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Quote UnQuote

Compiled by Rex Wockner

Published Thursday, 11-Oct-2007 in issue 1033

“I am astounded by those who believe hostility toward homosexuals and the denial of civil rights to them is not a civil rights issue. ... Gay and lesbian rights are not ‘special rights’ in any way. It isn’t ‘special’ to be free from discrimination – it is an ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship. The right not to be discriminated against is a common-place claim we can expect to enjoy under our laws and our founding document, the Constitution. That many had to struggle to gain these rights makes them precious – it does not make them special, and it does not reserve them only for me or restrict them from others.”

Julian Bond, board chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in a Sept. 18 letter to the organization’s chapter in Fort Lauderdale, which has an anti-gay mayor.

“I’m on my mom’s side with this, not my dad’s. It’s the word ‘marriage’ that he is hung up on. It’s not about gay rights. He very much does not understand – he has trouble, I guess, with the term ‘gay marriage.’ I don’t. I’m not going to try to defend him on that because I don’t agree with it, but that’s where he stands. But I don’t want it to be understood as not standing for gay rights because that’s certainly not true.”

Cate Edwards, daughter of presidential candidate John Edwards, campaigning in Des Moines, Iowa, Sept. 30, according to CNN.

“I was wondering if anyone noticed the subtle irony [of my receiving my Oscar from John Travolta and Queen Latifah]. And you know who I saw backstage after I won? Jodie Foster. I was like, ‘What is the universe telling me?’ And you know they’re all looking like, ‘Congratulations, loudmouth!’”

Out singer Melissa Etheridge to syndicated gay press writer Lawrence Ferber, in early September.

“[Republican San Diego Mayor Jerry] Sanders seems to follow a wondrous, though not often noticed, law of humanistic expansion. It goes something like this: When you find your heart, when you look to your own family and your own life and your own soul for the answers and go beyond the limitations of your political handbook and disregard the bitter decrees force-fed to you by some dogmatic religion or belief system, well, chances are just incredibly good you will emerge a tiny bit more progressive or liberal or open-minded than before. Is that not fascinating?”

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford Sept. 26 after Sanders abruptly changed his position on same-sex marriage, announced that his daughter is a lesbian, and added San Diego to a legal brief that urges the California Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage.

“Yeah, he [my 4-year-old son] definitely has a good chance there [at being gay]. He likes singing and musical theater already. It’s all good, but I know it can be hard to be gay or different, and you always want your child to have everything perfectly easy, so I like to make sure he’s playing with a truck every now and then.”

Actor Matthew Broderick to The Advocate, Oct. 9.

“Wow. What is my workout routine – I’ve never been asked that question! Um, I don’t know, I’ve just been ... working with a trainer and uh, I don’t know, lifting a little weight, and running a little. I don’t know. Uh, you know, I just turned 40, so yes, I’m trying to be a little bit healthier now and trying to eat a little bit more sensibly. And also, with traveling so much, you know, it’s tough when you’re in Iraq to do anything, so I try to work out when I’m here. This is really. ... I sound ridiculous. I didn’t know that New York Magazine would notice my biceps. My trainer will be thrilled.”

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper to New York Magazine at an Elton John AIDS Foundation benefit Sept. 25 in New York City.