Quips & Quotes

“By saying aloud, ‘I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,’ in a televised interview on ABC, he has sparked conversation domestically and internationally. While he is our president at home, globally he’s an icon, a symbol of the promise of America, of the promise of equality. Obama may be the most prominent man on the planet ever, given the pervasiveness of modern media and his anomalous and historic nature as the first black American president; he is surely the single most recognizable head of state on the globe. By virtue of his unique position, his endorsement of marriage equality is not merely rhetoric. His words constitute action. On the very face of it, his statement is enormous, and has the power to move millions in a way that a statement from no other person could have.”

—Advocate editorial endorsing President Barack Obama

“A society that is serious about marriage would gently stand up to gay people and say ‘not this, not now.’ Changes in law are hard to undo, once they are institutionalized. I did not decide to debate gay marriage, gay-marriage advocates did. I responded to the challenge. We are making a decision about how serious we are about trying to strengthen marriage as a social institution dedicated to connecting sex, babies, moms, and dads. If we allow gay marriage, the answer is ‘not very serious’ or perhaps ‘we don’t care at all anymore.’ That’s why I oppose gay marriage.”

—Former head of anti-gay National Organization for Marriage Maggie Gallagher

“Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean.”

—Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons