"I appreciated getting a personal phone call from the president of the United States ( on my election night ) . Now, it is a little embarrassing that I didn't actually answer the phone call. But now I have really cool voice mail. And I'm doing my best not to erase it from my cell phone." Houston's new lesbian mayor, Annise Parker, speaking to supporters in Houston on Jan. 3.
"Even more important than the phone call from the presidentand he offered nice, warm congratulationsis the calls that I have received from GLBT media outlets all around the world. From the Basque Country of Spain, from Melbourne, from Japan, from all over Europe, from several countries in Central America and South Americawanting to share with their viewers, their listeners, my election and what it might mean for them. We are blessed to live in the United States of America. Never forget that we are blessed to be Americans. And even though we often feel that our lot is not fair, that we are frustrated at the pace of change, that there is so much more we want to achieve, and even though sometimes we hang our heads after another referendum battle on marriagewe may lose battles, we will win the war." Houston's new lesbian mayor, Annise Parker, speaking to supporters in Houston on Jan. 3.
"Our ( gay ) leaders are no longer 'the community.' With the advent of the Internet and modern communications, we are all ( the Human Rights Campaign ) . Pam Spaulding is HRC. Mike Signorile is HRC. Dan Savage is HRC. Joe Jervis is HRC. Jeremy Hooper is HRC. Andy Towle is HRC. The 'Join the Impact' kids are HRC. And even Rachel Maddow is HRC. Our national organizations no longer have a monopoly on message or activism. And while the Obama administration and the DNC continue to control many of our leaders, our people become more angered by the day. ... We have shown with this blog, and our new generation of gay leaders across the country have proven with their successful activism, that those who would stand in the way of our human rights cannot keep us silent by simply buying off our leaders. That they cannot forestall bad press, and the increasing ire of a core Democratic constituency, by simply keeping our traditional groups, and our representatives in Congress, at bay." AMERICAblog's John Aravosis, Jan. 9.
"This means there's one less barrier for people. When I grew up, there were only a handful of Latino state elected officials and there weren't any openly gay ones. So I never thought I would be in office." Incoming California Assembly Speaker John PĂ©rez to the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 21.
"Holiday Airline Madness! Flight to NY cancelled, mad dash to find seats in full planes. Feel like I'm on the Amazing Race. In the bad way." Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris ( Doogie Howser ) in a Dec. 20 tweet.
"Happy Harlem Holidays!! Finally arrived ( layover in Vegaswon $9.50 in slots! ) , got us a tree, about to trim. Yeah, that kinda trim." Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris ( Doogie Howser ) in a Dec. 21 tweet.
" ( When I was closeted ) I used to go to the cliffs overlooking the beach near our cottage in St. Brides Major and just think about jumping off and ending it all." UK rugby legend Gareth Thomas in a Dec. 18 coming-out interview with the Daily Mail. Thomas plays for the Cardiff Blues.
"When you give it ( drugs ) up, you tend to think that because you have, everybody else has given up, ( but ) of course it's just as prevalent as it ever was. And nowadays, you know, pills are just even more damagingdowners, I mean. I've been helping Eminem in the last 18 months and he is doing brilliantly. I'm there if people want my help. If people ask you for help you tell them where to go, but there is no point inviting someone if they don't want to do it." Elton John to BBC Radio 5 Live, Jan. 2.
Assistance: Bill Kelley