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Quote UnQuote

Compiled by Rex Wockner

Published Thursday, 20-Aug-2009 in issue 1130

“These cuts could not come at a worse time and are so severe that they even eliminate funding for viral-load testing! Expecting us to provide appropriate medical care to people with HIV and AIDS without the ability to do viral-load testing is like expecting a surgeon to remove a tumor without being allowed to do an X-ray or MRI to determine its location. It’s outrageous!”

Lorri Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, July 29, after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decimated the budget of the state Office of AIDS, terminating, among much else, all state funding for viral-load tests, which tell doctors if HIV drugs are working or not.

“I could have probably been under that label (sex addict) but I was more of a drama addict. Lots of drama (in my 20s). I really, really enjoyed a woman’s touch. I enjoyed being intimately connected to another woman. And I enjoyed it a lot and with a lot of different women. I just really liked it. I would think it was a beautiful, amazing thing that would make me feel good, and then in the morning, I didn’t feel so good. There was a lot of dishonesty that came with it. If I had been really honest, I probably would have felt better about it. There was an emptiness that only I could fill, but I was looking for others to fill it.”

Melissa Etheridge to Los Angeles’ Lesbian News, August issue.

“They (Notre Dame) get up and they do this little cheer, like this. You know, this little faggot dance. ... Don’t write that ‘faggot dance.’ I was misquoted. ... Go ahead, say ‘faggot dance.’ No. Please cover for me on that ... I’ll deny it.”

University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin to reporters July 30 at the Western Athletic Conference media football preview in Salt Lake City.

“I want to officially, officially apologize. Please don’t write that statement I said as far as Notre Dame. The reason is, I don’t care about Notre Dame. But I’m not a – I don’t want to come out and have every homosexual ticked off at me. You know what I mean. Because I don’t have any problem with homosexuals. But I apologize for saying that and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t run that word. If you said dance, that’s OK. But don’t use the bad term that I chose, please. Thank you.”

University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin to reporters July 30 at the Western Athletic Conference media football preview in Salt Lake City.

“I’m committed to do whatever I can to use this as a life lesson and to learn from my mistake. ... I’ve offended the gay and lesbian community and now I’m going to work with the LGBT community on campus to use this as a teachable moment for me and hopefully others.”

Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin a day later in Honolulu. As punishment for saying “faggot,” McMackin was suspended for 30 days without pay, took a voluntary salary reduction, must do work with the LGBT community on campus and must make a public-service announcement about how words hurt, among other things. Part of the money from his salary reduction will pay for a GLBT student intern to conduct campuswide workshops in GLBT-awareness training.