'No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I think the Supreme Court made a decision there. It was apparently unconstitutional to stop anyone from getting married. It's like 1948, the interracial marriage, when the Supreme Court of California has, you know, decided it was unconstitutional and then later on the Supreme Court of the United States followed, I think 10 or 12 years later. So I think it is, it's good that California lead —is leading in this way. I personally believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But at the same time I think that my, you know, belief, I don't want to force on anyone else, so I think we should stay with the decision of the Supreme Court and move forward. There are so many other more important issues that we have to address in California. So I think to spend any time on this initiative I think is a waste of time.' — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on TV's Meet The Press on June 29 when asked if he supports the Nov. 4 ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage.
' ( John McCain ) indicated that he would take seriously their requests that he choose an anti-abortion running mate and would talk more openly about his opposition to gay marriage—a pledge he carried out later in the day by endorsing a ballot measure in California to ban gay marriage.' — The Los Angeles Times, reporting on a June 26 meeting in Ohio between Republican presidential candidate John McCain and 'several influential social conservatives who have been critical of him.'
'I will transfer. I am not going to compromise my beliefs or standards for anyone, not even the Supreme Court of California. ... I do respect the rights of other citizens who are now asserting same-sex marriages but I also need to assert my right to religious freedom. ... I also want to clarify that my refusal to perform this ceremonies is based only on my personal morals and beliefs, and it doesn't come from intolerance.' — Excerpts from e-mails sent by San Diego county clerk employees deputized to perform marriages, when County Clerk Greg Smith gave them the chance to opt out of performing same-sex marriages. The heavily redacted e-mails were published July 9 by The San Diego Union-Tribune, which used the California Public Records Act to obtain them. Twenty-four of the clerk's 112 deputized employees raised objections, but 18 later backed down after learning they would be transferred elsewhere within the county government bureaucracy.
'I thought innocent until proven guilty also applied in U.S. law. It seems sad when, as everybody who has had a drug problem knows, it takes supreme effort to get where I am today. I was really looking forward to doing my first live tour for a decade, and to be told that after all this hard work, I am not welcome in the U.S. for even six short weeks is heartbreaking.' — Boy George to Newsweek on July 7, after being denied a visa to enter the United States because he faces trial in the United Kingdom for allegedly chaining an unwilling male escort to the wall of his apartment.
'I had a backlash from gay fans for a tiny period. Because they didn't understand where I was coming from. Now they recognise that my beliefs are my beliefs and that I have no opinions separate from the Bible. There are areas that we agree to disagree on. It's as simple as that. I don't have a problem with them having their beliefs, because my feeling is that God gives each and every one of us the right to not even believe in him. So who am I to try to take that away from somebody? I will always try to share my faith with any person who is willing to listen. When I feel a wall go up, we can talk about something else ... and I will pray for you.' — '70s disco diva Gloria Gaynor to London's The Guardian, May 20.
'You can be the most intelligent, well-read human being but when it comes to matters of the heart—or the loins—we all become idiots.' — Boy George to Britain's The Observer, July 6.
'I always worried what being out would do to my career. But the truth is I really didn't have a career until I was out—because I think it was the first authentic thing I had to offer.' — Actor Alec Mapa Pictured —who plays Gabrielle's gay best friend Vern on Desperate Housewives, and plays Suzuki St. Pierre, the host of Fashion Buzz, on Ugly Betty— to San Diego's Gay & Lesbian Times, June 26.
'The anti-gays need to be kept in secure areas [ at the pride parade ] . By allowing them to walk free this year, they provoked some gays and that resulted in arrests by the police. Tell me this: Would a white man carrying a noose be allowed to march along the sidelines of the [ black ] Bud Billiken Parade? For their own protection and out of respect for the parade, the anti-gays with huge and hateful signs should have their area to protest, surrounded by police. This really could have escalated in violence and death.' — Windy City Times Publisher Tracy Baim in a July 9 opinion column.
'Mark and I are going to get married in California very soon. Then we're going to be recognized in New York as legally married. ... Like in Massachusetts, Californians will realize that gay people getting married is not a problem for anyone, and then the rest of the country is going to fall in line.' — Angels in America author Tony Kushner as quoted by New York magazine, June 22.
''I've Got So Much to Give'—a Barry White song works well in every room of the house.' — Donna Summer when asked by Out magazine in its August issue, 'What's the perfect song to have sex to?'
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
