“I’m sensing relief now. I had not consciously decided to come out, but there’s no doubt looking back that I had become increasingly bold about attending gay events, like pride festivals, and going to dance clubs and bars. Last year I attended Las Vegas Pride and San Diego Pride.”

“I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more optimistic about the future for myself. I don’t know what the future holds, but I think it’s going to be incredible.”

“No one who loves and nurtures a child day-in and day-out should be unable to care for that child when he or she falls ill. ... No one who intends to raise a child should be denied the opportunity to be present when that child is born simply because the state or an employer fails to recognize his or her relationship with the biological parent. ... The Labor Department’s action today sends a clear message to workers and employers alike: All families, including LGBT families, are protected by the FMLA.”

“I know that when you’re in the midst of a great movement of change it seems like it is glacial, but any fair assessment, from my perspective, having lived longer than at least more than 75 percent of you that I see in this room, is that it is extraordinary what has happened in such a short period of time.”