'John Kerry and John Edwards make up the most gay-supportive national ticket in American history. But, in order for them to win the enthusiastic support of the gay community, a critical part of their base, they will have to take a strong and bold stand on supporting our civil rights. We call upon Sen. Edwards to use his strong southern and populist roots and speak out against the ugly, divisive and anti-gay campaigns being waged all across the country in the guise of 'protecting' marriage. We need him to call these tactics what they are—partisan, debasing, and profoundly un-American.' — National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman, July 6.
'For sure, we're going to organize in Boston [at the Democratic National Convention]. This will be a coalition of activists, a lot of us coming from Democratic politics, who are really upset with Kerry, and really upset that organizations in the gay community like the Human Rights Campaign are not demanding anything of him.' — Longtime gay activist Robin Tyler, executive director of DontAmend.com, to the Boston Globe, June 27. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry supports amending the constitution of his home state of Massachusetts to ban same-sex marriage but opposes a similar amendment on the federal level.
'We're in a very unique moment in time where public opinion is shifting faster than the elected officials who normally help drive public opinion. I think they will catch up, though. Elected officials who cast votes for the [anti-gay] Federal Marriage Amendment are going to find themselves on the wrong side of history very quickly. They're going to be regretting that vote and distancing themselves from it for the rest of their careers.' — Human Rights Campaign President Cheryl Jacques to D.C.'s Metro Weekly, July 1.
'I think the Republican Party is a big tent. If I'd been down there [in Washington] I would have been testifying on the opposite side of the issue, but you can have Republicans testifying on opposite sides.' — Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld to the Associated Press after he delivered the homily at a same-sex wedding in Boston June 22, the same day that Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney went to Washington to testify in favor of amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. (The marriage was between Weld's former revenue commissioner, Mitchell Adams, and Weld's former chief of staff, Kevin Smith. Also in attendance were Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, former acting Gov. Jane Swift, Senate President Robert Travaglini, state Auditor Joseph DeNucci and former Attorney General Francis Bellotti.)
'I read that, too [that Bette Midler refused to say she supports same-sex marriage], and I found it pretty appalling because Bette is, you know, a very good person, and I was shocked, actually, at her waffling on that particular question the way I'd be shocked at anyone, gay or straight, imagining that it's an issue with a pro and con. You know, it's like an easy one. ... I'll give her a smack! I have the feeling that she'll now make amends because she certainly needs to. ... There is such an overwhelming relationship between Bette and the gay community. ... That does come with a certain responsibility that she did seem to be shirking. I'm as stunned as anyone by that.' — Stepford Wives screenwriter Paul Rudnick to the Portland, Ore., gay newspaper Just Out, June 18.
'Oh, it was necessary [to have a gay couple in Stepford]. Especially with this increasing urge towards gay assimilation, and the sense that we deserve equality, marriage, children—and plus we are rampant consumers. ... And, now I think a lot of gay people who came from the suburbs want to go back, but with far more square footage —and in a gated community. So, yes, a gay couple felt right at home in Stepford.' — Stepford Wives screenwriter Paul Rudnick to the Palm Springs gay publication the Bottom Line, June 11.
'Well, I have kissed a few men. And it sure isn't fun when they are not clean shaven.' — Actor Kevin Kline to the San Diego gay magazine Buzz, June 24.
'He's fine [my boyfriend Hugh]. He is in this [new] book more than the last one. I just exploited my family to death so now I'm moving onto his family.' — Author David Sedaris to the San Diego gay magazine Buzz, June 24.
'HIV is still the biggest threat to gay men in America. That's why our government is content to do so little about it. Pres. George W. Bush's big plan for AIDS involves Africa, not Eighth Avenue, remember. In fact, the loudest noise Congress has made about AIDS in the past four years has involved de-funding prevention programs that do not hew to biblical ideas about sex and marriage. Thanks to the good Christians running your government, public school students are getting less safe-sex education than they were ten years ago. It's as if Reagan got that third term after all.' — Columnist Andrew Miller writing in New York's Gay City News, June 24.
'In 10 states, hundreds of AIDS patients are waiting for access to life-extending treatments. In other words, there's long lines [for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program]. Some of these people have been waiting for months. That seems like a problem that we can deal with. ... So we're going to provide $20 million, effective today, to extend lifesaving drugs —the purpose of which is to deliver lifesaving drugs to the men and women who are waiting. In other words, there shouldn't be lines here. And we're going to deal with the lines.' — President George W. Bush, June 23.
'I think it's really important for us to focus on prevention. We can learn from the experiences of other countries when it comes to a good program to prevent the spread of AIDS, like the nation of Uganda. They've started what they call the A-B-C approach to prevention of this deadly disease. That stands for: Abstain, Be faithful in marriage, and, when appropriate, use Condoms. That's what A-B-C stands for. And it's working. I like to call it a practical, balanced and moral message. I say it's working because Uganda has cut its AIDS infection rate to 5 percent over 10 years. Prevention works.' — President George W. Bush, June 23.
'While military leaders are extending tours for troops already exhausted after months in Iraq and calling up more units for active duty, a new study finds that 770 otherwise qualified soldiers were drummed out of the services last year because of their sexual orientation. ... The damage this policy is now doing to stretched-thin units and to gay men and women who want to serve is inexcusable. About 10,000 military personnel have been discharged under 'don't ask, don't tell' since it took effect. [A]mong the 6,273 soldiers the nation fired [between 1998 and 2003] under this policy of legalized discrimination were these highly trained men and women: 88 linguists, including several Arab-language specialists; 49 nuclear, biological and chemical warfare experts; 90 nuclear power engineers; 150 rocket, missile and other artillery specialists; and 340 infantrymen.' — From a Los Angeles Times editorial, June 26.
