'Lynne and I have a gay daughter so it's [same-sex marriage] an issue that our family is very familiar with. ... My general view is that freedom means freedom for everybody. People ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to. ... States have made the basic fundamental decision what constitutes a marriage. I made clear four years ago when this question came up in my debate with Joe Lieberman that my view was that that's appropriately a matter for the states to decide and that's how it ought to best be handled. ... The president has ... felt that he wanted to support a constitutional amendment to define at the federal level what constitutes marriage. ... At this point, my own preference is as I've stated, but the president makes basic policy for this administration and he's made it clear that he does in fact support an amendment on this issue.' — U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney disagreeing with George W. Bush on same-sex marriage, Aug. 24 in Davenport, Iowa.
'Mary has never declared such a thing. I would like to say that I'm appalled at the media interest in one of my daughters. ... I simply am not going to talk about their personal lives. And I'm surprised, Cokie, that even you would want to bring it up on this program.' — Lynne Cheney, wife of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, in an interview with journalist Cokie Roberts during the 2000 Republican National Convention after Cokie said the Cheneys' daughter Mary is an open lesbian—a true statement then and now.
'No one doubts that the vice president's apostasy on this issue is entirely personal. If Mary [Cheney] weren't a lesbian, [Dick] Cheney would at this very minute be somewhere deep in the red states, warning voters in that scowling, brook-no-arguments way of his that gay marriage is exactly the sort of fuzzy-headed liberal nonsense that gives aid and comfort to Al Qaeda. (Lynne would be right there beside him, blaming the whole mess on those perverted, Mapplethorpe-loving bastards over at the National Endowment for the Arts.) But because one of his kids happens to bat for the other team, suddenly Dick's a free-to-be-you-and-me, 'freedom for everyone' kind of guy.' — Michelle Cottle writing in The New Republic Aug. 26 after Cheney acknowledged that his daughter Mary is 'gay' and said he opposes George W. Bush's drive to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
'For the vice president to say things that undermine the institution of marriage and the president's own stated desire to have a federal marriage amendment ... shows that his vision has been clouded, his judgment is awry. He really needs a talking to.' — Bob Knight of the Culture and Family Institute to Agape Press Aug. 25 on Cheney.
'Somebody forgot to tell him what he was supposed to say, I guess.' — U.S. Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards Aug. 26 after U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said he has a 'gay' daughter and opposes a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
'It is my humble hope that my 'coming out' could, in some small way, help those gay Americans who have yet to become open with their sexuality. To be gay, for me, was not a choice, but simply stating a reality. Now at peace with arguably one of the most important truths of my life, it is my prayer that I will now be free to live openly and integrate my sexuality with my daily life. This integration will hopefully help my actions, my thoughts and my heart to be in alignment going forward, keeping me from the pitfalls of a divided self or secret truths.' — New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey writing in the Aug. 22 New York Times.
'It may even be easier today to be closeted than it was in the past. [The Internet] has provided a new forum in which married men can easily order up their fill of gay sex—discreetly, without having to go to a bar or some cruisy rest room—as if they're calling a Chinese place for take-out. They don't have to take risks, and can lead a secret life even more seamlessly.' — Columnist Michelangelo Signorile, New York Press.
'The same day 'I am a gay American' became the hottest catchphrase since 'Shove it!,' the California Supreme Court routinely invalidated 4,000 or so marriages. The hilarious result is that Rosie O'Donnell is now living in sin, but [New Jersey Gov. James] McGreevey's marriage to his beard stands by law!' — Columnist Michael Musto, The Village Voice, Aug. 17.
'The beginning of the Declaration of Independence says, 'All men are created equal.' I take those words literally. There's no 'unless you're gay.' I don't see the purpose in denying people access to a right that most of us take for granted. I don't see it as very American to carve out exceptions to our Constitution for a certain class of people.' — Ron Reagan on same-sex marriage to The Advocate, Aug. 31.
'You'd be amazed at the number of people who want to introduce themselves to you in the men's room. It's the most bizarre part of this entire thing.' — Presidential candidate John Kerry on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, Aug. 24.
'We strongly support President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage. Attempts to redefine marriage in a single city or state could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a constitutional amendment, passed by Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges.' — From the Republican Party platform passed Aug. 30 at the Republican National Convention in New York City.
'We believe that neither federal nor state judges and bureaucrats should force states to recognize other living arrangements as equivalent to marriage. We believe, and the social science confirms, that the well being of children is best accomplished in the environment of the home, nurtured by their mother and father anchored by the bonds of marriage. We further believe that the legal recognition and accompanying benefits should be preserved for the unique and special union of one man and one woman which has historically been called marriage.' — From the Republican Party platform passed Aug. 30 at the Republican National Convention in New York City. The language seemingly rejects civil unions, domestic partnership and all benefits or protections for gay and lesbian families, said the gay Log Cabin Republicans. Elsewhere the platform calls for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
'Our party can't have it both ways. We can't have the folks sitting in this room crafting a vicious mean-spirited [antigay] platform, and then our party trying to put lipstick on the pig by sticking [moderate Republicans] Rudy Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger in prime time [at the convention].' — Log Cabin Republicans spokesman Christopher Barron to CNN.
'For too long we have watched while the radical right hijacked our party. And for too long we have been asked to be loyal foot soldiers on election day, and asked to remain silent as the far right hijacked our platform and our policy agenda. ... This [antigay] party platform is so outrageous and insulting to some of us, that some of us have to call our own party on it. If we don't do it, nobody will. And if we don't do it now, we'll be back in four years at a convention with language that's even worse.' — Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero speaking outside the Republican National Convention Aug. 30 in New York City.
'There are so many prominent Republicans [here today]. The governor [of New York], Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. There's a lot of muscle and a lot of prestige and a lot of prominence behind the gay and lesbian community—and that's the way it ought to be. ... In the long sweep of history, or maybe even the short sweep of history, those who favor gay rights and those who favor equality are on the right side of the issue.' — U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., addressing a gay Log Cabin Republicans event at the Republican National Convention in New York City, Aug. 29.
