"You're not really allowed to go to the USA if you're HIV-positive. On the immigration forms it always says, 'Do you have any contagious illnesses or diseases?' and I just put 'no' because I think it's not contagious unless you sleep with me, and we have unprotected sex. I've been stopped ( by customs agents ) before and they asked, 'What are these?' and I said, 'My combination therapy,' and they just let me go. ... As long as you're courteous you're going to be fine." — Erasure singer Andy Bell to Passport magazine, June issue.
"One way to get the Obama administration's attention on civil rights is for gay people to stop funding the Democrats. That's all these people care about anyway when it comes to gays: our money. If the Democrats refuse to support us, refuse to support them. ... But we need to get more creative. We need actions to highlight the administration's betrayals, postponements and boilerplate. We need to start confronting the president at his events. We need civil disobedience. We need to tell him we do not want another fricking speech where he tells us he is a fierce advocate for our rights, when that is quite plainly at this point not true. We will not tolerate another Clinton. ... I am a proud, self-respecting gay man with HIV. And I am not going to take this crap for much longer on civil rights. Fight back. Act Up." — Andrew Sullivan declares war, on his blog, June 18.
"I understand why this discussion ( of whether gay journalists are or should be activists ) exists in North America where too many journalists still worship the false god of 'objectivity,' a nonexistent state of mind. I can also see why a gay journalist working in a mainstream paper has to avoid getting the 'activist' label. But I'm saddened that some journalists working at gay papers won't embrace the label. ... If we're doing our jobs, aren't we helping our communities find their place in the sun in a world that still largely hates homos? How do you really help your lesbian and gay readers without getting in the battle beside them? You don't. Of course, you still have to keep your head, be analytical and show perspective. But you can do that while admitting you're an activist journalist." — Gareth Kirkby, editor in chief of The Guide magazine, to the gay press newsletter Press Pass Q, June issue.
"If we had children, I think we'd ( Jane Wagner and I ) probably get married. I have friends who have children. My friends have two boys and the boys want them to get married. It means something to the kids." — Lily Tomlin to Seattle Gay News, April 17.
"In Berlin they take dance music very seriously. We went to a night of impenetrable dance music that was so impenetrable you couldn't dance to it. Everyone was just standing around. I thought, Well, that's really taken it to an extreme, hasn't it? Just a load of intellectuals standing around chatting." — The Pet Shop Boys' Chris Lowe to Out magazine, June/July issue.
"To the 1,321 people whose emails were sitting in my Facebook inbox unanswered, I apologize but I just deleted all of them. Probably not the best way to reach me for something important. Sorry!" — Popular gay blogger Andy Towle ( Towleroad ) on his Facebook page, June 20.
"She is embarking on a difficult journey, but one that I will support. I respect the courage it takes to go through this transition in the glare of public scrutiny. Although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding. The one thing that will never change is my abiding love for my child." — A statement from Cher on June 17 in response to her child Chastity Bono's announcement that Chastity is transitioning to male and now is known as Chaz.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
