“I have a partner, a wife, which is a strange word for me to use. I never really used it until I got sued. And you want to know why? If you are a heterosexual talk-show host and you’re sued by a major corporation, anything you have said to your husband is privileged information. But if you are a homosexual talk-show host and you’re sued by a corporation, anything you have ever said and/or written to your spouse, partner or wife is allowed to be entered into the record. It is totally unfair. And never in my wildest dreams — if you said to me, ‘You’re going to become an advocate for gay marriage,’ I’d say you’re on crack.”

“You started it! While I was on the show I would take frequent barbs or attacks or accusations or challenges, whatever way you want to perceive them, from some members of the gay community — yourself included — who felt as though I wasn’t quite gay enough. And so, we exchanged e-mail, I met you ... and here we are.... You know what? You’ve been a very interesting guy to get to know and I want to thank you very much. Because, truthfully, you’re very intelligent, and I’ve read all your books and I think you’re a good guy. Just remember this: A lot of gay boys don’t play on sports teams, so they don’t know that when somebody’s sitting on the bench, in uniform, they’re still on your team, even though they’re not scoring the points. So don’t hurt them.”

“To abandon completely one party because they are not perfect on these issues right now would basically delay equality for decades. If you can show me a model for realizing full equality for gay and lesbian Americans ... without Republican support, I’m interested in seeing it. If you work within an institution, you change it.”