The fact is that more people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, that my friends, is true perversion.

Homosexuality is not the problem ; Prejudice is the problem

Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.

Does any of us know the mind of God so well that we can decide for him who is included, and who is excluded, from the circle of his love? The wave of hate that is underway must stop. Politicians who profit from exploiting this hate, from fanning it, must not be tempted by this easy way to profit from fear and misunderstanding. And my fellow clerics, of all faiths, must stand up for the principles of universal dignity and fellowship.

I don’t equate femininity with weakness, I also knew that I had to be strong, and to protect myself and the people I loved

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

A parent who brings up a child to be a racist damages that child, damages the community in which they live, damages our hopes for a better world. A parent who teaches a child that there is only one sexual orientation and that anything else is evil denies our humanity and their own too.

Just as you have the instinctive natural desire to be happy and overcome suffering, so do all sentient beings; just as you have the right to fulfill this innate aspiration, so do all sentient beings. So on what grounds do you discriminate?

We are here because what we want, who we love and how we feel has an effect on the amount of power we have in the world. We’ve come together in the name of desire.

When you hide that kind of thing, other people can sense you’re uncomfortable. They can see that as a weakness and use it as a target to bully you. That was the case when I was quite young and only just realising I was gay. Society teaches you that gay is not as good as straight, you grow up with those ideas in your head, and you punish yourself. You try and deny it, or wait it out, or change it. But it wasn’t until I was totally honest about it all that it wasn’t a problem. I wish I could tell everyone that and that they could just do it, to get rid of this shit, this anguish that comes with it. But that would be irresponsible of me because there are external factors for people — their family, their religion, the laws of their country

I lost my own father to violence when he stood up for an employee who was being attacked. I’ve heard from my wonderful friends in the LGBT community about the hard roads too many have traveled. And many parents have shared painful stories with me about how their children, who might be perceived to be different, are ruthlessly attacked and scared of their own schools. I am passionate about standing up against bullying and homophobia in sports, and feel compelled to take action. It is time we stand up for what is right and support people who are being harmed. Every person on this planet has a right to be true to themselves, to love and be loved, and to be happy. I encourage others to stand up with me and make a difference.

Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when he is called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.

I may be revered or defamed and decried; but I tried to live my life right.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.

There’s this illusion that homosexuals have sex and heterosexuals fall in love. That’s completely untrue. Everybody wants to be loved.