"Now that explicit anti-gay animus is an albatross, those who oppose gay civil rights are driven to invent ever loopier rationales for denying those rights, whether in the military or in marriage. ( Sen. Orrin ) Hatch, for instance, limply suggested ... that a repeal of 'don't ask' would lead to gay demands for 'special rights.' Such arguments, both preposterous and disingenuous, are mere fig leaves to disguise the phobia that can no longer dare speak its name." — New York Times columnist Frank Rich, Feb. 6.
"Twenty years ago the military were the strong advocates of Don't Ask, Don't Tell when I was secretary of defense. I think things have changed significantly since then. I see that Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has indicated his belief that we ought to support a change in the policy. So, I think my guess is the policy will be changed. I think that society has moved on. I think it's partly a generational question. I'm reluctant to second-guess the military in this regard because they're the ones that have got to make the judgment about how these policies affect the military capability of our units, and that first requirement that you have to look at all the time is whether they're still capable of achieving their mission, and does the policy change—i.e., putting gays in the force—affect their ability to perform their mission. When the ( Joint ) Chiefs come forward and say, 'We think we can do it,' then it strikes me that it's time to reconsider the policy, and I think Adm. Mullen said that." — Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on the ABC-TV show This Week, Feb. 14.
"The fight against intolerance and discrimination, and the consequent efforts to respect human nature, including sexual orientation, have guided our government since its first mandate." — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a message sent to the Latin America and Caribbean regional conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, which was held Jan. 26-31 in Curitiba, Brazil.
"Bloggers this week called for the president to take the lead, but also focused their attention on the Human Rights Campaign, the most powerful gay rights group in the world, which has been accused of championing repeal ( of Don't Ask, Don't Tell ) publicly, while privately assuring the White House that it can continue to go slow. Some feel that HRC would rather fundraise for several years on the illusion of momentum than actually help to achieve repeal. If HRC wants to disabuse the community of that suspicion, it will need to ensure that its prized access to Washington power is used to have a real impact, rather than to enjoy that access for its own sake. One reasonable option would be to publicly tell the president that it will not endorse him for re-election if he does not secure repeal in his first term, a promise that Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he believed the president would keep." — Nathaniel Frank, author of Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America, writing at the Huffington Post, Feb. 17.
"Enough is enough. Infinite patience in the face of discrimination is irresponsible. Our clients suffer every day from unfair taxes and denial of basic legal protections that every family in Hawaii needs." — Lambda Legal's Jennifer Pizer announcing Feb. 1 that the group is suing Hawaii for its failure to pass a civil-union law.
"Kelli and I are still close. Like many gay families that I know, gay women especially who have children together, we remain friends. Not that heterosexual people don't or can't do it, but every gay woman I know is friends with her exes, and they're involved with their lives in some capacity. Kelli is a big part of what made this family so amazing and what continues to." — Rosie O'Donnell to the Los Angeles Times, Jan. 31.
"I didn't want to be gay. ... I wanted an easy life. And you know what? I am gay and I still have an easy life." — Actress Jane Lynch, who plays coach Sue Sylvester on Glee, to London's Sunday Mirror, Jan. 31.
"GLAAD is beyond useless. Did you know that GLAAD once described—way back in teh ( sic ) day—'Savage Love' as an anti-gay hate crime? Because I used the word fag. So this 'F-word' crapola isn't new with them. And for the record: fag, fags, faggot, faggoty, faggery." — Gay writer Dan Savage on his blog, Feb. 12.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
