I Didn't Say It ...

Pete Buttigieg, out military vet and former Transportation Secretary, on The Felon’s “slash-and-burn” proposal to cut 80,000 employees from the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]:

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“How can we not be pissed off when we see them coming after the workers who take care of our veterans, many of whom are veterans themselves? They’re going to slash-and-burn so much of the VA. [But] this could be an empowering moment for so many veterans, so many families and so many Americans .There’s a lot of folks in Congress who are incredibly nervous about this, a lot of congressional Republicans who know better, but … [who can at] least can be pushed, to stand up to this sort of thing.”

The very people who protect us, he wants to punish; the very job he ran from, crying that his feet hurt, he doesn’t think worthy of respect.

He cares about rich white people, Putin and hookers pissing on him; that’s all.

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Anthony Mackie, Captain America, on  playing gay roles during his career and how it helped him to be more empathetic toward gay people, including one of his own brothers:

“Growing up in the south in the 90s & 80s, you grew up homophobic, sexist and racist….that’s just a fact. So when I got to school, my roommate was gay, like I didn’t know how to deal with that. Like my brother is gay. So being a man, I used my art to better myself. I played Perry [Brother to Brother] so that I could understand my brother better, so I could understand my friends better. Going to art school, a bunch of my friends were gay. But with me, I needed to figure out what was my hold up, what was my insecurity about that. And once I played that role, I realized everybody deserves to be loved. It’s not my job to say who you love or who should love you, If you’re loved, I’m happy for you … So Perry was more a statement piece for me, with love and admiration for my brother, with the appreciation and respect for my friends, for that culture. I think it made me a better actor because I had to go so far outside the box.”

A favorite saying of mine: when you know better, you do better. And Mackie has learned better.

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Sarah McBride, Democratic Delaware Congresswoman and the first out transgender member of Congress, on the GOP being fixated on her gender identity instead of substantive policy issues affecting Americans:

“I appear to live rent-free in the minds of some of my Republican colleagues. I wish that they would spend even a fraction of the time that they spend thinking about me, thinking about how to lower the costs for American families. I wish they would spend a fraction of the time that they spend thinking about me, figuring out how to make government actually work better, rather than making it work worse in order to prove that government can’t work. The Republican Party is obsessed with culture war issues. It is weird, and it is bizarre. And the American people deserve serious legislators, serious elected officials who are focused on bringing people together to deliver real results for the American people. Not to play games, and not to engage in schoolyard taunts. We will not take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection.”

Her remarks came just two days after Texas GOP Representative Keith Self, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, repeatedly misgendered her during a hearing,  calling her “Mister McBride.” The exchange prompted an immediate rebuke from Massachusetts Democrat Bill Keating who demanded a correction. Instead of apologizing, Self abruptly adjourned the hearing.

It's what the GOP does when confronted; they run off like rats.

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Ben Whishaw, out actor, on juggling very different projects—a spy in Black Doves, voicing Paddington Bear, and rehearsing Samuel Beckett’s "Waiting for Godot”—in an effort to avoid being pigeonholed:

“It was one of the strangest gear switches ever, but it is nice to inhabit so many different worlds. Somewhere in your mind, you have to refuse to be categorized, you have to keep very free. People love to categorize and file you somewhere and you have to really resist that ... This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about. I’m quite fascinated in how much has changed in the 20 years since I started acting. There were not roles like this [playing an openly gay hit man] … there were not depictions of queer people like this. Now you can play someone who’s not straight, and not that it’s irrelevant, but it’s not their defining characteristic—that person might have many other interesting facets. And those people can be the center of a story that appeals to a large audience … that’s new! I remember it was conveyed to me clearly that you should keep it a bit hush-hush that you’re gay and not to make much of a thing about it. Even though I wasn’t hiding it from my friends or the people in my life ... if you wanted to get roles, that was what was required of you. And I think that was it—it was a pretty tiny proportion. I can’t think of anyone who was my age. So I do really want to acknowledge the bravery and brilliance of those people, because it wasn’t nothing that we had them to look up to. And I’m grateful that we’ve moved on from that time, because it felt horrible.”

Whishaw has always marched to the beat of his own drummer, even as an out actor, trying to stay true to himself.

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Greg Casar, Democrat Congressman, on what the Democrats need to be doing:

“Today the biggest split among Democrats is between those who want to stand and fight and those who want to play dead. House Democrats united to stand and fight. Too many Senate Democrats played dead. We need more leaders from  the ‘Stand and Fight’ wing of the Democratic party.”

Stand and Fight. You work for us and we demand that you fight … or we will vote you out.

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Harvey Fierstein, playwright, actor, out gay man and live performer, on being banned from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts:

"A few folks have written to ask how I feel about [The Felon]'s takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel? The shows I've written are now banned from being performed in our premiere American theater. Those shows, most of which have been performed there in the past, include Kinky Boots, La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Hairspray, Safe Sex, Casa Valentina, Spookhouse, A Catered Affair, The Sissy Duckling, Bella Bella, and more. I have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn't care less. He does this stuff only to placate the religious right, so they'll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification. He attacks free speech. He attacks the free press. He attacks America's allies. His only allegiance is to himself—the golden calf. My fellow Americans I warn you—this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS! [The Felon] may have declared 'woke' as dead in America. We must prove him wrong. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!"

Resist.

Speak up.

Stand up.

Vote.

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I Didn't Say It ...

Robert F. Kennedy, on April 5, 1968, the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.:

“I have saved this one opportunity to speak briefly to you about this mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives. It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. No one — no matter where he lives or what he does — can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on. Whenever any American’s life is taken by another American unnecessarily — whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence, the whole nation is degraded. Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence ... We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter ... We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire weapons and ammunition they desire. ... We must admit in ourselves that our own children’s future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled nor enriched by hatred or revenge. Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land.”

Sadly, because I wonder how our country might have evolved under a Robert Kennedy presidency, he was gunned down two months later.

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Ben Whishaw, openly gay actor, on straight actors playing gay characters, and vice versa:

“With gay characters being played by straight people, straight characters being played by gay people, come on, we’re actors. I do not understand what the problem is. Actors play all sorts of things. I’ve played murderers, journalists and kings – I’m not any of them. The whole thing is a fiction, it’s about imagination, it’s play. I am baffled to why it’s such a big thing. And also, I’m baffled because it feels like we’re in a time where there are lots of gay people, not just actors but in all walks of life, and let’s be where we are. We’re human beings and I don’t understand why it’s really a discussion now.”

How many times have people questioned an actor about being gay because he played gay, but haven’t even thought of asking an actor if he’s a killer because he played a murderer?

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Bernie Sanders, on the Clinton email "scandal" during Tuesday's debate:

“Let me say something that may not be great politics. But I think the Secretary is right. And that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails … and let me say something about the media as well. I go around the country, talk to a whole lot of people, middle class of this country is collapsing. We have 27 million people living in poverty. We have massive wealth and income inequality. Our trade policies have cost us million of decent jobs. The American people want to know whether we’re going to have a democracy or an oligarchy as a result of citizens united. Enough of the emails! Let’s talk about the real issues facing America!”

Mic drop.

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Ellen Page, openly gay actress, speaking about Matt Damon’s remarks that actors should hide their sexuality off-screen:

“[Matt Damon] doesn’t have a point because he related it to sexuality. Heterosexual actors and actresses do not have to go to great lengths to hide their sexuality. That’s an unfair double standard.”

And that is why gay actors and actresses and performers need to come out, and be out, because it just proves that we are all very much alike.

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T.I., rapper and apparent political expert who is changing his name back to Tip, even though his real name is Clifford Joseph Harris, on having a female president:

"Not to be sexist, but I can't vote for the leader of the free world to be a woman. Just because, every other position that exists, I think a woman could do well. But the president? It’s kinda like, I just know that women make rash decisions emotionally — they make very permanent, cemented decisions — and then later, it’s kind of like it didn’t happen, or they didn’t mean for it to happen. And I sure would hate to just set off a nuke [because of a woman]. [Other leaders] will not be able to negotiate the right kinds of foreign policy; the world ain’t ready yet. I think you might be able to get the Loch Ness Monster elected before you could [get a woman] It's not right, but I'm just saying ...”

Why don’t you go back to defending Iggy Azalea, and leave political discussions to the grownups.

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Ivanka Trump, keeping her lips pressed firmly to Daddy’s bank account ass:

“Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, I think everyone can appreciate the fact he’s creating dialogue about some very real issues.”

Hmm, what has he talked about: his disdain for immigrants though only the ones from Mexico or China, and his disdain for women, whom he often calls pigs and sluts, and suggests they’re mean to him because they’re menstruating.

Funny that his daughter, the daughter of an immigrant, and a woman, thinks he discusses real issues, but I guess if you wanna keep your position in the will …

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Ben Whishaw Comes Out .... Raven-Symoné, Too

Ben Whishaw has always been one of those actors who value their privacy, and rarely, if ever, has spoken about his personal life. But sometimes the news is so good you want to shout it from a rooftop.

Whishaw is out and proud, and has entered into a civil partnership with his partner, Australian composer Mark Bradshaw.

The two men met on the set of Jane Campion’s 2009 film Bright Star, where Whishaw played John Keats and Bradshaw composed the score. Whishaw was last seen as the quirky, nerdy tech wizard in the last Bond film, Skyfall.

Whishaw’s sexual orientation has been the subject of internet debate in recent years, sparked by an interview he gave to Out magazine last year while playing a homosexual character in an off-Broadway play, The Pride. When asked whether it was important for young gay people to have positive role models, Whishaw replied: ‘I feel in my heart that it’s important, but I don’t quite know yet the way to go about that. Maybe that’s the transitional thing I feel I’m in the middle of at the moment.’

Now, however, he wants to share the news: he’s a gay man.

And as such, he will be receiving a copy of the Gay Agenda as well as the obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven.

Welcome out, Ben; I found you delicious in Skyfall and wondered about you ….

Welcome out.

Raven-Symoné has been dodging questions about her sexuality for a few years now because, well, it’s no one’s business. Last year, the National Enquirer printed a story saying she was gay, and Raven responded:

“I’m living my PERSONAL life the way I’m happiest. I’m not one, in my 25 year career to disclose who I’m dating. And I shall not start now. My sexual orientation is mine, and the person I’m dating to know. I’m not one for a public display of my life. However that is my right as a HUMAN BEing whether straight or gay. To tell or not to tell. As long as I’m not harming anyone. I am a light being made from love. And my career is the only thing I would like to put on display, not my personal life. Kisses!”

But now, I guess since the DOMA Death and the Prop H8 Smackdown, Raven is ready to tell the world, by Tweeting:

She says she’s not getting married anytime soon, but “it is great to know I can now, should I wish to.”

Welcome out, Raven.

And, as soon as we get the presses back up and running here at HOMO HQ, we’ll be sending a copy of the Gay Agenda—which is simple: equality—along with the Coming Out Toaster Oven.

It doesn’t matter when, or how, or where, you come out, it just matters that you do.

Welcome out.