Pictured Writer Deb Price. Photo by Tracy Baim
'... Reverend Pat Robertson described gays and lesbians as 'self-absorbed hedonists ... that want to impose their particular sexuality on the rest of America.' Later in the same edition [ Nov. 30 ] of the Christian Broadcasting Network's ( CBN ) The 700 Club, Robertson, host and Christian Coalition of America founder, remarked that it's 'just absurd' that the current U.S. Supreme Court 'ruled that homosexuality is a constitutionally protected right.' [ Lawrence v. Texas. ] ' — Posting on mediamatters.org .
'It is male-female, not male and male, not female and female. It is male and female. There is no way that two women can reproduce. There's no way that two men can reproduce. The whole concept of marriage is to bring forth a godly seed, to bring forth children who will grow up to serve the Lord. That's what marriage is about and it is about nothing else. It has nothing to do with these hedonists, self-absorbed hedonists, if you will, that want to impose their particular sexuality on the rest of America. They don't need marriage because marriage was the protection of men and women, male and female, for the bringing forth of children. That's what it's about, nothing else, bottom line. And if America goes the other way we will be flying directly in the face of the clear word of the Bible.' — Robertson.
'Barbra Streisand is not the only 'Babs' to have commanded the attention of gay men. Barbara Bush the Younger, twenty-two-year-old daughter of George W. Bush ... is fast developing a reputation as a 'fag hag' extraordinaire.' — The lead on a Nov. 4 article in the New Haven ( Conn. ) Advocate. See http://newhavenadvocate.com/gbase/Lifestyle/content.html?oid=oid:88245.
'My coming-out as a person was completely nurtured by gay friends. They helped shape my sensibility, and they have remained a center of my life. Their intelligence, humor and wit have always buoyed me. And besides, it's hard for straight guys to be friends when you're not sleeping with them.' — Susan Sarandon to Out magazine, December issue.
' [ A ] reas of the country where divorce rates are highest are also frequently the areas where many conservative Christians live. Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas, for example, voted overwhelmingly for constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage. But they had three of the highest divorce rates in 2003. ... The lowest divorce rates are largely in the blue states: the Northeast and the upper Midwest. And the state with the lowest divorce rate was Massachusetts, home to John Kerry, the Kennedys and same-sex marriage.' — Columnist Pam Belluck, The New York Times, Nov. 14.
'I've always been a staunch opponent of outing, and my feelings are now really in transition, and that surprises me. ... I am less horrified than I was 12 years ago. What's changed is the marriage issue, which is seen by many people as the apex of our movement's efforts. If ever we needed to pull out all the strategies and tactics and make good use of them, this is the time.' — Veteran gay activist and author Eric Rofes to the San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 14.
'A state coming out against gay marriage is a bold, audacious statement. It is a gritty, ugly slap in the face to all homosexuals ( like my brother ) , their families and their friends.' — Columnist Gary Wockner [ brother of Rex Wockner ] , writing in the Denver Post, Nov. 14.
'Democratic politicians accept gay money, recruit gay volunteers and seek gay votes, but too often treat those of us who are gay as the mad aunt they've hidden in the attic. They act as though being associated with us is shameful. And they cringe in embarrassment when Republicans shine a light on the situation: 'Hey, you're harboring gay people in your attic.' When the topic of gay rights comes up, many Democratic politicians squirm and say they'd rather talk about 'important issues.'' — Lesbian columnist Deb Price, The Detroit News, Nov. 15.
'Let people live with who they want. My grandmother's wonderful sister lived in Canada. She lived with a horse. I think it's great. Let people live with whom they want and how they want.' — Sweden's new minister for equality, Jens Orback, attempting to sound supportive of gay couples in a mid-November radio interview. A spokesman for the national gay-rights group, RFSL, said Orback should resign for comparing 'relations to domestic animals with relations between people.'
'The American government didn't do anything [ about AIDS in the 1980s ] . If it's gay people, let them fucking die. ... Why wasn't I out marching? What kind of person was I then? ... It just fills me with despair. I'm ashamed I did nothing during that period.' — Elton John to London's Time Out.
'My belief is it's not necessary.' — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on moves to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, Nov. 15.
'I have a brother and a sister who are gay. And they always were, they didn't switch or change or anything. They always were like that. They were born like that. I'm just for human rights, and that's part of it. It's nobody's damn business what people do. If people would just keep their damn noses out of everybody else's business, that would be a good place to start. Just treat everybody the same and shut up. ... Do I sound bitter?' — Roseanne to the Palm Springs gay publication The Bottom Line, Nov. 12.
' [ G ] ay people are my favorites. ... Gay people just know people that are talented. They just know. I'm their queen! This goes way back to the old days. A lot of young people don't know this. In my hometown of San Francisco, there used to be this very tall man called The Empress, and every Halloween he would dress up as me as Dolly. ... My son used to say, 'Do you know what it's like to see your mother seven feet tall when I go out on Halloween, in that red dress and the fan on top of your head?!'' — Singer/actress Carol Channing to the Palm Springs gay publication The Bottom Line, Nov. 12.
