The first time I remember our being socially in the same place was after we graduated and [author, investment counselor, philanthropist, and fellow 1950s Yalie] Peter Wolf had a party at his house in the Hamptons.

I'm sorry to keep focusing on the New Yorker, but everybody who was growing up when Calvin [Trillin] and I were growing up wanted to be published in the New Yorker.

Tony Kushner has said that Larry [Kramer] thinks everyone always has to agree with him.

I think I just felt a sadness at some points in my career that what is available to a straight writer is not available to a gay writer.

I am a theist. I live life between that "a" and the "t." It's a vast little space.

[Calvin Trilllin] is not writing about things that I can criticize. I can call these other people out for what I think they are not doing. There's a big difference.

I'm not denying Christ by not being Christian. I'm a theist, which involves expanding on the Christ narrative.