Jan 27, 2006   | COMMENTS     

"I’d be glad to talk about ranching, but I haven’t seen the movie."
President George W. Bush, responding to an audience member’s question about his thoughts on "Brokeback Mountain" (Kansas State University, Jan. 23)

"Are you a girl?"
"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson to a male contestant on the show; the remark, coupled with a comment from fellow judge Simon Cowell that the contestant should "wear a dress" drew condemnation from GLAAD (Fox’s "American Idol," Jan. 17)

"Prevention of same-sex marriage is not rationally related to the state’s interests in promoting stable families and protecting the best interests of children. … When tradition is the guise under which prejudice or animosity hides, it is not a legitimate state interest."
Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Brooke Murdock, in her 20-page ruling that Maryland’s same-sex marriage ban violates the state’s constitution (Jan. 20)

"I have fought for equal protection for same-sex couples for many years."
Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan, a Democrat running for Maryland governor, though his spokesman has refused to say whether he backs gay marriage (Baltimore Sun, Jan. 21)

"I was raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. … This is a fundamental issue of the state’s public policy, and a decision that ultimately should not be made by a single trial court judge."
Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley on the marriage ruling (Baltimore Sun, Jan. 21)

"The far left is playing into the hands of the far right. They’re idiots."
Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, a Democrat, on the nine gay couples who sued challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage (Baltimore Sun, Jan. 21)

"I never wanted to put a label on myself but, yes, I have dated women. It’s about the person and what’s in their soul. Right now, I am dating a man, but hey, I can still look at the girls. I think everybody’s got a little queer in them."
Singer Gioia Bruno, formerly lead singer of Exposé, on her bisexuality (Q Television Network’s "Brunch," Jan. 19)


"When two people of the same sex … decide that they want to then adopt children … then I think what you have in many respects is state-sanctioned child abuse because you have purposely taken away either a momma or a daddy, and mom and dad are both necessary in a child’s life."
Radio talk show host Janet Parshall (CNN’s "Larry King Live," Jan. 17)

"You know my main concern, Larry, is not with the gospel of heterosexuality, even though I think that’s very important. It’s with the gospel of Jesus Christ and what I find lacking in the movie …-[is] these persons [never] know why they were created and how …they would find their greatest satisfaction in living just as God had intended them for his glory."
Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on "Brokeback Mountain" (CNN’s "Larry King Live, Jan. 17)

"This shows us that we don’t have to simply sit back and take the trash, but we can get involved and fight back with our pocketbooks."
Rev. Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association, claiming credit for NBC’s decision to cancel "The Book of Daniel," a new program that featured an Episcopal priest with a gay son (Jan. 24)

"A free meal, and I love lipstick. Lipstick has done wonders for my life."
Gay singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright, on why he attended a New York City dinner hosted by Chanel (New York Times, Jan. 26)