''Oh, cricket? It's a fag game. What are you, nuts?''

Entertainer Jerry Lewis, 82, at a press conference in Australia, responding to a question on what he thought of that nation's national sport. (Philly.com)

''Everyone uses fear in the last part of a campaign, but evangelicals are especially theologically prone to those sorts of arguments. There's a long tradition of predicting doom and gloom.''

Clyde Wilcox, a Georgetown University political scientist, in response to Focus on the Family's imagined "Letter from 2012" that tells of a near future where Barack Obama has won the presidency and given homosexuals freedom to indoctrinate young boys, and makes Bible worship and free speech into hate crimes. (Associated Press)

''The most far-reaching transformation of American society came from the Supreme Court's stunning affirmation, in early 2010, that homosexual "marriage" was a "constitutional" right that had to be respected by all 50 states because laws barring same-sex "marriage" violated the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Suddenly, homosexual "marriage" was the law of the land in all 50 states, and no state legislature, no state Supreme Court, no state Constitutional amendment, not even Congress, had any power to change it. The Supreme Court had ruled, and the discussion was over. This was a blatant example of creating law by the court, for homosexual "marriage" was mentioned nowhere in the Constitution, nor would any of the authors have imagined that same-sex "marriage" could be derived from their words. But it just followed the precedents that had been set by state supreme courts in Massachusetts (2003), California (2008) and Connecticut (2008).

President Obama repeated his declaration that he personally was against same-sex "marriage", but he told the nation there was nothing he could do. The Supreme Court had ruled, and it was now the law of the land. The president asked the nation to support the decision....

• [The Boy Scouts] chose to disband rather than be forced to obey the Supreme Court decision that they would have to hire homosexual scoutmasters and allow them to sleep in tents with young boys.
• Elementary schools now include compulsory training in varieties of gender identity in Grade 1, including the goodness of homosexuality as one possible personal choice. Many parents tried to "opt out" their children from such sessions, but the courts have ruled they cannot do this, noting that education experts in the government have decided that such training is essential to children's psychological health....
• [Adoption Agencies] Just as the Catholic Charities adoption agency had closed down for this reason in Massachusetts in 2006, so all similar agencies across the United States have now closed down rather than violate their consciences about the moral wrong of homosexual behavior.

Just a small portion of the awful, insane new "Letter from 2012" crafted by Focus on the Family to try and frighten voters into believing that, in the future, a Barack Obama presidency will have forced homosexuality on everyone in every aspect of society, especially on children, including paragraph after paragraph of "good Christians" getting fired or quitting in protests of conscience; Christian businesses, doctors, and lawyers losing their licenses; Hate crimes laws being used to declare Bibles and free speech illegal; and on and on.

''Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error. Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. ... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published.''

Portion of certified letters that were sent to businesses by leaders of a group that hopes to pass Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage initiative in California. (Associated Press)

'''You have to look at whether or not you isolate and segregate children. A holistic approach has always been to have children of all different backgrounds in schools. When you start isolating children and you say, 'Only 50 percent here, 40 percent here' -- same thing we went through with the disabled -- then you want to do that when they're adults.''

Mayor Richard Daley expressing concerns about a instituting a School for Social Justice Pride Campus, a public high school that was to serve hundreds of students in a gay-friendly & -supportive atmosphere. (Chicago Sun Times)

"There's no doubt there's violence and bullying of gay kids and something has to be done, but segregating them is not the answer. It doesn't stop bullying at other schools. And if a kid is different and the object of scorn or bullying, instead of addressing it, the teacher might say, 'Send him to homo high.'''

Rick Garcia of Equality Illinois echoing the Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's thoughts about plans for a gay-friendly high school in that city. (Chicago Sun Times)

''I don't know if you saw this, but vice presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin says that she's in favor of a Federal ban on gay marriage. Basically, she wants to change the Constitution. So, if you're wondering -- I'm sure you are -- how I feel about this, I don't like it. I don't like it. I don't agree.... And maybe it's because I'm gay that I think we should all be equal, but, um, I feel that we're all equal. And I don't know what people are scared of. You know, maybe they think that their children will be influenced. And I gotta say, I was raised by two heterosexuals, I was surrounded by heterosexuals -- just everywhere I looked: heterosexuals. And they did not influen -- I mean, I dabbled in high school, who didn't? ... People are gonna be who they're gonna be, and we need to learn to love them for who they are and let them love who they want to love.''

Talk show host Ellen Degeneres on the set of her TV program speaking about Sarah Palin's public admission on the 700 Club that she wishes to have a Federal ban on gay marriage but then immediately expressed that she wasn't going to sit in judgment of anyone. Degeneres, of course, famously married her long-time girlfriend, Portia de Rossi, earlier this year when California's Supreme Court concluded that same-sex marriages be made legal on the grounds that it is a civil rights issue.  (NY Daily News)

''This is a public library. We are here to be welcoming of all families of all kinds.''

Laura Holbrook, one of several Calvert County library trustees who voted unanimously to back the Director's decision to keep an illustrated children's book (about two male penguins hatching an adopted egg together) in the book section dedicated to kids. (Washington Post)

''It is a great book for a certain family, but not for my family and a lot of families I know. I believe in everyone's rights. I believe in freedom of speech, but this is not right for my family.''

Beth Bubser of Dunkirk, MD who claims her daughter chose from her library, "And Tango Makes Three," a book about zoo penguins in a same-sex relationship who successfully hatch an egg together. Burser's statement contradicts her belief and request that the book should be segregated to an "alternative families" section which unsuspecting kids won't be able to reach. (Washington Post)

''For the Jewish clergy, the issues were different. They loved the gay thing; the interfaith thing was an issue. That was a surprise. Reason #37 on the list of "Why I love Jews" is that when it comes to fighting for civil rights, the Jews are always right there at the forefront. The synagogues in our area have always been heavily represented in the gay pride parades--even as the Christian denominations were still trickling in. The Jews (except for the most Orthodox) couldn't have been happier we were gay, wished us much mazel with our union, but were so sorry, would be unable to participate in an interfaith service, or marry us unless I was willing to convert. To be fair, we have since met a number of rabbis who would have happily presided at our ceremony but we didn't know them at the time.''

Johanna Hammer describing her marriage process to her Jewish partner, Rebecca, and the issues involved in having their baby son accepted into the Jewish faith. (InterfaithFamily)

''I learned how a prince married a prince, and I can marry a princess!''

Quote from a child actor's lines used in a Proposition 8 commercial that is designed to scare California voters into thinking that their kids will be made gay at school and that there's nothing they can do about it. The two commercials point at Massachusetts and state, "It's already happening." (Associated Press)

Obviously, [George Takei] hiding his homosexuality -- talk about festering and not living the truth of your life, and feeling badly about yourself, and being fearful that somebody might find out this terrible, terrible secret, so he thought. Finally, at the age of 70, he decides to come out of the closet and say, "I'm gay." Like, who cares? Be gay, don't be gay. That's up to you George.... He makes this big deal out of not inviting me to his wedding. Well, if I was such a terrible force in his life, even 40-some odd years later ('cause I haven't seen him) that I affect his marriage where he has to isolate it, and say --. What kind of sickness is going on in a man.... There must be something else inside George that is festering that he takes it out on me, in effect, a total stranger."

Actor William Shatner on his YouTube video blog answering the question of how he felt about not being invited to former Star Trek co-star George Takei's wedding to longtime love Brad Altman. Takei had invited other cast members, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig to participate in his same-sex marriage in California, but when asked about Shatner added that there was a limited guest list and Shatner was not likely to be on it. Shatner now stars on 'Boston Legal' and Takei recently appeared on episodes of 'Heroes' and appears as the gay influence on Howard Stern's satellite radio & TV show. (William Shatner Project at YouTube)

''I am. In my own, state, I have voted along with the vast majority of Alaskans who had the opportunity to vote to amend our Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I wish on a federal level that that's where we would go because I don't support gay marriage. I'm not going to be out there judging individuals, sitting in a seat of judgment telling what they can and can't do, should and should not do, but I certainly can express my own opinion here and take actions that I believe would be best for traditional marriage and that's casting my votes and speaking up for traditional marriage that, that instrument that it's the foundation of our society is that strong family and that's based on that traditional definition of marriage, so I do support that.''

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin responding to a Christian Broadcasting Network / 700 Club correspondent who asked her, "On Constitutional marriage amendment , are, are you for something like that?" Sen John McCain, her presidential running mate, has said he does not support a federal ban on gay marriages, but, like Palin, does support a state constitutional ban on gay marriage that is likely to pass soon in his home base of Arizona. Some have interpreted a veto by Palin against a bill that sought to deny benetits to all gay couples in her state as a sign that she's not anti-gay afterall, but this latest statement appears to contradict that notion. This latest statement extends her earlier statement that she does wish to deny gay couples of all benefits. (CBN / 700 Club)

''They just started calling us haters. Our children were around us. They started calling us haters. And all they really know of us is, they drove up to the street, we live across the street from a school. I have a big sign on my house. And that qualifies as bigotry.''

Bob Sunstrom speaking on camera to a CBS5 reporter. Sunstrom and his wife are homeowners in San Jose, CA, and proudly display a large yellow banner over their garage that declares: "Protect Marriage. YES on 8. It's about more than marriage!" He says the banner is a replacement for a smaller lawn sign that had been stolen earlier. In response, a "pair of people" apparently decided to challenge Sunstrom's views by with verbal taunts and then parked a large Suburban SUV in front of his home. The vehicle has messages written on the windows including: "No on 8. End the HATE. BIGOTS LIVE HERE -->" The couple says they will not touch the vehicle and police say the vehicle must be there at least 3 days before they can begin to do anything about it. (CBS5)

''There seems to be a wedge put between African American Christians and the LGBT community. I think that's not cool. I pray regularly. I think Jesus would have hung out with gay people. He hung out with all kinds of people. I don't think he would have wanted the state to tell people who they could love and who they could marry.'' -- Eva Patterson, a civil rights attorney with the Equal Justice Society, joining politicians and clergy to urge people to vote against Proposition 8.

''The family unit, and how you procreate, is between a man and a woman. You cannot procreate, or create another life with man and man.''-- Church pastor-secretary Myra Booker who says she's going to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama and then also to vote against the "sin" gay marriage.

Opposing reactions from California's African American community members to the 'Yes on 8' campaign that seeks to overturn gay marriage. (KCBS)

''I hit the wall. I began to develop breasts, and when my periods came, it was the most horrible time of my life.... I was nervous about the surgery. But excited beyond belief. I counted down every day on my calendar. All I could think about was getting the best male body I could.''

Ty Clark, a 18-year-old FTM transgender, who came out in eighth grade, at four school assemblies, where he told classmates that he was transgender and asked them to respect his right to a good education. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

''I think it's so important. We are just not kind enough to each other, you know. And there's no reason why kids should go to school and it not be a safe place for them, and they should not be accepted.... I have plenty of gay friends that I love to death, and I would never want to do or say anything to hurt their feelings, but I think it's a term that I think that we've gotten used saying, but maybe not even with the intent of hurting someone's feelings. But, it's more important to be conscious of what you say and know that it could really be hurting someone.''

Singer and actress Hilary Duff speaking on camera with CNN about why she decided to participate in the public service series that is targeting the phrase, "That's so gay." (CNN)

''For us, it's a civil rights issue. We don't believe people should be treated differently.''

President David Sanchez, President of the California Teachers Association, a teachers union that has just given an additional $1 million to fight against the Proposition 8 campaign that seeks to overturn gay marriage by a voter initiative in that state. Sanchez also added that the union's donation is "a pittance" when one compared to the amount of money that religious groups have donated to the Yes on 8 campaign -- over $25 million. (LA Times)

''We were in class on Monday and started talking about how all you see are the 'Yes on Prop 8' signs and we noticed how wrong that was and organized this. We just thought eight students were going to show up but almost 90 people are here.... I'm a Republican and I'm straight but I still think we shouldn't be overruling something that out government already voted 'yes' on so we shouldn't take something away already granted.''

Natalie Compton, a Clovis High School senior from Northwest Fresno, CA. (KMPH)

"I do not believe in the message and agenda that this club advocates for. I do not believe this event is beneficial to our campus ... and I believe our student fees could be put to better use. ... I am by no means a bigot or discriminatory toward anyone. I have, for my entire life, been guided by a moral compass that disagrees with the lifestyle and message preached by Spectrum."

David Williams, student body president at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, explaining his rejection of funding for a National Coming Out Day event. The student senate which had approved a $2,100 request. Supporters of Spectrum, the campus gay group, are outraged over Williams actions, but he claims he never meant to hurt anyone's feelings. (Colorado Springs Gazette)

Series of new Public Service Announcements from ThinkBeforeYouSpeak trying to get people to stop using the insulting expression, ''That's so gay.'' The slang term, if you didn't know, is something many young people tend to say when they think that something is stupid or worth ridicule. Actress and comedian Wanda Sykes appears in one of the shorts that attempt to get people out of the habit and to realize that, to gay people, this is an insult. (ThinkBeforeYouSpeak.com)

''It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association.''

Portion of an alleged memo from McDonald's headquarters sent out to franchisees regarding the end of the company's support for the NGLCC, a promotional organization for gay business owners. After making a donation of $20,000 and assuming a position on the organization's board, the American Family Association declared a boycott of the restaurant chain, complaining that their actions promoted same-sex marriage. The boardmember, Richard Ellis, has apparently resigned his seat and McDonald's has allegedly stated that it will not sponser NGLCC in 2009. However, there is no evidence reported that suggest that the religiously-driven AFA's boycott had any identifiable effect or not. (Chicago Sun Times)

''Like all our corporate relationships, McDonald's USA has been a good partner with the Chamber. There has been no discussion between the NGLCC and McDonalds regarding continuing membership, nor has the NGLCC been notified of any move not to renew our work together. The NGLCC will continue to align with corporate America in support of equal opportunity for all of America's workers and small businesses.''

From a statement on the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's website regarding the controversial support and withdrawal of McDonald's, apparently in part due to pressure from a Christian conservative activists at the American Family Association. (NLGCC)

''We say marriage is ordained by God. If it's ordained by God, then it's not something that you or I or anybody else -- the state, a judge -- can affect and change the definition.... The church must be a voice about moral issues, social issues that affect the lives of pepole. If the church is quiet in that, then the church isn't doing it's job. And if it means that the church has to lose it's tax exempt status to do that, well, then churches will have to lose that in time.''

Monisgnor Francis Cilia declaring that Proposition 8 is different than preaching for particular candidates or parties, and that the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status is worth losing in order to overturn gay marriage. (CBS New video)

''I keep in touch with everyone but Eve [Plum]. I have great relationships with all of them.... [Eve and I] were very close. We were best friends. And, um -- yeah. I find it really sad that we don't see each other anymore. I miss her a lot.... I was on a show once, a late night show five years ago, and I was -- you know, there's all this 'sex with the Brady Bunch,' and the movies have made jokes about it, and everyone loves to talk about it. So, I was on this talk show, and I said that I fell in love with everyone, Bob Reed, Barry, Chris -- and then I said Florence and Eve! And the guy said, 'Eve? Really?' And I said, 'Yeah, I kissed her, too!' and that got on the news and it went out. And I was just having fun. It was just, you know, something that I was joking with. And she didn't take it that way.... I did, I did [idolize Bob Reed]. I don't think the 'Brady Bunch' would have been what it was without Bob Reed. He brought so much realism to the show. It was very difficult when I discovered that he was gay, because I had a huge crush on him. So, it was like, 'There go my chances!'''

Actress Maureen McCormick speaking as part of her new book tour that reveals a life spent fearing syphilis-induced insanity, chasing cocaine and suffering with bulimia and depression. Actress Eve Plum played her sister, Jan, and Bob Reed, played her father, Mike. (Today show) In a side note, the other 'Brady' brothers and sisters are currently together taping appearances for Christopher 'Peter' Knight's new 'Trivial Pursuit' show, but said they have not been informed about the content of the book. (AP)

''It is not going to be a 'gay high school,' but yes, in a way, it is meant to target kids who feel they have been victims of bullying for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation.... It's about creating another option for kids. When it comes down to it, though, it is all about having a choice and providing high-quality options for students, whether they are gay or not.''

Josh Edelman, executive officer in the Chicago Public Schools' Office of New Schools, who recommended the approval of the School for Social Justice Pride Campus, a gay-welcoming school that has been proposed in Chicago, IL. The school would educate about 600 students and not be gay-exclusive but provide a supportive environment for students who may otherwise feel harassed or be prone to dropping out. (CNN)

''How is marriage protected by intimidating gay and lesbian people into loveless and lonely lives? I am morally compelled to vote no on Proposition 8.... I know these words of truth will cost me dearly. But to withhold them . . . I would become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian people not only of their civil rights but of their human dignity as well.... At what point do you cease to be an agent for healing and growth and become an accomplice of injustice?''

Father Geoffrey Farrow, pastor of the St. Paul Newman Center in Fresno, CA, speaking out against the ''numbing silence'' of the Catholic church's prejudice against gays and asking his parishoners to vote against the anti-gay marriage initiative known as Proposition 8. He also came out as gay to a reporter. As a result of speaking against the Church's teachings, Farrow was stripped of his salary and benefits and ordered to stay away from the people of his church. (LA Times)

''This is a great victory for me and anyone who believes in equality. It gives me hope that the Georgia Supreme Court did what was right and did not buy into hate-based politics. I still have a dream to server my community and I'm not giving up.''

Michelle Bruce, a transgender candidate who ran for the Riverdale City Council in Georgia, has successfully defended herself before the Georgia Supreme Court against charges of misleading voters. She lost the election, she says, because of the controversy that ensued when two fellow candidates (who also lost), claimed that Bruce got more female votes than she would have if it had been known she was born a male. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

''Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice. To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others''

Justice Richard N. Palmer, writing the majority opinion for the Connecticut Supreme Court essentially overturning a lower court finding. The 4-3 decision makes Connecticut the third state in the USA to legally adopt gay marriages. The decision will not become law immediately, but the governor has stated that he doesn't plan to fight the decision despite his disagreement with it. (Associated Press)

''I can't believe it. We're thrilled, we're absolutely overjoyed. We're finally going to be able, after 33 years, to get married.... We've always dreamed of being married. Even though we were lesbians and didn't know if that would ever come true, we always dreamed of it.''

Plaintiff Janet Peck who plans to marry her partner, Carole Conklin, now that the Supreme Court has ruled in her favor on the issue of same-sex marriages. (Associated Press)

''Accordingly, we reject the trial court's decision that marriage and civil unions are 'separate' but 'equal' entities.... In his dissenting opinion, Justice Borden concludes that gay persons are not entitled to protected status because they have too much political power to warrant such protection.... [This] conclusion is flawed because, at the time women were accorded protected status under the federal constitution, they possessed more political power than gays in this state currently possess.''

More of the opinion written by Justice Richard Palmer that has now allowed gay marriage in the state of Connecticut. (Hartford Courant)

''We wanted something with a little pop to it, and we wanted to neutralize an epithet, like a lot of groups have done with the word 'queer.' ... They said we were in violation of several regulations. We didn't have to change the name, but we couldn't put any emphasis on the acronym. We couldn't put it in bold.''

Jason Frye, president of the Fellowship of Associated Gay Students & Straight Allies, a gay support group at two San Diego Community Colleges. His group's posters were taken down and they were asked to stop using the acronym F. A. G. S. after their materials generated complaints from staff and other student. Frye is claiming an infringement on free speech. (San Diego Union Tribune)

Governor Palin called for 'tolerance', and we hoped she'd show that type of leadership as Governor with this proclamation. Coming out is a difficult and deserves recognition. We were asking for the Governor to acknowledge and recognize the dignity of openly-gay Alaskans. We weren't asking for a policy position, beyond simple acknowledgement.''

Marsha Buck of Alaskans Together, a gay rights group in Alaska that has not received a response to their request for Governor Sarah Palin to sign a procolamation recognizing National Coming Out Day. It is reported that Palin, in October alone, has officially recognized ''Careers in Construction Week,'' ''10th Annual Christian Heritage Week,'' ''Biomedical Technician Week,'' ''Alaska Taiwan Friendship Week,'' ''World Farm Animals Day,'' ''Breastfeeding Awareness Month,'' and ''Grand Opening of Rilke Schule Day.'' Palin also claimed in the 2008 Vice Presidential Debate to have at lease on lesbian best friend an alluded to other gay acquaintances. (Examiner.com)

''We found that many senior citizens who choose to stay unmarried, have the potential to loose their pension benefits, 401(k) benefits, hospital visitation rights, and a lot of other benefits they rely on.''

Carlos Carbonell of Florida Red & Blue which seeks to prevent Amendment 2 from being passed in Florida. (Central Florida News 13)

''We've actually tried to address issues that haven't changed. It's been ten years. Why haven't things progressed further than they have?... The level of ignorance is just -- it's amazing that people just don't know more about the civil rights that are being denied the gay community, and we're moving forward and working at the grassroots level now trying to really educate people and make them aware of the gay community.... [Wyoming] is, I think, one of four states left with no hate crime legislation at all. Wyoming had the perfect opportunity to actually set the tone, set the example, just to be what every state should have been had that happened in their state, and they didn't take advantage of it."

Judy Shepherd, mother of Matthew Shepherd whose terrible murder 10 years ago by two young men in Wyoming has likely become the most infamous hate crime committed against a gay person. Judy Shepherd says that despite more positive portrayals of gays in media and entertainment, there remains a long way to go for gay equality in this country. She also said that to her knowledge the two killers have not shown any remorse for taking the life of her son, probably because of the insensitive environment in which they lived. (CBS News)

''As a result of not being able to match dollar for dollar, we have seen a change.''

Geoff Kors, of Equality California, pleading for more funding for the fight against Proposition 8, a bill to be decided by voters on adding a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages again in that state. Anti-gay groups (mostly funded by Mormon, Catholic and evangelical organizations) have reportedly raised $25 million and pro-gay efforts have only raised $15.75 million. (LA Times)

''Polling on ballot measures in general is an inexact science, and polling on homosexuality in general is a tricky business. So, not too much should be made of the 5 points that separates 'Yes' and 'No' today.''

Conclusion of a survey by SurveyUSA that finds that 47% of California voters now say they will vote for Proposition 8 which is set to ban gay marriages again by adding to the California constitutions language that defines marriage as only between one man and one woman. 42% said they will vote No on the anti-gay amendment. (CBS 5)

''In other ballot amendment and initiative votes on gay rights issues taken in other states, undecided voters have generally broken strongly in the direction of the politically incorrect, anti-gay position.''

Bradford Coker, Managing Director of Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, concluding poll results on Florida's anti-gay marriage Amendment 2 will be adopted this November. Currently 55% plan to vote Yes, 34% say No, and 11% are Undecided. Constitutional amendments in Florida requite a 60% majority of voter approval. (WESH)

''After Nov. 4, it's possible the door to having that experience of a legally recognized marriage will be closed. And faced with that, many couples have, to some degree, rushed to get married in order to assure that they are legally recognized.''

Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights remarking on a UCLA Williams Institute study that finds some 3,800 same-sex couples per month are rushing to get married in California. The legality of gay marriage in that state is being put up to vote through Proposition 8. Many of the marriages being held are said to be by out-of-state residents. Massachusetts remains the only other state in the USA to perform same-sex weddings and, thanks mostly to archane law dug up by anti-gay former Governor Mitt Romney, out-of-state residents cannot be joined in that Massachusetts if their union is not recognized in their home state. (New York Times)

''I don't have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being gay, but I do have a problem discussing my personal life. You don't get that part of me. Sorry. We're not discussing it in our meetings, we're not discussing it at Cover Girl. They don't get it... nobody gets that. I don't feel like I need to share my personal life, and I don't care if people think I'm gay or not. Assume whatever you want. You do it anyway.''

Singer and actress Queen Latifah in a long interview with the New York Times about persistent speculation that she is a lesbian and having a relationship with her personal trainer. Latifah recently appeared on Saturday Night Live and also has a new music album coming out. (New York Times)

''We thank Barack Obama, even if he's not supporting it, for helping us. We think it's going to push us over the top .''

Sonja Eddings Brown of ''Protect Marriage,'' an organization that seeks to overturn gay marriage in California through Proposition 8. She's relying on religious black voters to turn up to vote for Obama and then to also vote for the measure to ban gay marriage again in that state. (CBS News Video)

''Marriage has always been defined between a man and a woman.... We then want to support Yes on Proposition 8, okay? ... This issue is more important than who gets to be the President of the United States to me. And to many of our Christian believers.''

Edward Smith, the pastor of the African-American church, Zoe Christian Fellowship in Los Angeles, is actively advocating from the pulpit for his members to overturn gay marriage. (CBS News Video)

''We were once denied the right to marry a person of another race. Anytime government intervenes and tells you what you can or cannot do, it's a denial of your rights.''

Alice A. Huffman, President of the California NAACP, whose organization is trying to mobilize African-American voters against the ban because they see it as a civil rights issue, but they're finding difficulty with religious members of the black community who cannot reconcile gay rights with Biblical passages. (CBS News Video)

Watch CBS Videos Online

''How many of you are in need of some hope here tonight? How many of you are at the end of your rope? How many are ready for an encounter with the Lord?''

''I live a life of denial and I love it. I didn't choose my same-sex feelings but I do choose how I'm going to steward them. Freedom is possible.''

''The opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality. It's holiness.''

A few quotes from Alan Chambers, a leader of an Exodus retreat that promises to lead people out of their gay lifestyles and into a blissful life-long of struggle to suppress their same-sex desires. The lengthy examination of ex-gay ministries in the Times newspaper, says that each of the attendants to the seminar has paid $600, some have brought family members. All of the attendants mentioned in the article seem confused and/or saddened by the loss of relationships and are seeking for someone to promise them spiritual redemption and reconciliation with a higher power. (Times Online)

''They stopped going to church, stopped going to work. The only ones who appeared to be doing well were those who accepted that they were gay and got on with their lives.... Really, what the ex-gay movement is all about is salving the conscience of the Christian leaders who don't like to be accused of homophobia. That way they can say 'we don't hate gays - look how we are welcoming them.'''

Jeremy Marks, 56, who once pioneered an ex-gay network in the UK, but realized that "same-sex attraction (SSA) therapy'' could have led to the attempted suicide of one of his former residents. He now runs a openly-gay Christian group called Courage. (Times Online)

During the text exchange, Morley told Mr Oldfield he had "never been properly happy being gay".

Mr Oldfield, who was openly gay and sold ads for a gay lifestyle magazine, replied: "Try me ... I'm not your average poof," the Daily Mail said.

The pair exchanged increasingly affectionate messages and arranged to meet at a bar in Leeds, with Morley saying he "wanted to take it slow".

Later that night, the pair ended up in Morley's bedroom. Both had been drinking during the evening and there was sexual activity, the court heard.

The court was told Morley then used two knives taken from his kitchen downstairs to kill Mr Oldfield, the paper said.

He slit his throat, cutting a vein and an artery, and stabbed him with great force in the chest and 19 times in the back, the paper said.

Anthony Morley, 36, a chef and former Mr Gay UK in the central UK city of Leeds, is accused of meeting an ad salesman for a gay magazine, Damian Oldfield, 33, whom he had known for years, murdering him during the meeting, then cooking and seasoning a portion of his leg before chewing it briefly and throwing it in the trash. Morley is said to have then told people to call the police, but he maintains that the victim tried to rape him. (Sydney Morning Herald)

''He continued to stab and stab and stab him until he died. Even when he was dead the attack continued until finally Mr Morley cut parts of flesh from the body.... From a chopping board on one of the kitchen units, six pieces of cooked flesh, which had been seasoned with fresh herbs and fried in olive oil were recovered. The flesh was human in origin. A further piece of cooked flesh, which appears to have been chewed, was recovered from a bin bag in the kitchen.''

Just part of the horrible, grisly details revealed by prosecutor Andrew Stubbs in the case of Anthony Morley of Leeds, UK, who allegedly murdered and mutilated a gay acquaintance after having some sort of sexual activity with him. Morley, the accused, is being described as ''troubled by his sexuality.'' (Telegraph.co.uk)

"[A] complete and total victory for our fire department.... That's what this was about. This was about greed. This was about getting money in their pockets.''

San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre who was defending the decision by Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who is a lesbian, to require firefighters to participate in the city's Gay Pride Parade by driving their firetruck through the 3-hour event as part of their general public relations duties. The firefighters sued for $4 million, saying they were subjected to ''a sexually licentious event, where raucous and lewd behavior, conduct and dress is permitted,'' and they say they needed therapy sessions as result of sexual harassment. (LA Times) Though most of the jurors were apparently on the firefighters' side, the mistrial was declared after they became deadlocked 8-4. A secondary lawsuit complaining about a alleged retaliatory reprimand related to a fighter's complaint was nearly dismissed, 11-1. (San Diego Union Tribune)

A majority of young white evangelical Christians support legal recognition of civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples. Fifty-eight percent of young white evangelicals support some form of legal recognition of civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples; a quarter (26 percent) support the full right for same-sex couples to marry. White evangelicals over age 30 are less supportive: forty-six percent favor some legal recognition, but only 9 percent of older white evangelicals favor full marriage rights.

Portion of survey of evangelical Christians from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, a PBS news program. The results show that there are differences of opinon among evangelicals -- some portion of the under-30 evangelicals surveyed hold views that fall under the ''liberal'' column, but most remain conservative. (Religion and Ethics Newsweekly)

''There are very particular areas that make us a more vulnerable constituency of old people. We tend to age alone, with no one to call on in times of need," she said. "We don't have a daughter to move in with us -- we don't have a kid to call when we're admitted to the hospital because we fall and break a hip.''

Amber Hollibaugh, 62, an expert on aging with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. SAGE a New York-based organization for GLBT seniors is holding their 4th conference on aging in NYC next week, October 12-14, 2008, and for the first time, AARP is sponsoring the event. (Associated Press)

''The campaign has cancelled Sen. Biden's schedule today and tomorrow because of a serious illness in Jill Biden's family. Hospice has advised the Bidens to remain close by, and we appreciate everyone's respect for the family's privacy.''

David Wade, a spokesperson for Senator Joe Biden who was scheduled to appear at tonight's annual Human Rights Campaign Dinner at the Convention Center in Washington, DC, but had to cancel all of his weekend events because his wife's mother has apparently fallen gravely ill. (ABC News) Biden was recently added as a headliner for the GLBT rights fundraising event and he was to ''make featured remarks'' alongside financial guru Suze Orman, and singers Crystal Waters and Jennifer Holliday. (HRC National Dinner site)

Newsweek has found in their own archives an interview where Sarah Palin of 2007 seems to be at odds with Sarah Palin in last week's debate on the subject of same-sex benefits.

Sarah Palin as U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate in Ocotober 2, 2008 debate:

PALIN: But in that tolerance, also, no one would ever propose -- not in a McCain-Palin administration to do anything that prohibits, say, visitations in the hospital, or contracts being signed, negotiated between parties.

Sarah Palin as Alaskan Governor in a 2007 interview with Newsweek:

NEWSWEEK : And do you have a position on that? Would you like to see it? Do you care?

PALIN: I would vote to further define the definition of marriage as it pertains to benefits even--yes, I would....

NEWSWEEK: That is, not extend benefits to same-sex couples?

PALIN: Correct. And if it took an amendment to our constitution, I would go there ...

''It's absolutely a conflict. He was voting on Fannie Mae at a time when he was involved with a Fannie Mae executive. How is that not germane?.... If this had been his ex-wife and he was Republican, I would bet every penny I have - or at least what's not in the stock market - that this would be considered germane. But everybody wants to avoid it because he's gay. It's the quintessential double standard.'' -- Dan Gainor, vice president of the Business & Media Institute and a T. Boone Pickens Fellow

''C'mon, he writes housing and banking laws and his boyfriend is a top exec at a firm that stands to gain from those laws? No media ever takes note? Imagine what would happen if Frank's political affiliation was R instead of D? Imagine what the media would say if [GOP former] Chairman [Mike] Oxley's wife or [GOP presidential nominee John] McCain's wife was a top exec at Fannie for a decade while they wrote the nation's housing and banking laws.'' -- An anonymous 'top GOP aide.'

Quotes from a Fox News article that alleges a direct connection between Congressman Barney Frank and Herb Moses to the recent economic disaster by way of a position Moses held at Fannie Mae. The article seems to be saying Frank and Moses had a conflict of interest back in the 1990s because the congressman promoted deregulation of the mortgage and housing giant while he had a gay relationship with Moses who was working there at the time.  (Fox News) Representative Barney Frank [D-MA] was recently an outspoken lead on crafting legislation to facilitate the so-called $700 billion bailout, and he mocked Republican Members for blaming Speaker Nancy Pelosi and partisan rhetoric as the reason they could not gather an agreed upon number of votes to move the controversial measure forward. A number of smaller conservative news outlets have coordinated similar pieces attempting to discredit the congressman's efforts, and at least two right-wing radio blowhards, Michael Savage and Bill Cunningham have stated in the last week that Barney Frank at one time personally ''ran a house of [male] prostitution'' in reference to a reprimand he received nearly 20 years ago.

''The state of moral health in our nation is challenging and we are concerned about the mushrooming of lesbianism and homosexuality. Ten years ago, this phenomena was not there, but the disease has penetrated everywhere.... It is true that the law on homosexuality is not comprehensive and that the criminals ju st walk away and police find it difficult to prosecute.... We want it to become law in that if someone is a homosexual or confesses to being a gay or lesbian, then he is a criminal.''

Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo during a press conference in the East African nation of Uganda. He also held a press conference targeting prostitution Wednesday where he called homosexuality a "mental disease." (Sunday Monitor) It is reported that the official punishement for homosexuality is life in prison but no such sentences seem to be evident. (Top News)

Debate Moderator Gwen Ifil: Do you support, as they do in Alaska, granting same-sex benefits to couples?

Sen Joe Biden: Absolutely. Do I support granting same-sex benefits? Absolutely, positively. Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a Constitutional stand-point or a legal stand-point between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple. The fact of the matter is that under the Constitution, we should be granted -- uh, same-sex couples should be able to have visitation rights in hospitals, joint ownership of property, life insurance policies, etc. That's only fair. It's what the Constitution calls for. And so, we do support -- we do support making sure that committed couples in a same-sex marriage are guaranteed the same Constitutional benefits as it relates to their property rights, their rights of visitation, their rights of insurance, their rights of ownership, as heterosexual couples do.

Ifil: Governor, would you be open to expanding that beyond Alaska to the rest of the nation?

Governor Sarah Palin: Well, not if it goes closer and closer to redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman. And unfortunately, that's sometimes where those steps lead. But, I also want to clarify -- if there's any kind of suggestion at all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in America choosing their partners, their relationships that they deem -- uh, best for themselves -- you know, I am tolerant. And I have a very diverse family and group of friends, and even within that group, you would see some who may not agree with me on this issue -- some very dear friends don't agree with me on this issue. But in that tolerance, also, no one would ever propose -- not in a McCain-Palin administration to do anything that prohibits, say, visitations in the hospital, or contracts being signed, negotiated between parties. But I will tell Americans straight up that I don't support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman. And I think through nuances, we could go round and round about what that actually means, but I'm being straight-up with Americans as I can in my non-support for anything but tradition definition of marriage.

Ifil: Let's try to avoid nuance, Senator. Do you support gay marriage?

Biden: No. Barack Obama, nor I support redefining from a civil side, what constitutes marriage. We do not support that. That is basically a decision that is to be left to the faiths and people who practice their faiths, determination what you call it. The bottom line is, I'm glad to hear the Governor, I'll her her at her word, obviously. That she thinks there should be no civil rights distinction -- none whatsoever, between a committed gay couple and a committed heterosexual couple. If that's the case, we really don't have a difference.

Ifil: [to Palin] Is that what you said?

Palin: Uh, you question to him was whether he supported gay marriage. And my answer is the same as his in -- that I do not.

Ifil: Wonderful, you agree....

Vice presidential candidates Sen. Joe Biden [D-DE] and Gov. Sarah Palin [R-AK] answer questions about gay marriage and equal rights and benefits for gay couples at their only televised debate on this past Thursday night, October 2, 2009.

A quick historical note about Alaska's same-sex benefits for state workers:

In Alaska, the debate over benefits for same sex couples is reported to have begun in the late 1990s when Alaskan voters passed a constitution amendment blocking gay marriage. In 2001 a lower court judge equated same-sex couples to unmarried heterosexual couples and she allowed a continued ban on benefits to unmarried couples. (Fox News) Nine gay employees and the ACLU appealed that case, and in 2005, the Alaskan Supreme Court concluded "that the public employers' spousal limitations violate the Alaska Constitution's equal protection clause,'' and the Judges ordered, in June 2006, then Governor Frank Murkowski and the the state to follow a number of remedies by January 1, 2007. (Alaska State Government history of Same-Sex Domestic Partnerships)

Sarah Palin defeated Murkowski to become the new governor at the end of 2006, and in December reluctanly agreed to adopt same-sex partner benefits for state employees. (On the Issues) Governor Palin later vetoed a measure designed to deny the benefits to gay couples, but it is said that she only did so because allowing it to pass would not have been in compliance with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Alaska Constitution -- she was in favor of the legislation, allegedly because the Court decision went against the discriminatory will of the voters at large.

''Donations should not be at the expense of minority populations or make the reader feel inferior.... These books were not research based. There were not facts to back it up.''

Susan Thornley, coordinator of library information services for Fairfax County, VA speaking by phone with WAMU radio news. A group of Christian student protesters are claiming censorship and a violation of personal beliefs because, they say, that they submitted ''reviews'' of several pray-away-the-gay books to Fairfax County public school systems but were rejected by librarians. However, Thornley says the alleged reviews were taken either from church newletters or written by the ex-gay books' authors themselves -- not from recognized journalistic entities. And she added that, despite the protesters allegations, there were already books on the libraries shelves that presented a variety of views on homosexulaity. (WAMU) [Windows Media Player or RealAudio]

''I don't need to read every book that is on the shelf. That isn't the point. I'm not objecting to those books being on the shelf. I'm objecting to the fact that librarians who didn't read our books looked at them on the counter and said, 'No, thank you. This is Christian. We're not going to accept it.''

Tom Bognanno, the father of Liz Bognanno, an student who has joined a group of Christian high school students that are trying to inject ex-gay literature in the Fairfax County, VA school library system. Most of the students protesters say they have not even read the "come out of homosexuality" books that they are pressing the libraries to accept. According to the WRC-TV news piece, the students and their parents are claiming that books that are currently on the shelves need to be "balanced" out because the have a "hateful view of Christianity.'' (NBC4) The Virginia students wore the same, coordinated t-shirts bearing the pre-printed slogan, ''Closed books shut out ideas,'' and their efforts appear to be supported by Colorado-based Focus on the Family.

''School librarians make a decision based on the school system's regulations. The books in question were not age approprate, there were no reviews of the books, and a number of other things that did not meet the requirements of the regulations."

Paul Reiner, spokesperson for the Fairfax County Public Schools in a statement released about several ex-gay books that Christian students are trying to force the school librarians to accept. (NBC4 video) It is said that all book donations may have to end in the County schools because of this and other similar efforts that Christian special interest groups continue to engage in.

''We hear . . . more and more that homosexuality is being promoted in schools. The word tolerance is often used, but a faith-based viewpoint is belittled or ridiculed.''

Candi Cushman, who flew from Colorado to be at the Fairfax library protest as a spokesperson for an initiative called ''True Tolerance'' that is sponsored by the ultra-conservative, fundamentalist organization Focus on the Family. (Washington Post) On her group's website, they boast of trying to donate 85 books on topics related to their ''Christian perspective'' on homosexuality, but only one out of 13 schools accepted books, alleging that the other librarians called the books "too Christian" and "too one-sided." (CitizenLink)

''One of the reasons I'm strongly for Palin is because the Democrats in Alaska are assholes. And half of the stuff that the media has reported about Palin that's negative was perpetrated by that small group of assholes.... Palin keeps her politics separate from her beliefs--her personal values, her religion, all of that.... I blame [her endorsement for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage] on the Mormons. They drove that campaign up here. That was one of the most [divisive] battles I've ever seen. But the amendment was very popular, you know, with voters up here.... I don't expect Sarah Palin to be the vanguard of the liberal elite on that issue. She's practical. She's not going to take on battles that she can't win.''

Sex columnist and writer Dan Savage speaking with an ''SPGF,'' an unnamed male who claims he has been Sarah Paliln's Gay Friend since 2006. It's not entirely clear who this person is because Palin did not appear to mention this particular 36-year-old man, but instead, did mention a female best friend of 30 years who made the choice to be gay. In the Savage interview, SPGF defends Palin at every turn including the prayer video with the witch-hunting pastor, and says John McCain is pro-gay or gay-tolerant because he went on 'Ellen.' Savage, however, seems to indicate a sense of delusion during his interview with SPGF by writing that ''our conversation jumped the rest of the way through the looking glass.'' (Dan Savage at The Strangler)

''Gov. Palin didn't ramble uncomfortably about a 'lifestyle' or use the opportunity to reiterate her opposition to marriage for gay couples. She didn't use the opportunity to express opposition to any gay rights legislation. Gay Democrats are pouncing on her use of the word 'choice' in talking about gay people. But, when asked the direct question by Charlie Gibson in a previous interview whether people choose to be gay, she said she didn't know. Again, I think that's where the vast majority of Americans are on this issue-they simply don't know whether people choose to be gay. We know that people don't 'choose' their sexual orientation and we'll continue educating all Republicans about that issue.''

Scott Tucker, communications director for the Log Cabin Repulicans, a gay political group, defending Alaska governor Sarah Palin's indication that an unnamed friend ''made a choice'' to be gay. The taped TV interview was aired on CBS News. Log Cabin Republicans only endorse Republican candidates and have indeed found both John McCain and Sarah Palin worthy of endorsement for president and vice president. (ThinkProgress)

''I'm a liberal Democrat. And I do not favor same-sex marriage. Do those positions sound contradictory? To me, they fit together.... Every child being raised by gay or lesbian couples will be denied his birthright to both parents who made him. Every single one. Moreover, losing that right will not be a consequence of something that at least most of us view as tragic, such as a marriage that didn't last, or an unexpected pregnancy where the father-to-be has no intention of sticking around. On the contrary, in the case of same-sex marriage and the children of those unions, it will be explained to everyone, including the children, that something wonderful has happened!''

David Blankenhorn, president of a think-tank called the Institute for American Values. The opinion piece run in the LA Times newspaper has been widely circulated by conservatives as a liberal's argument against same-sex marriages. (LA Times) IAV calls itself a non-partisan institution, but Salon.com has uncovered evidence to the contrary.

''In accordance with its status as an untaxed entity, [David Blankenhor's Institute for American Values] must file a Form 990 financial report annually with the IRS. These filings are available to the public, and you can learn a lot from them. Here is what public records tell us about IAV:

''During the 15 years preceding 2006, IAV received nearly $4.5 million in funding from a coterie of ultra-conservative Republican foundations, including the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Scaife Family Foundation, and the Randolph Foundation. These foundations supply funds for a network of right-wing Republican think tanks that promote a variety of causes such as the elimination of gay marriage, abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research; prayer in public schools; creationism and deregulatory free-market economics.

Portion of a Salon.com article by Jon B. Eisenberg that argues that David Blankenhorn's financial associations prove that he is not running an impartial think-tank, nor is he a ''liberal Democrat'' as he claimed in his opinion piece in the LA Times that went on at length why same-sex marriage and the raising of children by gay couples should not be allowed for the sake of society. (Salon.com)