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Quote UnQuote

Compiled by Rex Wockner

Published Thursday, 11-Mar-2010 in issue 1159

“The power of truth and living honestly is very liberating. So, what the hell took me so long? I was waiting, like so many folks are waiting, for change – for attitudes to change, for laws to change – and I realized that the time for waiting (to come out) has passed.”

Former American Idol star Clay Aiken at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in North Carolina, Feb. 27.

“Whenever someone speaks out against gays, the first question they should be asked is, ‘Are you gay?’”

Writer Dan Savage’s friend Scott, quoted by Savage on Savage’s blog, March 5.

“At least two California newspapers and the openly gay mayor of West Sacramento knew anti-gay (California) state Sen. Roy Ashburn was gay and yet they said nothing. On Wednesday, Ashburn was arrested for DUI while leaving a Sacramento gay bar. ... Christopher Cabaldon, the openly gay mayor of West Sacramento, told KOVR he has spotted Senator Ashburn at gay hot spots a number of times. (The) hypocrisy (of Ashburn’s having a horrible anti-gay voting record and his hanging out in gay venues) apparently didn’t bother Mayor Cabaldon enough to actually fucking say something. And you know that if Cabaldon knew, many other queers in Sacramento knew. If I lived in West Sacramento, I’d want to have a long angry talk with my mayor.”

Blogger Joe Jervis (Joe. My. God.), March 5. Actually, Cabaldon did mention it on his Facebook page several months ago, but no one did anything with it.

“I am gay. And, uh, so, I, uh, I, um, those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long. But I am gay. It is something that is personal, and I don’t believe – I felt with my heart that it – you know, being gay – did not affect, wouldn’t affect how I do my job. ... What happened, through my own actions the other night, changed all that.”

California state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, on March 8, five days after he was arrested and charged with drunk driving after leaving a Sacramento gay bar, to KERN radio. Ashburn has a 98 percent anti-gay voting record.

“I have no more tolerance for any religion in any way. They are all obsolete and harmful. We need to start groups where people can just hang out and help each other and no believing is required.”

Roseanne Barr on her blog, March 6.

“(T)he gay grassroots surge in the wake of 2008’s passage of California’s Proposition 8 ... has upset the established order of a state-by-state, hearts-and-minds approach that many experienced gay activists swear by, and see dissolving in a new rush to litigate.”

Newsweek, Feb. 17.

“For the past four years, I have stood with my colleagues each morning of the session, placed my hand over my heart and pledged ‘liberty and justice for all,’ and yet repeatedly witnessed blatant disregard of those so in need of equal protections in the name of ‘family values.’”

Openly lesbian Utah state Rep. Christine Johnson announcing March 4 that she won’t seek re-election.

“In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was. A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question.”

Barbara Walters to the Toronto Star, March 6.