I am old school, I joined the gay liberation movement in 1972. If you had told me in 1972 that in the year 2009 I would be campaigning for the right to join the army or get married I think I would have started dating women at that time.

If I had to say what my one greatest achievement is, it's that I lasted, and I'm still happy. I hope that comes through.

Even today every year we lose an awful lot of young people, teenagers, who take their own lives because they're - they are gay or transgender.

The joy with which we denigrate each others' efforts, I hate that.

If you tell me I can't understand you because of my color or you can't understand me because of your sexual orientation or she can't understand us because of her faith, well, if you can't have empathy how will you ever have solidarity?

I am not proud to be gay any more than I am proud to be right handed or to breathe oxygen.

I believe we are entering into a period of political chaos. Out of that chaos is the potential for great evil, but there is also the possibility of great good.