Friday, December 30, 2005

Queerest Quotes from 2005


(Link) While the bubbly's chilling for New Year's Eve 2006, let's take a look back at what our friends -- and enemies -- had to say during the year we're leaving behind...
Posted by at

1 comment:

LNewsEditor said...

From Washington Blade

Top Ten Shows on the new gay cable network:

10. ‘Everybody Loves Raymond — Especially Steve’
9. ‘CSI: San Francisco’
8. ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio Apartment in the West Village’
7. ‘Law & Order: Special Antiquing Unit’
6. ‘King of Queens’
5. ‘Desperate Houseboys’
4. ‘Stone Phillips — Unleashed’
3. ‘Malcolm in the Middle’
2. ‘My Wife & Kids — Have No Idea’
1. ‘Press the Meat’”

David Letterman’s Top 10 suggestions for the Q Television Network, one of several gay cable channels launched in 2005 (CBS’ “Late Night,” Jan. 10)

“There’s a certain reality to dealing with the Congress. Yes, I’ll push for it. Yes, I’m still for it. I just want people to understand that there’s a mentality on the Hill that says the way things are fine now — in other words, states are protected from the decisions of one state to the next because of the Defense of Marriage Act.”

President Bush, reacting to conservative critics who wanted him to push harder for a constitutional ban on gay marriage during his second term (NBC, Jan. 17)

“Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode. Congress’ and the [Education] Department’s purpose in funding this programming certainly was not to introduce this kind of subject matter to children, particularly through the powerful and intimate medium of television.”

U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, in a letter to PBS President and CEO Pat Mitchell, expressing her displeasure that the children’s show ‘Postcards from Buster’ planned to show two lesbian parents in an episode that was eventually pre-empted in most parts of the country (AP, Jan. 26)

“I feel sick about it. I can’t believe PBS would back down to this. I understand they get public funding, but they should be the one station we feel confident in, in knowing that what we see there represents our whole country.”

Karen Pike of Hinesburg, Vt., on PBS’s decision not to broadcast the ‘Postcards from Buster’ episode during which she and her lesbian partner, Gillian Pieper, were featured with their three children (AP, Jan. 27)

“I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us.”

Musician-turned-mystery author-turned-2006 Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman, after a reporter asked his position on same-sex marriage (AP, Feb. 3)

“Now I know what President Bush meant when he said he had a mandate.”

Talk show host Bill Maher, on the revelations about conservative journalist (and occasional Blade columnist) Jeff Gannon (a.k.a. James Guckert) who was called on during a White House press briefing before bloggers revealed that he had posted ads on gay escort sites (HBO’s “Real Time,” Feb. 19)

“I absolutely love women and find them incredibly sexy. I have loved women in the past and slept with them. I think if you love and want to pleasure a woman, particularly if you are a woman yourself, then certainly you know how to do things a certain way.”

Actress Angelina Jolie, in an interview with a British magazine (OK! Magazine, March 15)

“Years from now we’ll look back, as gay men, and be pretty despondent that we popularized and glamorized this drug. I’m not anti-partying or anti-sex. But how can we fight for our rights as a sexual minority if we don’t establish what’s right and wrong in our community, and look out for each other?”

Dan Carlson, an ex-meth addict who co-founded the HIV Forum to combat growing crystal meth use among gay men (AP, March 28)

“Please do not accept ‘separate but equal’ as a payoff. Don’t let anyone brand you a second class citizen.”

Actor and activist Harvey Fierstein, who lives in Connecticut, in a letter before the state legislature passed a law creating civil unions in that state (AP, March 24)

“[Dennis Rader] still hasn’t done anything really terrible, like support gay marriage.”

Comedy writer Jake Novak, poking fun at news reports that Rader had not been kicked out of his Kansas church congregation, despite Rader’s confession that he was the BTK (Bind-Torture-Kill) serial killer (AP, April 1)

“I know a ton of gay men that would be more than willing to stay in the Army if they could just be open. But if we have to stay here and hide our lives all the time, it’s just not worth it.”

Sgt. Robert Stout, an Ohio native who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq. Stout wanted to return to duty as an openly gay man (AP, April 15)

“Whether it is gay marriage, homosexual adoption, hate crimes laws including gays or the attempt to introduce a homosexual normalizing curriculum into our schools, all of these efforts should be ruthlessly opposed. The existence of our culture depends on it … The attack [on the Atlanta lesbian bar the Otherside Lounge in 1997] was meant to send a powerful message in protest of Washington’s continued tolerance and support for the homosexual political agenda … I make no apologies.”

Eric Rudolph, in a statement he wrote when pleading guilty to several bombings, including at the Otherside Lounge, the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta and abortion clinics in Alabama and Georgia (Washington Blade, April 15)

“At the end of the day, I am sure that all the people who are affected by your actions will walk away stronger. Eric, I am going to pray for you … God bless you.”

Beverly McMahon and Dana Ford, former owners of the Otherside Lounge, in a joint statement they read at Rudolph’s sentencing hearing, where he received four life terms (Washington Blade, Aug. 26)

“We seem to have run through a spate of courthouse violence recently that’s been on the news, and I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception [that] … judges are making political decisions, yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in — engage in violence.”

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), on the Senate floor, attempting to link so-called ‘judicial activism’ with an accused rapist killing three people in an Atlanta courtroom, and a mentally unstable man killing the elderly mother and husband of a federal judge in Chicago; Cornyn retracted the remarks a day later (National Stonewall Democrats, April 6)

“I felt kicked in the stomach. And then I probably felt kicked out the door. Because certainly the room for people like me to present themselves as Catholic theologians … will shrink even further.”

Emory religion professor Mark Jordan, a gay Catholic, reacting to the election of Pope Benedict XVI (Washington Blade, April 22)

“I told them I was going to give them something to be afraid of Christians about.”

Rev. Ken Hutcherson, a Washington pastor who took credit for Microsoft’s decision to withdraw its support for a gay-inclusive non-discrimination bill in the state legislature (New York Times, April 22)

“After looking at the question from all sides, I’ve concluded that diversity in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be included in our legislative agenda. It’s appropriate for the company to support legislation that will promote and protect diversity in the workplace.”

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, in a May 6 e-mail to employees informing them that the company was reinstating its support for the Washington anti-discrimination bill in 2006

“I think gay men write women differently and appreciate them, and maybe it took them getting in a creative position of power for us to be seen that way.”

“Desperate Housewives” and “Transamerica” star Felicity Huffman, on the success of shows like “Housewives” and “Sex & the City” which were both created by gay men (Salon, April 25)

“I’m a blue-state guy in a red-state sport. But that won’t stop me from being proud of who I am.”

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Joe Valentine, who acknowledged he was raised by two lesbian mothers (Newsday, April 10)

“Remember, I’m very closeted. No one knows I like guys. Except the few guys I’ve been with and highly trusted. It’s just that the openly gay guys are a little over the top for me. … And the massive political agenda either. I say live and let live. Most gay guys turn me off, too.”

An instant message from JMSElton, later identified as Spokane, Wash., Mayor James West, to a person he that he thought was an 18-year-old male that he was attempting to seduce; West was later recalled from office (Spokane Spokesman-Review, May 5)

“Jim West opposed every piece of gay-rights legislation he could vote on, claiming homosexuals need no protection. Yet by staying ‘in the closet’ Mayor West illustrates the fact that homosexuals face more hardships in their day-to-day lives than straight people.”

Mike Kress, vice chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission, in newspaper a column about West (Spokane Spokesman-Review, May 11)

“I’m opposed to [gay marriage] being in a platform. I think it’s a mistake. I think it’s the wrong thing, and I’m not sure it reflects the broad view of the Democratic Party in our state.”

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), criticizing a decision by his state’s Democratic Party to adopt a platform plank supporting same-sex marriage (Boston Globe, May 6)

“We don’t really want to participate in something that’s illegal.”

Dr. Neil Clark Warren, founder of eHarmony, on why his online dating site does not offer matchmaking for gay singles, arguing the site is marriage-oriented and gay couples can’t marry in most states (USA Today, May 19)

“There are so many other issues we need to move on to and deal with that are taking our time and energy.”

American Family Association President Tim Wildmon, in a letter explaining the end of a nine-year, fruitless boycott of Walt Disney Co., for providing partner benefits and allowing gay-themed events (AP, May 25)

“One population in urgent need of tailored [HIV] prevention messages is African-American gay and bisexual men. … We have an extremely serious health problem here.”

Dr. Ron Valdiserri of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, on data that revealed 46 percent of black gay and bisexual men in a five-city study were HIV positive (Washington Blade, June 17)

“The real challenge is that I don’t think there is evidence today that we, from a society point of view, are really ready to deal with this epidemic if those most at risk are black men who have sex with men … Now part of that is the responsibility of black [gay and bisexual men] themselves — if we don’t care enough about ourselves to be absolutely outraged by this data, then how do we expect anyone else to respond?”

Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute, responding to CDC data (Washington Blade, June 17)

“We are not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces — freedom and equality.”

Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in remarks to parliament just before it approved same-sex marriages (AP, June 30)

“The reason you’re going to make a good fag is because most of these guys are dogs anyway. All of you guys are fags and you have no power except your dicks … and your loose assholes.”

Author Terry McMillan, in a note to her husband Jonathan Plummer, who inspired her novel “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”; the couple divorced after Plummer said he realized he is gay (Dish, July 1)

“We felt very good about Zach coming here because … to let him see for himself the destructive lifestyle, what he has to face in the future, and to give him some options that society doesn’t give him today. Knowing that your son, … statistics say that by the age of 30, he could either have AIDS or be dead.”

Joe Stark, father of teen internet blogger Zach, whose parents enrolled him in an “ex-gay” camp (Christian Broadcasting Network, July 13)

“All of us should be aware that there is a severe crisis in the black community concerning our young girls. The situation is so grave that it should be declared a national emergency. The very survival of the black family is being threatened by this crisis.”

Rev. Willie Wilson, a Washington, D.C. pastor and organizer of the Millions More Movement, in a statement following a fiery sermon during which he said lesbianism among black girls is a grave threat and should be declared a national emergency (July 31)

“Everyday I cry at night. I’m a homosexual and was forced to work as a prostitute because one of the people I had sex with took pictures of me in bed and said that, if I didn’t work for him, he was going to send the pictures to my family.”

Hassan Feiraz, a 16-year-old Iraqi (Reuters, Aug. 8)

“I don’t feel oppressed at all. We have more freedom here than straight couples. After all, they can’t kiss in public like we can, or stroll down the street holding one another’s hands.”

A gay Saudi, quoted by John Bradley in his book “Saudi Arabia Exposed” (New York Times, Aug. 17)

“Everyone in hip hop discriminates against gay people. And I wanna just, to come on TV and tell my rappers, just tell my friends, ‘Yo, stop it.’”

Rapper Kanye West, who said learning he had a gay cousin caused him to examine his own homophobia (MTV’s “All Eyes on Kanye West,” August)

“I was really lucky that my character was uncomfortable with it, and knew it, too. So I could use my own level of discomfort, because it was new and strange for me, and that worked for me.”

Actor Heath Ledger, on his same-sex love scene with Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain” (AP, Sept. 2)

“We used the bar as a shelter and the quality of the gay population, local and tourist, was fantastic. We all pulled together and fed and took care of each other.”

C.W. Stambaugh, owner of Starlight by the Park in the French Quarter in New Orleans, explaining how two dozen patrons converted the popular gay bar into a makeshift shelter when Hurricane Katrina hit (Washington Blade, Sept. 2)

“I asked the volunteer posted at the shower if I could use it. She said ‘sure.’ [After I was arrested], they didn’t tell me anything in jail except that the court system was backed up for six months to a year, and I should expect to be there that long.”

Sharli’e Vicks, a preoperative transsexual who was arrested for using a female shower at a shelter for Katrina evacuees (Washington Blade, Sept. 16)

“I’m not saying God used this storm as a judgment. [But] New Orleans has been known for years as a party town. It is a city that has strong ties to the gay and lesbian movement, and these types of things … God is going to use that storm to bring revival.”

Evangelist Franklin Graham, Rev. Billy Graham’s son, on Hurricane Katrina (AP, Oct. 8)

“I am proud California is a leader in recognizing and respecting domestic partnerships and the equal rights of domestic partners. I believe that lesbian and gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based upon their relationships.”

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), in his message vetoing a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry (Sept. 29)

“Judge Roberts apparently had no moral objection to using his skills to advance the homosexual agenda. It suggests an absence of understanding by Mr. Roberts that homosexual conduct is sinful and ought to be discouraged.”

Howard Phillips, co-founder of the Constitutional Party and former presidential candidate, reacting to news that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts once worked pro bono on a landmark gay rights case, Romer v. Evans (TheConservativeVoice.com, Oct. 10)

“I’m just at a point in my life where I’m tired of having to pretend to be somebody I’m not. I’m tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love.”

Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes, a MVP of the WNBA, announcing she is gay (ESPN The Magazine, November issue)

“That’s why they have menus in restaurants. I like steak, some people like spaghetti. That’s OK.”

Donald Trump, on learning one of the contestants on his reality show is a gay man (NBC’s “The Apprentice,” Nov. 3)

“I have a lot of gay friends, and I’ve seen them screwed up from unloving family situations, which are just completely anti-Christian. If we know anything about God, it’s that God is love. That’s part of the song.”

U2 lead singer Bono, on how social conservatives miss the point to the band’s song “One” (Rolling Stone, Nov. 3)

“Good, I made that record for you fuckers!”

Madonna, after asking the crowd in a London gay nightclub if they liked her latest record “Confessions on a Dancefloor” (Madonnalicious.com, Nov. 20)

“There are many wonderful and excellent priests in the church who have a gay orientation, are chaste and celibate and are very effective ministers of the Gospel. Witch hunts and gay bashing have no place in the church.”

Spokane, Wash., Roman Catholic Bishop William Skylstad, on the Vatican-imposed ban on gay priests (AP, Oct. 26)

“We will get married the day gays and lesbians can get married, when that right is given to them. … The day that law gets passed, we’ll get married.”

Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron, on the decision she reached about she and boyfriend Stuart Townsend will wed (“Extra,” Nov. 22)

12/30/2005 12:08 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)