“In the past, it weighed on me because nobody in my family is gay. I had no role models so I had to find my own way.” WayPastMy OwnRolesGayModelsMy FamilyRole Models Author:Mika
“Our role as artist is more controversial now because there are those, claiming the absolute authority of religion, who detest much of our work as much as they detest most of our politics. Instead of rationally debating subjects like abortion or gay rights, they condemn as immoral those who favor choice and tolerance. They disown their own dark side and magnify everyone else's until, at the extreme, doctors are murdered in the name of protecting life. I wonder, who is this God they invoke, who is so petty and mean? Is God really against gun control and food stamps for poor children?” MeanChildrenArtistChoicesNamesSidesDarkPoorWonderRolesRightsSubjectsGayAuthorityGunDoctorsAbsolutesExtremesFavorsToleranceAbortionGun ControlStampsImmoralPettyControversialDark SideGay RightsInvokeDetestFood StampsPoor Children Author:Barbra Streisand
“I didn't have any role models. I really thought I was doomed to this loveless, lonely life. I didn't know any gay people until I began doing theater.” PeopleKnowsRolesGayModelsLonelyTheaterRole ModelsDoomedGay PeopleLovelessLonely Life Author:Bryan Batt
“I am very proud of the role I played in getting legal equality for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and in helping get rid of the prejudice by being visible about it, helping to block the conviction of Bill Clinton of impeachment.” PeopleHelpingRolesProudGayPrejudiceBillsClintonConvictionBlockVisibleTransgenderBisexualImpeachment Author:Barney Frank
“I'm certainly not going to tell other people what they should do with their own personal lives. I think it's certainly easier for a director to be out. The public is not going to see a movie because the director is gay or straight. It's maybe a little harder for an actor or actress because of, you know, the love roles and stuff. But gay people have been impersonating heteros in the movies for years. So, hopefully, that is becoming less of an issue. I think it would have been really great if a gay person had played a gay person. That's brave!” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsShouldYearsLittlesPersonsHas BeensActorsStuffRolesIssuesBecomingEasierGayDirectorsHarderBraveActressesHopefullyReally GreatPersonal LifeGay PeopleBecause Of You Author:John Waters
“Why do you think people don't think that homosexual parents are good? You don't know what a homosexual family looks like. I will be the role model for the good gay family. Don't let these children suffer without families because of your bias.” PeopleThinkingKnowsLooksChildrenSufferingParentRolesGayModelsRole ModelsBiasHomosexual Author:Rosie O'Donnell
“I don't think that gay and lesbian relationships are identical to heterosexual relationships. I do think that heterosexual weddings, or at least most of them, are sort of camp pantomimes about male and female sex roles, even if the couple is marrying as individuals and equals.” IfsThinkingIndividualSexRolesCoupleGayFemaleMalesCampsIdenticalMarryingPantomime Author:Dan Savage
“I'm wildly impressed with the diversity of gay roles.” RolesGayDiversityImpressed Author:Neil Patrick Harris
“It's amazing how the world has changed because, at that time [2005], a lot of actors didn't want to play a gay role.” WorldWantPlayActorsRolesChangedGay Author:Jake Gyllenhaal
“I just hate that gay role models are supposed to be just like straight people, as if even straight people are like that.” PeopleIfsHateRolesGayModelsSupposed To BeRole Models Author:Paul Rudnick
“There are lots of big books that have gay characters - or, more commonly, a gay character - in secondary roles, but seldom are their lives, and especially their sexual lives, on center stage.” BookCharacterBigsRolesStageGayBig BookCenter Stage Author:Garth Greenwell
“I think the gay community, as a whole, is slighted by high-profile figures who remain in the closet. But I think that a lot of times we need to ask ourselves what that person's role in our community would be if they were out of the closet.” IfsThinkingNeedsPersonsWholeWould BeAsksCommunityRolesFiguresGayClosetsOur CommunityProfileGay CommunityHigh ProfileSlighted Author:Christopher Rice
“I think as far as straight actors playing gay roles, "Brokeback Mountain" was a big breakthrough. I'm pretty sure when they were casting that movie that - I think the story is, like you know, 10 to 15 other actors turned it down.” ThinkingKnowsStoriesBigsActorsRolesLike YouGayMountainCastingBreakthroughBrokeback Mountain Author:James Franco
“There was a huge movement that led up to [gay marriage legilization], and I played a small role in the great scheme of things. But it was really a privilege to get to do it.” RolesMovementHugeGayPrivilegeSchemesGay MarriageSmall Roles Author:Donald Verrilli Jr.
“Every gay who is in the closet is ultimately a threat to the freedom of gays. I don't want to seem intolerant to them and I think we have to say that to them with a great deal of affection, but remaining in the closet is the other side of the prejudice against gays. Because until you challenge it, you are not playing an active role in fighting it.” ThinkingWantSeemsFightingSidesChallengesDealsRolesGayPrejudiceThreatAffectionActiveClosets Author:Bayard Rustin
“The successes of the LGBT civil rights movement and the more prominent role openly gay people are playing in the public eye has actually turned up the temperature in middle schools and high schools for queer kids.” PeopleEyeKidsSchoolRolesRightsMiddleMovementGayHigh SchoolCivil RightsLgbtTemperatureCivil Rights MovementGay PeopleProminentMiddle SchoolPublic Eye Author:Dan Savage