John Ashbery Quotes

Mental illness is the last frontier. The gay thing is part of everyday life now on a show like 'Modern Family,' but mental illness is still full of stigma. Maybe it is time for that to change.

The more people come out, the less it will be an issue.

Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that we are all the same - that we all have normal hearts - that's the first step. I'm both amazed at the progress and amazed at how far we have to go.

It was a very bold step for Sports Illustrated, and a lot of people are taking notice. I want it to be so normal that people don't even notice anymore.

I can't wait until we get to the stage where we don't have to explain anymore.

I wish we lived in a society that made it safe and provided the courage for everyone to come out.

In an ideal world, it would not take a film star to get the media focused on mental illness.

Time is about the need to control. Let go of control and embrace what happens.

My sexuality is something I'm completely comfortable with and open about. There's a lot of prejudice toward us but the more people talk about it, the less of a big deal it will be. And that will be better for everyone.

Sooner or later they are going to live in a New York City where gay marriage is not only legal, but it's common and they don't even notice.

I want to remove the taboo from mental illness.

I am imprisoned with a perception that will settle for nothing less than making a revolution in the consciousness of our time.

In times of social turmoil, our impulse is often to pull back on free expression. We want the progress that comes from free expression, but not the tension.

The more gays and lesbians come out - the more people realize that they have a friend who's gay, which they may not have known before, and they realize this person has the same aspirations and desires and need to be committed and to be part of a community - then they become more accepting.

I've got two young sons who, when I ask them and their friends how they feel about gay marriage, kinda give me one of those looks like, 'Gosh, Mom, why are you even asking that question?'

Mental illness doesn't need to be hidden or glorified. It should be normalized to where people feel comfortable sharing with their families and friends and know they're not alone. By opening up about my struggle, I'm hoping I can help someone who feels like they don't know what to do or when they can't accept their situation.

When the new becomes commonplace, people become accustomed to it. That's a tribute to our sense of adventure.

Isn't that sort of what happened with gay marriage? Right before gay marriage was legalized, everybody was just losing their minds and, like, the worst possible things were happening, and it was just all like it couldn't get any worse, and then it suddenly got a lot better.

I'm open to life.

When your doctor and neighbours and child's schoolteachers know you are gay, there is no closet for you to hide in.

The only way to really change perceptions, to break down barriers, break down homophobia, is through representation. That's definitely not something I had as a kid. I never saw a gay athlete kissing their boyfriend at the Olympics. I think if I had, it would've made it easier for me.

I like to make people feel more comfortable, and it's great to have this platform and be able to shed light on adoption and how it's a beautiful thing, instead of being tiptoed around.

Open your arms to life! Let it strut into your heart in all its messy glory!

I think it's so important to have visibility and to break down stereotypes and stigmas and everything that people are so attached to.

When we see a difference in media, we're more likely to accept it in our lives, and when we accept it in our lives, we also want to see more of it in media.