Patrick Leahy Quotes

Members of the LGBT community should feel welcome and know their rights are protected regardless of what state they reside in.

Really, when it comes to gay rights, there's two wars going on. The first war is political. But the culture war is over.

Most contemporary Muslims, not just Islamist fundamentalists, view homosexuality as a byproduct of increased Westernization. Because of this view, many people are not concerned with protecting the rights of the gay minority…. Homosexual rape is also a very powerful and often-utilized humiliation tool. Repressive regimes, like those in Iran and Pakistan, use homosexual rape on political opponents as a policy of repression. This tactic is often seen as more politically effective than killing people, as it denies people of their manhood.

My goal is to bring the issues that were never brought up on federal TV, such as LGBT rights, which are a shock for many people because they really think that those people should go to prison, they shouldn't have any rights. And moreover, there is lots of people who share the idea that they should be punished for being LGBT, just for the fact.

Gays and lesbians should have the same rights as anybody else, and when they're in Jamaica, they do have the same rights.

As long as gay people don't have their rights all across America, there's no reason for celebration.

I support equal rights for LGBT Americans.

Thirty years ago, in 1976, the notion of organized activity to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was an extremely controversial one.

The only way to get gay issues off the front pages of Canadian newspapers is to grant gay and lesbian people our full civil equality and leave it alone.

They [an LGBT organization in Jerusalem] seek nothing more than recognition... The history of relations between the sides shows the open hand of the LGBT community seeking support, time after time, being met by the clenched fist of the government. But 'even the fist was once an open palm with fingers' (Yehuda Amichai) and we can hope that the government will not clench its fist again, and both sides will be able to 'shake hands'.

I believe marriage equality is a simple change that sends a powerful message. It is a chance for us to say, as a nation, to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex Australians: your love is equal under the law.

There are no authentic reports in any of the Muslim books of history of the Prophet Muhammad punishing anyone for same-sex acts.

I pledge as Taoiseach to use my office, for as long as I hold it, to advance the cause of LGBT rights, to press for marriage equality across Ireland, to speak up for LGBT rights around the world where they are under attack, and to push for the implementation of the sexual health strategy here at home at a time when it is more important than ever.

Darling, I want my gay rights now.

For more than two decades, GLAAD has combatted anti-LGBT images in the media and changed the national conversation about LGBT people.

I've said before, the number one thing that we have to work on is protecting the gay community from sharia law. Now, in the United States, it's probably not a big issue right now, but my brother-in-law is gay, and his partner and I would like them to be able to travel any place in the world without them risking harm.

I was the first mayor to even go meet with the LGBT community.

The Obama years will be remembered as a cultural - and legal - tipping point for equality for all people who do not identify as strictly heterosexual, arguably the civil rights movement of our times. The president signed the bill repealing 'don't ask, don't tell.' The Defense of Marriage Act was struck down by the Supreme Court.

Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.

Evan Wolfson is a dear friend of mine. Almost more than any other, Evan is responsible for bringing the issue of marriage equality to the forefront of our struggle for civil rights. He is a courageous pioneer who has been relentless in this battle for marriage equality.

The issue of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals has vexed politicians for decades. I have my own cloudy history with the issue, having supported a law in Mississippi that made it illegal for LGBT couples to adopt children. I believed at the time this was a principled position based on my faith.

It seems to me the most important issue in the LGBT community is the right to be queer-the right to be free of the heterosexual assumption.

I'm not focused on the gay and lesbian movement.

Gay rights is just a matter of time. Look at the polls. Worrying about gay marriage, let alone gay civil unions or gay employment rights, is a middle-age issue. Young people just can't see the problem. At worst, gays are going to win this one just by waiting until the opposition dies off.

I believe in gay marriage.