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Quote UnQuote

Compiled by Rex Wockner

Published Thursday, 25-Jan-2007 in issue 996

“I’m 53 years old. I grew up in a small town in the rural South. I was raised in the Southern Baptist church. And so I have a belief system that arises from that. It’s part of who I am. I can’t make it disappear. … Do I believe they [same-sex couples] should have the right to marry? I’m just not there yet – me, I’m not there yet.”

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards to ABC News, Dec. 31.

“Senator John Edwards … described same-sex marriage as ‘the single hardest social issue’ for him and said he had had a lot of ‘personal struggles’ over the issue. Oh, John, John, we feel your pain! How hard it must be for you to grant others the same right you have to marry the person you love. Edwards said he favored civil rights for gays but that it was a ‘jump for me to get to gay marriage – I am not there yet.’ … Apparently a civil marriage is not a civil right. And he has the effrontery to teasingly imply that he might change his position (‘I’m not there yet’) but suggests no sorts of reasons or criteria he would use in reevaluating his position. Apparently it is all just a mucky ooze of subjective feelings.”

Syndicated gay-press columnist Paul Varnell, Jan. 3.

“I’ve marched on Washington three times: twice for reproductive freedom and once for gay and lesbian rights, and it was very empowering for me. The political side of this has been important to me for a very long time.”

Actress Cybill Shepherd, now starring on The L Word, to Los Angeles’ Lesbian News, January issue.

“I guess I come from a more eclectic background [than my husband] and so it’s [same-sex marriage] less problematic, I think, probably for me. But I think both sides of this argument understand the desire for equality and equal treatment. I don’t think there is anybody who is for or against it who doesn’t understand it and I don’t think there’s anybody who is for or against it who doesn’t understand the trouble people have. … [I]t just seems something that they’ve not been around. Of course, they haven’t because we haven’t had it in this country.”

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, to ABC News, Dec. 31.

“First of all, my brother is gay. So I grew up with a gay brother and nothing surprised me about the issues in the script. I know how it feels to be thought of as ‘different’ as a deaf person, and I also know my brother’s experience. No one should tell us who we should be with or shouldn’t be with. It’s as simple as that. There should be no judgment, no attitude toward the community because we all live the same life. The only difference is who we choose to be with.”

Actress Marlee Matlin, now starring on “The L Word,” to Los Angeles’ Lesbian News, January issue.

Assistance: Bill Kelley