it and so we have to help them.' — Elton John to CBS News, Feb. 25.
'I'm really just a drag queen. I'm flamboyant, over the top. I have big hair and the clothes. Maybe that's why I'm so popular with the gay community!' — Singer Patti LaBelle to Instinct magazine, March issue.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley