Gay Today: Quote

Quotes & Quips

Compiled By Jack Nichols

Barbra Streisand meets Oklahomosexuality

I realize now that I didn't just want to watch Barbra; on some level I wanted to be her. The physical manifestation of this pre-gay stage consisted of dancing around the living room miming to records and dreaming of a career (preferably hers) in musicals. I know I was not alone in this. Close identification with musical stars - usually female - is hardly the sole preserve of shy 11-year-olds…Following that initial manifestation, there is a more mature developmental stage to Oklahomosexuality. At some point, usually when falling in lust and/or love, you realize that Streisand's career is perfectly safe and you are, in fact, merely gay.

David Benedict-"Why guys want to be Barbra"-- New Zealand Herald, December 27

Ethnicity Error Hits Home

An Arab-American member of President Bush's security detail was denied passage on an American Airlines flight from Baltimore to Dallas Tuesday evening after the flight's pilot questioned the validity of the agent's credentials, a spokesman for the Secret Service said tonight.

New York Times-"Guard for Bush Isn't Allowed Aboard Flight"-December 26

Fundamentalist Hate-Mongers in Miami-Dade

Take Back Miami-Dade obviously hasn't considered two factors in its efforts to overturn the inclusion of sexual orientation from the county's human-rights ordinance. The first factor is the increased activism within the gay community. After Bryant's successful 1977 campaign against gay rights, a number of gay political organizations came into being, and political activism, along with protest marches, demonstrations and boycotts of Florida orange juice not only ruined Bryant's career but also furthered the modern gay-rights movement…The second factor that Take Back Miami-Dade hasn't considered is public opinion. Aside from the signatures that the group has collected, a majority of the public no longer believes that the gay community "recruits'' children or is seeking "special rights.''

William Butte-" Anti-gay drive flawed, doomed"-Miami Herald, December 27

21st Century Male Role-Conditioning

At the beginning of the 21st century it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that men are in serious trouble. Throughout the world, developed and developing, antisocial behavior is essentially male. Violence, sexual abuse of children, illicit drug use, alcohol misuse, gambling, all are overwhelmingly male activities. The courts and prisons bulge with men. When it comes to aggression, delinquent behavior, risk taking and social mayhem, men win gold.

Anthony Clare-"On Men" quoted in The Economist, December 22

The Christian Coalition's de facto Leader: George W. Bush

Pat Robertson's resignation this month as president of the Christian Coalition confirmed the ascendance of a new leader of the religious right in America: George W. Bush. For the first time since religious conservatives became a modern political movement, the president of the United States has become the movement's de facto leader -- a status even Ronald Reagan, though admired by religious conservatives, never earned. Christian publications, radio and television shower Bush with praise, while preachers from the pulpit treat his leadership as an act of providence. A procession of religious leaders who have met with him testify to his faith, while Web sites encourage people to fast and pray for the president.

Dana Milbank-" Religious Right Finds Its Center in Oval Office Bush Emerges as Movement's Leader After Robertson Leaves Christian Coalition"-Washington Post via commondreams.org Rightwing Watch-December 24

The Old Ayatollah Liked those Kiddies

A man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby. However he should not penetrate, sodomizing the child is OK. If the man penetrates and damages the child then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however does not count as one of his four permanent wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girls sister…It is better for a girl to marry in such a time when she would begin menstruation at her husband's house rather than her father's home. Any father marrying his daughter so young will have a permanent place in heaven.

Ayatollah Khomeini--Tahrirolvasyleh, fourth volume, Darol Elm, Qom, Iran, 1990

Dietrich's Overdose

Marlene Dietrich, who died at her home in Paris in 1992, probably took her own life with sleeping pills to avoid being put into care, Dietrich's long-time companion Norma Bosquet said. .."It is very likely that she died of an overdose of sleeping pills," Ms Bosquet said during an interview on the centenary of Dietrich's birth…She said that she herself had placed pills at Dietrich's disposal. ..Ms Bosquet, an American who was the only person to have regular access to the actress in the last reclusive years of her life, said the 90-year-old Dietrich had a brain haemorrhage two days before her death on May 6, 1992.

Norma Bosquet--"Dietrich 'Died of Overdose'-The Age, Australia-- December 28

Overweight in Peoria

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.

Author Unknown

Protester Terrorism?

San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan declared in the San Francisco Examiner, "We are talking about terrorism here"…Petrelis and Pasquarelli conducted a "phone zap" as part of a campaign against possible AIDS quarantine. They called, and urged people to call, public health officials and news reporters. Their vigorous efforts against the proposed Model State Emergency Health Powers Act have stirred strong emotions. While we (and others) may disagree with them on politics or tactics, the history of AIDS has often compelled aggressive responses by activists. The prospect of high bail and escalating criminal charges for protest is a genuine threat to civil liberties.

Bill Dobbs-Open Letter circulated on the Internet, December 12

Look Who's Talking!

After Sept. 11, there was a lot of pontification about how Americans would be forever changed and ennobled by the tragedy…We would no longer be cynical. Or jaded. Or rude. Or materialistic. Or shallow. Or sybaritic.

Maureen Dowd-"Style Beside Sorrow"-New York Times, December 23