'There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it's now OK to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly ... until it's simply the way things are.' — Openly lesbian U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. ( pictured ) , to syndicated newspaper columnist Deb Price, March 31.
'Hiding homosexuality is a long-tested shame in Hollywood and no doubt continues even in these days of gay marriage and gay civil partnerships. I agree that audiences are much less perturbed than producers allow, by a performer's sexuality. How else to explain the continuing popularity of George Michael, Elton John, Rupert Everett, Ellen DeGeneres and, excuse me, also the gay actor who played Gandalf?' — Openly gay actor Sir Ian McKellen writing on his blog, March 26.
'I used language that trivialized the seriousness of the issue and did not communicate respect for the essential dignity of every human being as a person created in the image of God. I apologize for speaking in a way that did not reflect the standards which the Family Research Council and I embrace.' — Peter Sprigg, vice president for policy at the Family Research Council, in a March 27 statement. On March 19, while speaking against a pending bill that grants immigration rights to gay Americans' foreign partners, Sprigg had told Medill News Service, 'I would much prefer to export homosexuals from the United States than to import them into the United States because we believe that homosexuality is destructive to society.'
'Why should we try to maintain something that is actually impossible to maintain, which also causes little bother for others and, for a certain group, actually signifies much pleasure?' — Alderman Paul van Grieken of Amsterdam's Oud-Zuid district discussing new regulations that will legalize having sex in cruisy Vondel Park if it is done after dark and out of view and if the parties don't leave used condoms lying around, to De Telegraaf, March 7.
'You'll hear Clinton people try to say, 'Oh, we made such advances [ under President Clinton ] .' We made no advances. We got left with 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and the Defense of Marriage Act. So, were there reasons for that? Yes. However, there's cleanup to do now and we have to move forward and get laws in place.' — Former Human Rights Campaign President Elizabeth Birch to the Boston gay newspaper Bay Windows, Jan. 10.
'Let's be clear that the profoundly humanistic position of this government is to respect the intrinsic dignity of everyone, of every human being, independently of their creed, race, sexual preference. ... We will give certain guarantees to stable gay couples but matrimony will continue being reserved for a man, a woman and the family. ... Every person has dignity, that's to say, one must respect a person independently of their sexual preference. Be careful not to deny employment to someone because of their sexual preference. That is discrimination, that is unconstitutional.' — Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, March 29.
'It was super complicated for me in the '80s. I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious. ... I'd just never felt strongly enough about a particular relationship to say, 'Yeah, he's my boyfriend, that is what it is.' Now I recognize that for public figures to be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere.' — R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe telling Spin magazine that he's gay, March 18.
'It's gotten me excited a couple times. That's how I feel about it!' — Singer Janet Jackson on gay porn, to Instinct magazine, April issue.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
