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''The whole purpose of sending one's child to a religious school is to ensure that he or she learns even secular subjects within a religious framework.''
Justice Betty Richli of the 4th District Appeals Court in San Bernadino, CA, in a unanimous, 3-0, ruling that determined that a religious school had the right to expel two 16-year-old girls for engaging in a lesbian relationship. (San Francisco Chronicle)
''Now that we've processed this through, my current counselor says you're a heterosexual with complications. And -- and so I don't think the boxes work for me. I think I have -- I have some thoughts in my life and some processes in my life that just don't fit neatly into the boxes, which I think is true for a lot of people.... I do know with this homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual discussion, when there is a homosexual man that has something go on with a woman, people don't demand that he come out and admit that he's really a heterosexual. And I've had a very satisfying relationship for 30 years with my wife. This did not happen because of dissatisfaction with Gayle. This happened because of something else going on inside of me.''
Still confused and in denial, deposed evangelical leader Ted Haggard proudly relays to Larry King just how little he's learned from his alleged therapists. (CNN)
''I knew that Ted had some struggles in this area, particularly in his thoughts. I never knew that he acted on them. But I just -- I just believed that everybody is a sinner. And so I'm willing to go through the process with him.... I do think that our sexuality is complex. But I don't like is when we put labels on each other, because I am here to say that 99 percent of Ted's sexual experiences were with me. So I'm not willing to deny that. But I am willing to explore, why is he having these other feelings?"
Gayle Haggard displaying how a heterosexual spouse can have full knowledge and maintain a conscious denial of a life partner's homosexual yearnings. (CNN / Larry King)
''I told [one of the Christian leaders] that I was having homosexual temptations and thoughts like that, and I needed to process through. What should I do? ... No, I don't think I'm gay. I did wonder about that. After this crisis, when I went to therapy and I said, I need to know am I gay, am I straight, am I bi -- what am I? And my first therapist said, 'You are a heterosexual with homosexual attachments. So, we processed through that. I wasn't sure what that meant.... I do believe I don't fit into the normal boxes... because I was so deeply in love with my wife!... I do have sexual thoughts [about men,] but they're not compulsive anymore.... I kept thinking my problem was demonic. You know Jesus cast out demons, so we believe in demons and angels.... So, part of this process was to say, this is not demonic, this is me.... We were not hateful in our speech. Now, I do believe the Bible is the word of God. So, I believe that God's ideal for us is to live in heterosexual, monogamous marriage. I just believe that."
Ex-preacher Ted Haggard on the Oprah show displaying how his ego and Evangelical reputation are still far more important to express than the truth about his multiple homosexual exploits. Mike Jones, a male escort, outed Haggard as an anti-gay hypocrite, and another young man just came forward last week to tell of some type of explicit sexual experience with Haggard, too. Haggard goes on to tell Oprah about his homosexual needs as a "dark area of his life" and how a "sinister voice on the inside" was speaking to him. A confused Oprah responds by putting far too much sensible words in his mouth than he deserves. At the end, he says he "apologizes to the homosexual community." (Oprah)
Gale Haggard: I just want to point out, you can still make choices, though. That even though there are those inclinations, what you do --what you act on --."
Oprah Winfrey: I'm not agreeing with you on that. I'm not going there with you, Gale. I'm not agreeing with you. I won't!
An exchange between the wife of Ted Haggard, Gale Haggard and talk show host Oprah Winfrey on whether a person has the ability to successfully suppress his homosexual "inclinations." (Oprah)
''If there ever needs to be sunshine on a political issue, it is with a ballot measure.''
US District Judge Morrison England, Jr, in his court ruling against the supporters of Proposition 8, the voter initiative that has essentially made gay marriage illegal in California. The judge ruled that all of the contributors names must be made public because, a AP reports it, many campaign committees have vague names, obscuring their intent. (San Jose Mercury News)
"I would say the most remarkable thing about this bill is that it is unremarkable. Instead of the cultural wars that we have seen year after year, we see a Legislature that is mostly on board in moving forward on protecting all of Washington's families.''
State Sen. Ed Murray, of Seattle Washington, one of six open-gay members of the Washington state legislature, on his co-sponsorship of a bill that will expand to domestic partnerships the rights and benefits of married couples without the use of the word "marraige." (Associated Press)
''She is a senior parliamentarian, she is respected and loved by all of Iceland.''
Thorunn Sveinbjarnardottir, a fellow Alliance party member to Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, a lesbian who was just appointed as Prime Minister of Iceland. She has reportedly been a member of parliament since 1978, currenly lives with her female civil partner, Jonina Leosdottir, but was previously married to a man and has two children. Iceland's government is said to have collapsed under a banking financial crisis, and Sigurdardottir in the interim pick for PM as the North Atlantic island nation reassembles. (Associated Press)
''It wasn't at all a settlement to make him be quiet or not tell his story. Our desire was to help him. Here was a young man who wanted to get on with his life. We considered it more compassionate assistance -- certainly not hush money. I know what's what everyone will want to say because that's the most salacious thing to say, but that's not at all what it was.... This decision was made not as an attempt to conceal wrongdoings, but to protect him from those who would seek to exploit him. His actions now suggest that he has changed his mind.''
Statements by Brady Boyd, head of the New Life Church, which came to fame as the former pulpit, Ted Haggard, the former Evangelical superstar preacher to millions of TV followers. It has come to be known over the last couple of days that another "young man" had a type of sexual relationship with the hetero-married Haggard before he was dismissed from the church. Apparently, he was being paid but Boyd here insist it was not "hush money." Haggard and New Life, like so many Evangelical churches, had a history of statements that were unfriendly to gay rights and homosexuality. (Associated Press)
"Although there was no physical contact, I have regretted my irresponsibile (sic) behavior."
A statement from Ted Haggard about his "inappropriate relationship" with another young man when he was head of New Life Church in the Evangelical capital of Colorado Springs, CO. Haggard is scheduled to appear on Larry King and Oprah in advance of a new HBO documentary by Alexandra Pelosi. (KTNV)
"I do not see any relationship that I ever had with Sam as me being taken advantage of. I do not feel like I was ever a victim.... I saw it as a friendship that had crossed the line a couple of times, but I saw it as a friendship," Breedlove said. "When I say cross the line, I don't mean as an unwarranted or unwanted affection. I just didn't see it as something with any potential. ... I saw it as that was the line that we had crossed a couple of times, was 'friends' to 'friends with benefits.' ... I was not pulled into this situation by Sam. I was not unfairly influenced by Sam. I think Sam is a wonderful man.''
Quotes from an interview with Beau Breedlove that appeared in the Oregonian newspaper. The city of Portland is facing a highly-publicized sex scandal because the city's brand new mayor, Sam Adams, who is openly gay, was forced into confessing that he lied about having an affair with Breedlove a couple of years ago. Both say the affair occurred after Breedlove had just turne 18. Adams has publicly apologized for lying and asking Breedlove to lie to the press, but says he will not step down from his position as Mayor even though there is said to be a number of calls for his resignation. (The Oregonian)
''Gillibrand's positions may have evolved. She may yet be a defender of LGBT rights, but what's she's saying today doesn't square with her voting record. Why are these groups coming to her defense instead of asking the Senator-Elect why she didn't support legislation that would help the gay community previously? HRC says that Gillibrand "supports repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell", but by their own accounting, she doesn't. She also claims to be in support of full marriage equality, a position she seems to have developed, literally, overnight.''
Japhy Grant of the popular gay blog Queerty calling for the community to be wary of newly appointed Senator Gillibrand's sudden outpouring of support for gay rights. (Queerty)
''After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples.... She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues.''
Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda on New York state. Gillibrand is from a conservative district in Upstate New York. (The New York Observer)
''A staffer said Gillibrand is pro-gay marriage, a change from past reports that described the congresswoman as anti-gay marriage, but pro-civil unions.''
From a report about New York state's new Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, as posted by news station WKBW of Buffalo, New York. (WKBW)
''Gillibrand, an attorney by training who leans Republican on a number of key issues, including gun rights and gay marriage, said she intends to represent the "diverse views and voices of the entire state" of New York.''
From a report filed by AFP about Kirsten Gillibrand, the new Senator from New York who is replacing Hiliary Clinton (AFP)
''Ms. Gillibrand, 42, has solid credentials in the fight for women's issues, including abortion rights, and she has bravely endorsed gay marriage -- moves that would normally be considered political suicide in her district.''
From a New York Times article about Kirsten Gillibrand. (New York Times)
''Porn is porn.... I say I'm straight, and I really am. I'm married, 3 kids.... I don't really get aroused for anybody but my, but, for my fans. Knowing that, in the back of my mind, that they're watching me -- if they want me to perform at my best, that gives me a little motivation.... I feel more in control [receiving]. When I work with another guy, I'm not comfortable necessarily giving compared to receiving, because, I don't know. I feel like, it's easy for me to do, and I can do it and at least feel like I'm having a good time without being gay.''
A somewhat uncomfortable straight man, Kurt Wild, responding to Tyra Bank's question phrased as a hilarious euphemism of whether he prefers giving or receiving presents at Christmas. Wild gained attention last year when he fired from his job at a Subway restaurant because a customer complained that he worked in gay porn. He says that he can get 10 times more making gay porn than straight porn. (Tyra Banks via YouTube)
''I want to set something straight. A lot of people say that gay men are ''freakier'' than straight men.... It's not true. A man is a man. And a man is just nasty. Just freakier than girls. I just want to set that straight. I think that's really good.''
Talk show host Tyra Banks catching a save after she asked a straight bartender, Corey, what the craziest thing was that ever happened to him working in a gay bar. He recounted a man with a boot fetish who plopped $100 down on the bar then grabbed his boot and licked the bottom of it three times. The in-studio audience reacted with revulsion at his tale. (Tyra Banks Show via YouTube)
''My clients want to move on with their lives, but they've got to do it so there's no financial or political burden left on them with having this marriage kind of sitting out there. It's about recognizing what other states have recognized and allowing those individuals who choose to live in the state of Texas to be able to dissolve their relationship without having to move back to the state where they were married.
Attorney Peter Shulte, who represents a gay man in Dallas seeking a divorce in Texas even though his same-sex wedding occurred in Massachusetts in 2006. (Dallas Morning News)
''The biggest mistake is we turned everything over to professional consultants, and we would never do that again. We should have been in the strategy room with them.''
Geoff Kors of California Marriage Equality, a group that fought Proposition 8, reacting to participant sentiment at the ''Equality Summit '09'' that one of the reasons the anti-gay marriage initiative Proposition 8 passed was becaue regular people were excluded from the guiding process. (San Francisco Chronicle)
''As one of the leaders of the gay community, I want to apologize to the gay community for embarrassing them. I should have been truthful from the very beginning.... Well I wasn't thinking clearly, that's for sure. I was not thinking appropriately, either. I was recently out of a relationship of eleven years -- the first time in my life that I was gay and out of the closet and single. I was dating a number of people, and at the same time I was learning to be an elected official, and the scrutiny that comes with that. I frankly was sort of finding my way.''
Portland, Oregon's newly elected, gay Mayor Sam Adams, admitting that he lied about having a sexual relationship with an intern, Beau Breedlove, who was 18 during their encounters in 2005. Adams is now 45, and is reported to have said called his opponent's allegations the worst kind of smear a gay man could face. Adams also says he asked Breedlove to lie about their relationship. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
''We spend our whole lives trying to convince everyone that we're OK, that we're not broken or wrong. And -- I don't care who he slept with -- but he lied! That's the part I can't get past. He got elected under false pretenses, 'cause we didn't know the truth, and now we have to deal with it.''
Kimberlee Van Patten, a gay Portland, Oregon resident, speaking about the newly elected mayor, Sam Adams, 45, and the first such openly-gay elected official to run a major city. Adams was dogged by rumors during his campaign that he'd slept with an underage intern at the state legislature three years ago. He is now admitting to having had sex with that intern, Beau Breedlove, shortly after his 18th birthday. Some gay residents of the area feel that its an embarrassment that Adams lied, and feel that it only further perpetuates negative gay stereotypes. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Support for the LGBT Community
Portion of the Civil Rights Agenda posted by the Whitehouse website team for our newly inaugurated President Barack Obama (Whitehouse.gov)
''The Lesbian and Gay Band Association. They are a national music organization who has concert and marching bands from cities across America, that makes up a network of Lesbian and Gay bands. Their participation marks the first time that an openly-gay and lesbian group has been invited to march in an Inaugural Parade.''
WTTG Fox5 news anchor Brian Boulter announcing on air the appearance of the LGBA in front of President Barack Obama at the viewing stand near the White House. Unfortunately, the parade started late and crowds had almost completely disappeared for the parade after waiting up to half a day in below-freezing temperatures. The LGBA appearance came 2/3 of the way into the program, and Barack and Michelle Obama can be seen waving warmly to the GLBT participants. The band reportedly had 177 people representing 17 states, and played John Philip Sousa's "The Washington Post March."
''At former Inaugurals, we were only allowed to perform as a concert band.... [This time] we're marching! That's what it's all about. It's about being seen, being televised, being part of history -- a feeling of impowerment."
LGBA marching band major in an interview with The TakeAway before appearing in the Inauguration Parade today. (TheTakeAway.org via YouTube)
''The Producer of the Concert has said that the Presidential Inaugural Committee made the decision to keep the Invocation as part of the pre-show.''
A statement from the HBO Network to AfterElton.com explaining why openly-gay bishop Gene Robinson's pre-concert Invocation was cut from the program that aired on television. (Rachel Maddow via YouTube)
''[I]n the wake of the election many were concerned with the impact Proposition 8 could have on the personal lives of people they work with every day, and on California's ability to attract and retain a diverse mix of employees from around the world. That's why we've signed an amicus brief (PDF file) in support of several cases currently challenging Proposition 8 in the California Supreme Court. Denying employees basic rights isn't right, and it isn't good for businesses....''
Post by Kent Walker, General Counsel for Google on the company's official blog. (Google Blog)
... [The Episcopal Church has] already considered me an adversary after partnering on projects with Kolini, Orumbi, and Nzimbi, and writing the TIME bio on Akinola.
But since last summer... I've been on Gene Robinson and other's attack list for my position on gay marriage. ....[Our] brothers and sisters here at St. James in Newport Beach lost their California State Supreme Court case to keep their property.
We stand in solidarity with them, and with all orthodox, evangelical Anglicans. I offer the campus of Saddleback Church to any Anglican congregation who need a place to meet, or if you want to plant a new congregation in south Orange County.
Outtakes from letter attributed to Evangelical pastor Rick Warren by Timothy C. Morgan of ChristianityToday. The letter was allegedly sent on January 9, 2009, and it appears to be a supportive outreach to the former Episcopal Church members at Saint James Church, a parish which purposefully broke away from the American branch of the Anglican Church because of the ordination of Rev. Gene Robinson to the level of Bishop. Warren here appears to be suggesting that the Episcopal Church is at odds with him, and that he will, in return, offer meeting space to the anti-gay parish that lost a court battle in it's attempt to keep the Episcopal Church property. (Christianity Today) Note: The orignial blog post has since been removed from the site, but a cached version may be available on Google's search engine here.
''President-elect Obama has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground. I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen.''
Statement attributed to Evangelical preacher Rick Warren on January 16, 2009, regarding President-elect Barack Obama and his inclusion of an openly-gay Episcopal Bishop, Gene Robinson in Sunday's pre-Inauguration concert. Both men will be participating at this weekend's Obama celebration here in Washington, DC. (Christian Post)
''This offence is so serious that only an immediate sentence of imprisonment can be justified for it.''
Judge David Radford during the sentencing hearing of George O'Dowd -- a/k/a former pop singer& DJ Boy George -- who found guilty last month of imprisoning and using a chain to beat an alleged male escort he met online via Gaydar. O'Dowd who has a long history of controversy and drug-related problems has been sentenced to 15 months in prison which is a far greater punishment that his defense team and family had apparently been expecting. (Reuters UK)
''Well, you're the first minister, I ever heard say being gay was a gift from God, I can tell you that.''
Oprah Winfrey looking rather like she didn't know what to say after Rev. Ed Bacon told Sedrick, a gay man seeking financial advice, that "Being gay is a gift from God." A fellow spiritual leader, Michael Bernard Beckwith, who shared the stage for ''Oprah's Best Life: Spirtuality'' show, said he agreed with Rev. Bacon. (Oprah.com)
''I meant exactly what I said.... Our church was FULL of people this past Sunday. Our e-mail was FULL of comments. And what I gather, is that it simply unleashed a flood of healing throughout the country, and Australia, and Great Britain, and across the continent. It was amazing!.... Most of the mail that I received -- like 30 to 1 -- was appreciative of the information that being gay is a gift from God.... Ironically, the most meanspirited e-mail I received was from Christians, as I interpret it, in a condemning way.''
Rev. Ed Bacon on a follow-up show regarding his comments a week earlier which generated a lot of calls and controversy on the Oprah.com bulletin board. (Oprah Winfrey Show via GLAAD on YouTube)
''I think it's a huge opportunity. We take for granted that a message of toleration and inclusion is what God's message is about, but a lot of people have never heard this. What I find so wonderful is that Ed Bacon [is] able to use this national stage for an inclusive message about the love of God.''
Rev. Susan Russell, associate pastor at All Saints Church of Pasadena, CA. The church reportedly received thousands of emails after Rev. Ed Bacon appeard on Oprah and stated, ''Being gay is a gift from God." (Pasadena Weekly)
''I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.''
From a 1996 survey submitted by Barack Obama to Outlines, a gay and lesbian publication in Chicago at that time. The Windy City Times has published an analysis that details the President-elect's evolution on the same-sex marriage issue. More recently, he has stated publicly that he does not support same-sex marriages, but added that he does support some similar rights for gay couples in civil partnerships. (Windy City Times)
''You don't hear politicians give a one-word answer much. But it's 'Yes.'''
Obama administration spokesperson Robert Gibbs responding to a question from Thaddeus of Lansing, MI on the Change.gov website. Thaddeus question appears at the end of the video response: "Is the new administration going to get rid of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy." (Change.gov via YouTube)
''I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, We are One, to be held at the Lincoln Memorial.... I am humbled and overjoyed at this invitation, and it will be my great honor to be there representing the Episcopal Church, the people of New Hampshire, and all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.''
Portion of an e-mail sent to friends by the Reverend Gene Robinson. (Citizen Times)
''"The president-elect has respect for the Rt. Rev. Robinson, who offered his advice and counsel over the past couple of years. It also has the benefit of further reinforcing our commitment to an open and inclusive inaugural.''
From a statement made by an inaugural official associated with the upcoming ceremonies for President-elect Barack Obama. Gene Robinson is known as being the first openly-gay Episcopal Bishop and his appointment was seen as extremely controversial within the larger Anglican Church. His inclusion by the Obama inaugural committee comes on the heels of mass criticism directed at the President-elect for inviting Evangelical pastor, Rick Warren, who spoke several times in favor of Proposition 8 and likened gay marriage to polygamy and marriage to children. (Politico)
''There is a history of GLBT characters appearing in video games, but it's few and far between. Assuming that we continue to develop games that either allow the player to choose their own sexuality or feature GLBT characters as a 'normal' integral part of the plot or story, this will hopefully lead to more developers adding these characters in.''
Tracy Whitelaw of LesbianGamers.com, explaining the slowly advancing presence of gay video game characters such as Microsoft's role playing game ''Fable II'' and ''Mass Effect.'' (The Olympian)
''You can do whatever you want. If you want to marry a guy, you can marry a guy. If you want to be as gay as you want to be, you can be as gay as you want to be. I married two guys.... If you are gay and own an XBox -- If you are gay and love video games, buy an XBox 360 because this game is worth it.''
Mateo doing a "Gay Video Game Review" on YouTube. (YouTube)
''We just want to live our lives with the basic civil rights that everyone else has.''
Donna Lee, 60, a MTF post-op transgender woman who reportedly moved to Gainsville, Florida after a trans-friendly city ordinance passed there that expanded the rights of transgender individuals in regards to the use of public restrooms. In an effort to repeal the law, conservatives are running TV ads that depict a non-transgender man walking into a restroom after a little blond girl along with the tag line, ''On January 28, 2008, your City Commission made this legal. Is this what you want in Gainesville? Sign the petition.'' (Associated Press)
''If it's a distraction of that sort, it's not worth the candle.... Every night, when I'd take my clothes off, you know what I used to do? Pull in my stomach. That's pathetic. I was playing an old man. I should have let it all hang out, and I couldn't do that.''
British actor Sir Ian McKellen remarking on his upcoming PBS performance of "King Lear" for the show "Great Performances." McKellen, who is turning 70, performed a nude scene during live stage appearances, but the American TV network has opted not to include that particular aspect of the openly-gay actor's talent. He is best-known for playing Magneto in the "X-Men" series and "Gandalf," the wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" movies, but he says people often confuse him with "Dumbledore" in the "Harry Potter" series. (Times Herald Record)
''Several donors have indicated that they will not contribute to committee plaintiffs or similar organizations in the future because of the threats and harassment directed at them as a result of their contributions ... and the public disclosure of that fact. Indeed, there is significant evidence that, because of the disclosure of their names, donations to groups supporting the passage of Proposition 8 led directly to those donors being singled out for threats, harassment and reprisals.''
Portion of a lawsuit being filed by supporters of last year's Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative that was primarily spearheaded by Catholic, Mormon, Fundamentalist, and African-American religious institutions and other conservative groups in California. The successful repeal of gay marriage equality in that state has led to a lot of hurt feelings around the country, and the lawsuit is asking for the California court to seal the names of people and organizations contributed to that anti-gay political campaign. They are alleging illegal harassment on the part of same-sex marriage supporters. (San Francisco Chronicle)
''It's probably nothing, but the economy is really screwing all the bars right now, and the last thing we need is something ramping up the not-go-out mode people seem to be in right now. It's really freaky that someone would do something like this at a time like this.''
Keith Christensen of the Eagle bar in Seattle, WA. Eleven gay-friendly bars in the Capitol Hill area and The Stanger newspaper (most famous as the home of gay advice columnist Dan Savage) received a bizarre letter threatening them with ricin, a poisonous powder created from castor beans. The bars are said to be holding a ''pub crawl'' in a show of support rather than show any intimidation. (The Stranger)
''I'm one of those really bisexual types -- I can never make up my mind.... If I had my own daytime show it would be 'Gays of our Lives.' ... I would like to be a role model for the trans community. We are very under represented, and I think, even the people who are portrayed on camera now -- you don't have any trans people playing trans people.... Guys are stupid. I'm glad I never was one.''
Katelynn, 24, a computer geek and martial artist, appearing on MTV's latest ''Reel World.'' (MTV)
''I guess I could say I use training techniques with some of the guys I date.... Animal training 101: You always want to end a session -- a training session on a positive note.... So, let's say, I had an amazing time with a guy, like, that weekend. Obviously, you don't want to end it on a negative note. My two relationships that were longer were, um -- the guys tended to be a few years older, quite a few years older.
JD, 22, a dolphin trainer and bartender, appearing on MTV's latest ''Reel World.'' (MTV)
''"It's crazy. [The treatment] is amazing, but it's crazy. There are things in there that I was like 'Can we do that?' It's real John Waters-y stuff, and it was more like a sequel to his movie than to our movie. Which I love, because then that becomes re-interpreted.''
Director Adam Shankman speaking about the developing storyline for John Waters' follow-up to the hit movie musical version of "Hairspray." (MTV)
''I'm like a dog. When I get hold of a bone, I don't let go.... [Proposition 8's approval] was a great encouragement. We have been considered the California of the East Coast.''
Republican Maryland Delegate Don Dwyer of Glen Burnie who is planning on reintroducing his anti-gay marriage bill in the General Assembly soon. (The Capital)
''Let's just say it's likely the president-elect will be occupied with many other activities.''
Linda Douglass, spokesperson for Barack Obama, telling ABC News that the President-elect will not be attending the Centaur MC Leather Weekend events. (ABC News)
''Certainly many of our guests are happy about the inauguration and some people will be attending both, but for us we're celebrating what we normally celebrate - the leather community, and our [motorcycle] club, and the anniversary.''
Larry Barat of Centaur MC telling ABC News about the coincidental timing of the gay leathermen group's Leather Weekend and President-elect Barack Obama's Inauguration. (ABC News)
''There are so many things they could be doing. Why are they not putting their energies on real issues that affect families like health care, education and homelessness?''
Reverend John Tamilio III is pastor of Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ Church, a gay-inclusive church, that objects to the efforts of other Cleveland, OH ministers to remove the city's new domestic partner registry that would benefit gays, lesbians and other unmarried couples. (WKYC)
We are good parents and more than capable of deciding who we should trust to care for our children, without the state's assistance. It is our parental right to decide what is in the best interest of our children and Act 1 infringes upon this right.''
Meredith Scroggin of Little Rock, AR who, along with her husband, believe they should have the right to designate in their wills that her children should be adopted by her gay cousin and his partner. Act 1, a voter-approved bill, essentially blocks the adoption rights of gays, lesbians and anyone else who is not in a legal marriage. (Times Record)
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