"We're spontaneous events. We just appear in the middle of families. And we'll keep appearing. Even if the plague killed every homosexual on the planet, it wouldn't be extinction, because there's queer babies being born every minute. It's like magic ... you know, that's exactly what it is. It's magic." -- Clive Barker, in his 1996 novel Sacrament as quoted in The New York Times Magazine Oct. 13. The article was about his switching from writing books and directing horror movies, to painting. And his paintings have attracted Disney, which is interested in his work for children's books and movies.
"Our lives are becoming ruled by a truly absurd degree of politically correct interference. ... If we [ fox hunters ] , as a group, were black or gay, we would not be victimised or picked upon." -- Britain's Prince Charles in a leaked letter he sent to a government minister and a leaked transcript of a meeting he had with Prime Minister Tony Blair, as quoted by the International Herald Tribune and The Australian, Sept. 26.
"The [ Boston ] Globe's policy differs somewhat from the [ The New York ] Times's in that same-sex unions will appear under a separate heading rather than be mixed in with traditional wedding announcements. [ Editor Martin ] Baron said that decision reflects the fact that 'the law in the state continues to make a distinction between wedding/marriage and same-sex commitment ceremonies. This recognizes a distinction as defined by law and as defined by most religions as well.'" -- The Boston Globe Sept. 29 announcing that it "will begin publishing announcements of same-sex commitment ceremonies and civil unions."
"And that's the reason Michael Jackson's last album didn't make it either. Michael just needs to get out more. He should take a few bus rides. How can he say Sony's racist? You ain't even black, honey--you is white! He's whiter than Eminem! And more straight!" --Boy George commenting on why Jackson's last album was a flop to The Advocate Oct. 1, 2002.
"Clearly d4T and the protease inhibitors seem to be the bad drugs [ in HIV-treatment-induced facial wasting ] . Which one causes more, whether it happens mainly with one or the other or is worst with both, we are not sure. My response has been to avoid both, until researchers figure out what is going on. We start almost nobody on protease inhibitors--unless they come in with a virus with the K-103 mutation, due to transmitted resistance to non-nucleoside drugs. Otherwise I don't touch the protease inhibitors, and I stay away from d4T. Why take that risk for patients when we have other choices?" -- Leading New York City AIDS doctor Howard Grossman to AIDS Treatment News, Sept. 6.
"The HOT ( HIV Oral Transmission ) study, out of San Francisco, is following over 200 men who have sex with men and are believed to have no risk except receptive oral sex [ sucking ] . So far they have found no recent HIV cases. Clearly there have been reported cases. But this is a large study and seems to show that though it does happen, the rate is low. Over the years, Europeans and Australians have focused their prevention messages totally on unprotected anal intercourse, and their HIV incidence rates have dropped tremendously. We gave the mixed messages that we don't know about oral sex, we are not sure, and we've totally confused everyone. As a result, our incidence is high. I think people get frustrated and say, 'Nothing is going to protect me, I might as well just do what I'm going to do.' Focusing on unprotected anal intercourse is where I think we should be." -- Grossman.
"I don't know how many people know about my personal life. I mean it's not something that I've hidden but I don't think about it. ... From the time I started performing I was never hidden about who I am. Even though I didn't talk about it, God knows I played in many gay bars when I started in L.A. and that's where I really developed a lot of my ability. It was probably in the gay bars that I could do the repertoire I wanted to do. Standards and show tunes, those were the places people wanted to hear them." -- Singer Michael Feinstein to Palm Springs' The Bottom Line, Aug. 23.
"I never do anything mean-spirited. I'm not out to hurt Elizabeth Taylor-- that kind of stuff. At the time I was doing the Elizabeth Taylor jokes, she was probably the heaviest woman alive outside of a freak show. And, I think I helped her to get thinner." -- Joan Rivers to Palm Spring's The Bottom Line, Aug. 9.
"The Fall 2002 [ television ] season includes only seven lesbian and gay characters in primetime--all of whom are white. There are no bisexual or transgender characters. Last year, 20 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters regularly appeared on network television." -- Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation press release, Sept. 16.
"It's interesting to me how people think that if you're gay, you're left-wing, and it's like, No, each one of us is different. ... I'm still against abortion. ... Do you think I'm not for the death penalty?" -- Ann Donahue, writer and executive producer of TV's CSI: Crime Scene Investigations, to The Advocate, Oct. 1 issue.
"I used to like her but I don't anymore because she goes around shooting pheasants. She's trying to be all English. I've seen pictures of [ her and her husband ] going out and shooting innocent birds. What did they ever do to her? She's got enough feathers." -- Boy George on Madonna to The Advocate, Oct. 1 issue.
