The library of my elementary school had this great biography section, and I read all of these paperback biographies until they were dog-eared. The story of Eleanor Roosevelt and Madame Curie and Martin Luther King and George Washington Carver and on and on and on.

People used to feel oddly empowered to tell me all the reasons I couldn't win. Because I was a woman. Because I was a lesbian. Because I was from the West Side of Manhattan.

I just want people to know you can get through stuff. I hope people can see that in what my life has been and where it is going.

All I wanted was to be involved in politics and government.

The best thing to know is what you don't know.

I couldn't describe how little interest I have in men. Or I could - but I don't think that it would be appropriate.

I hope there is nothing about me that people have a big problem with. You know, I like to think of myself as lovable.