"Twenty-two years ago, in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact, the United States instituted a travel ban on entry into the country for people living with HIV/AIDS.Now, we talk about reducing the stigma of this disease—yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat. We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic—yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people from HIV from entering our own country. If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it. And that's why, on Monday my administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year. Congress and President Bush began this process last year, and they ought to be commended for it. We are finishing the job. It's a step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment, it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives." — President Barack Obama, Oct. 30.
"To all the activists, all the organizers, all the people who helped make this day happen, thank you for your years of advocacy and activism, pushing and protesting that made this victory possible. You know, as a nation we've come far on the journey towards a more perfect union. And today, we've taken another step forward. ... No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love. No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are. ... At root, this isn't just about our laws; this is about who we are as a people. This is about whether we value one another—whether we embrace our differences, rather than allowing them to become a source of animus." — President Barack Obama as he signed a GLBT-inclusive hate-crimes law Oct. 28.
"I just hope the community can appreciate the meaning and magnitude for this legislation—first federal LGBT rights law as I understand it—and the start of more good things to come." — Steve Hildebrand, Barack Obama's deputy national campaign director and current unofficial gay-issues adviser, in response to Obama's signing a GLBT hate-crimes law Oct. 28.
"Under the hate crimes rubric, gays are asked to see themselves as sad, passive victims of hate, reaching out to government to protect them more than those just targeted for other reasons ( having money, for example ) . ... Does anyone seriously believe that a hate-crimes federal law will actually prevent gay bashing? How exactly?" — Gay writer Andrew Sullivan in response to President Barack Obama's signing a GLBT hate-crimes law Oct. 28.
"I don't want ( my music ) to be a political or social thing right away. Eventually I would love to mess with that, but it's a tricky, tricky road. There's a part of me that's a businessperson and part of me that's an artist, and the artist wants to push buttons and break boundaries, but the businessperson goes, 'Well, that doesn't really sell albums.' I don't want to alienate a bunch of people who would otherwise be into what I do." — Openly gay American Idol celebrity Adam Lambert to Details magazine, November issue.
"Get your faggot ass out of here." — Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson to reporters in the locker room Oct. 26. He later apologized but was suspended from the team until Nov. 9 anyhow. A day earlier, Johnson had called a fellow Twitter user a "fag" during a tweet argument.
"Admit it—it feels really good to say 'cunt'. There's just something so strong about the word, with its biological directness and monosyllabic oomph. It has a blunt power that makes it perversely fun to toss off, even if you never want to blurt it in any serious setting that could get you yelled at." — Village Voice columnist Michael Musto on his blog, Oct. 28.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
