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.

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Where there is love, there is life.

You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.

Intolerance is not genetically encoded - it is taught. It is learned at home. It is learned in the classrooms and it is learned anywhere else we gather as a group. Bullying is torture, it is another betrayal of basic human decency and its scars reach into the future of its survivors

I just wish more of my fellow queers would come out sometimes. It’s nice out here, you know?

My dreams! I hope to see more women being liberated or stand for what they believe in and hope to see a universe free of discrimination, torture, and violence.

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.

When you call someone a ’fag’, it identifies them with a group, a group that in today’s climate is open to harassment. So by calling someone a ’fag’, you are giving yourself and the people around you the license to either damage this individual verbally or physically.

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

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

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved

Why should I support a religion that does not accept my beloved brother ?

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.

The ageless cliché that everyone is equal but some are more equal than others is not acceptable. No human being should be denied their human rights simply because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. No human being should be subject to discrimination, violence, criminal sanctions or abuse simply because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.