I knew that I was gay, I knew it. I just couldn't see myself as a gay woman, even though that's where my heart was.

Even when I took first prize, topped the class, won the race, I never really won anything. I was merely avoiding the embarrassment of losing.

Everyone is their own kind of lesbian. To think there's a certain way to dress or present yourself in the world is just one more stereotype we have to fit into.

It sounds so trite, but my private life is mine.

Most important, in order to find real happiness, you must learn to love yourself for the totality of who you are and not just what you look like.

The most important thing for me was to never, ever, ever deny it. But I didn't really have the courage to talk about it. I was thinking, The people who need to know I'm gay know.

There's a fine line between being private and being ashamed.