I Didn't Say It

Nick Offerman, actor, at the Independent Spirit Awards, on his storyline in The Last of Us playing a gay character:

“When homophobic hate comes my way and says, ‘Why did you have to make [The Last of Us] a gay story?’ We say, ‘Because you ask questions like that. It’s not a gay story. It’s a love story, asshole.’”

Love is love. It’s that simple.

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Dan Rather, former news anchor, on SCOTUS’ taking on Thing 45’s immunity case:

“The fact that the Supreme Court is even considering [Thing 45]’s immunity case is horrific. It should be clear to anyone who cares about democracy that no one is above the law. But while a Supreme Court packed with [Thing 45]’s appointees won’t save us, there is something we all can do: the presidential election is 250 days away. The hard work of keeping American democracy is alive and thriving is up to the voting public. We must redouble our mobilizing, volunteering, knocking on doors, registering and helping others to register in time to vote on November 5. For those who oppose autocratic rule, complacency and apathy are the enemy. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Anyone and everyone can make a difference. Let the work begin.”

Be like Dan.

Speak up; register; CAST A GODDAMNED VOTE.

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Jayson Boebert, in a statement about his son the criminal AKA The Apple That Didn’t Fall Far From the Tree:

“Being a father in today’s challenging world can be a heavy task. With the constant bombardment of information and influences from all angles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the best way to guide your children. The challenges we have experienced, especially in the last few years, with schools being shut down, social shut downs, and the depression that was set in from a mismanaged COVID SHUT DOWN. Despite our best efforts, we will fall short sometimes. As a parent balancing work, family, and personal life while striving to be a good role model for your kids can be incredibly demanding. Moreover, the spotlight of today’s media can magnify and distort even the smallest aspects of your life. It’s disheartening to see your actions or words misrepresented and sensationalized, painting a false picture for the public.”

It's all COVID’s fault says the father who exposed himself to teenage girls while his wife was running around getting arrested herself.

That's the way of Republicans: blame everybody else and accept no responsibility.

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Marcia Gay Harden, award-winning actor, crediting her three queer children— Eulala, 25, is nonbinary; Hudson, 19 is gay; and his twin, Julitta, is fluid—with making her an advocate for LGBTQ+ equality:

“I’ve learned an awful lot about gender nonconformity, and I’ve learned a lot about what I was already understanding in my own life, even in high school, my first boyfriend was gay and was too afraid to come out until later. I was already learning a lot about the gay community, but at the time, we spoke more about gay community rather than queer community and I think now the kids talk a lot about the queer community, and it’s much more expansive. It’s much more gender nonconforming. It’s much more embracing, actually … I’m learning on a daily basis about that from all of [my] kids. I got so much hate mail [about] how I'm grooming my kids and all this, that, and the other [but] the response from each one of [my kids] was, ‘Work it, mom. Work it, mom. You’re doing something right if that’s happening.’ Having a child will literally be the greatest masterclass anybody will ever have … and I’ve learned to accept each of them for the beauty that they are and dispel expectation. I’ve learned that at the end of the day, it’s their life. It is their life. I want them to be happy in it.”

That’s how you parent; you listen to your kids, and you love your kids.

It’s not that difficult.

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Colin Grafton, figure skater, coming out as gay:

“I told my closest friends; I told the people around me and I eventually told my parents. I was maybe 24 when all that happened. I know there’s a lot of curiosity about my sexual orientation and my love life, but I never actually came out to the public. I guess this is me announcing it to you guys. I was really nervous of … [coming out] to myself. It was like,’ OK, if I come out as gay then people are going to think I’m this or that,’ when in reality the human sexuality spectrum is so vast and it’s just one small part of the person you are. It’s been a long journey but now I am proud of myself and I’m proud of my sexual orientation and I want to let other people know that they should be proud of every part of themselves too, but there is no rush and there’s no pressure to come out. You have to do it on your own terms and in your own time and find that love for yourselves. It’s not an easy thing—it’s a journey and a learning experience.”

But when you do come out, you have a whole new family waiting for you … along with the Official Coming Out Toaster Oven™ and copy of the Gay Agenda.

So, welcome out, Colin.

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