LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Quote Unquote |
by Rex Wockner |
"I have quite a few really, really close gay friends. In fact maybe most of my friends." Diana Ross to the Advocate, May 11. "Yes! I know that [that Ive been important to so many young gay people]. I really do. Its just amazing! And you know the reason why I think I inspire a lot of female impersonators? Because its not difficult to try to look like me! Put on a nice, big fluffy wig and lots of eye makeup. Its such a blessing for me to know that gay people really like me." Diana Ross to the Advocate, May 11. "Are you a lesbian?... Your honor, I have nothing against lesbians. In fact, put two of them together and... The point is, a lot of lesbians in early attempts to deny their homosexuality or, in part, to account for itattribute their not liking men to the misguided notion that men are badevil, even. These women tend to grow up hating them, it colors their outlook, their opinions, it could be coloring the testimony of the witness. This bears on her credibility, judge. She could be a man-hating, vicious lesbian. The court certainly has a right to know." Ally McBeal character Richard Fish on the April 26 episode. "Frequently I get offered the best gay roles, and that was entirely due to My Best Friends Wedding. I can tell you that theres really not a lot of good work thats on offer today." Actor Rupert Everett to Londons The Pink Paper, April 23. "I still, to this day, think people will look back at the last season and say it was one of the best seasons the show ever had. Being gay is not just an easy, fun experience. Its not Birdcage. I was trying to do more, and it was a hard balance to educate and do something new.... I didnt even know there was going to be a [parental] warning label [on my show]. I was watching the handholding episode at home and suddenly it was, Get out of the room! Put your children behind lead! I fought like hell against the warnings and thats what got me in trouble. When they put an advisory on the episode where Joely Fisher, who played Paige, and I had that joke kiss, I had a meeting with the heads of the network. They told me to shut up and stay out of the press. My executive producer, a heterosexual man, fought even harder than I did." Ellen DeGeneres speaking at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, quoted in the April 8 issue of Bostons Bay Windows. "Im not going to out anybody. But I will say that when I did this, I certainly hoped more would come out. Nobodys lined up behind me.... I know whos gay in Hollywood. I have the list in my back pocketgive me some liquor and Ill start talking.... It will be interesting to see who comes out next. I hope somebody does soon. Anne and I are exhausted." Ellen DeGeneres speaking at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, as quoted in the April 8 issue of Bostons Bay Windows. "Im getting angrier and angrier, I really am. The millions that theyre spending on making ex-gays supposedly could be spent on many worthwhile things, like homelessness and teenage pregnancies and drug addiction and gangs and on and on. Theyre pouring millions into this hate campaign. Its just so misguided. Its like theyve gotten on this awful bandwagon and they cant get off. Thats why we need to just speak out more and more." Ellens mom Betty, to Floridas Contax Guide, April 28. "[S]ometimes Christians on television will remind us with a wagging finger, and this is my personal favorite, After all, God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. That always makes me sit bolt upright and yell back at the TV, He gave them kids named Cain and Abel, not Cain and Abigail. But did you ever notice that somehow Cain found a wife (Gen. 4:17). Where did she come from? we might ask. Perhaps she had different parents, which would mean Adam and Eve were not the first people. Or else she was one of Adam and Eves other sons and daughters (Gen. 5:4), in which case she was his sister and he was committing incest. It has to be one or the other. Which is it? But, after all, the whole thing is a Hebrew myth, a fiction to explain where people came from." Syndicated gay press columnist Paul Varnell in early May. "Theres no question in my mind he was a gay man and a totally gay man. It wasnt just a period, but something that went on his whole life." Gay activist and author Larry Kramer on Abraham Lincoln to Salon magazine, May 3. Kramer claims to have access to a previously unknown diary written by Lincolns supposed lover, Joshua Speed, and to steamy letters between the two men. "We all know that the sex and love we share with people of our own gender is what makes us different, at our core, from heterosexuals. What never ceases to amaze me, though, is how far some members of our community will go to distance themselves from that. In a pathetic attempt to fit in with others in society who are unaccepting of what we do in bed (let alone parks) these charmers will sell out both themselves and everyone they know. Were not really sexual, they seem to say. Were almost eunuchs in fact. And did you know Leonardo DaVinci was gay? Actually, Leonardo DaVinci was also into 12-year-olds. And, yes, he was a genius and a role model." Editorial in the Vancouver gay paper Xtra! West, April 29. "One of the great cultural leaps of gay and lesbian culture is the leather scene. We invented leather as a costume and its connection to SM play. The leather scene is famous now worldwide for its sexy strutting, its raunchy parties and its love of gadgets. In fact, its inspired sex-positive heterosexuals to copy. Theft is the highest compliment." Editorial in the Vancouver gay paper Xtra! West, April 29. Rex Wockner has reported news for the gay press since 1985. His work has appeared in more than 200 gay publications. He started his career as a radio reporter, and has written extensively for the mainstream press as well. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 5, May 21, 1999 |