Anderson Cooper Quotes

While nothing is perfect or complete in the battle for civil rights, the efforts of Dr. King and those like him have in fact, changed the country and the world for the better in noticeable ways. His vision has made the world a more equal place, and if not equal, it has helped to ensure that minorities have a voice.

Three components - education, equality and empowerment - play an important and pivotal role in moving the country forward in every aspect.

It was Dr. King's tireless activism that fostered our modern way of relating to one another.

Perhaps the best definition of progress would be the continuing efforts of men and women to narrow the gap between the convenience of the powers that be and the unwritten charter.

If freedom makes social progress possible, so social progress strengthens and enlarges freedom.

We are justified in believing that the success of this movement for equality of the sexes means more progress toward equality of the races.

The arc of our history is toward more equality being expanded to more and more people.

I think patriotism is all about wanting to see America better, wanting to see those are oppressed do better and get treated better.

Putting a face on a gay is important. We are just people.

I am unapologetic about the need for social change, greater inclusion, and equity.

Gays and lesbians gained rights in this country though activism and organizing, creating political space and demanding change so that lawmakers and justices could do what they knew was right. That organizing allowed Americans to get to know gays and lesbians as our daughters and sons, our neighbors, and our friends.

I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that make our nation strong. I will continue to move my administration in the direction of compassion, acceptance, and understanding.

In my lifetime, the world has become better, not worse. And the world is moving, very slowly but surely with more democracy and more liberal way of thinking, more inclusion and more diversity.

Freedom and opportunity are precious gifts and the purpose of our politics is to expand them, for all our people.

I feel like in 10 or 15 years' time our children are going to look back and say, 'What? You were around when gay people weren't allowed to get married?'

My own strong feeling was that the gay liberation movement really got national attraction in the truest sense of the word later in the '70s, in the '80s, and especially in the '90s.

Exclusion is never the way forward on our shared paths to freedom and justice.

I feel that there has been progress made since I was a boy on matters of race, but we have a long way to go.

Between 'Orange' with Laverne, the show 'Transparent,' and Caitlyn Jenner, obviously we're in the middle of something enormous - a transgender movement. I'm just proud to be alive during this massive shift in the world.

Gay marriage will be universally accepted in time. But if I may be so bold as to say to gays and lesbians, don't wait for that time to arrive. Just as my father and his generation did not 'wait' for their civil rights, nor should you. The toothpaste ain't going back in the tube. The tide has turned.

The extension of women's rights is the basic principle of all social progress.

The way forward is always found through greater respect for the equal rights of all.

In the women's movement, women needed men to stand up and say, 'This isn't right.' In the civil rights of the '60s, it took people of all color to demand equal rights.

Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country.

We will not build a society that reflects who we are and that has opportunities for equality or justice if we don't make progress for all participants.