If you think your religion requires discrimination, you're probably misreading your faith.

When you've grown up mis-educated, surrounded by fear and hate, unaware of your privilege, lies can sound like the truth.

Same-sex marriage has not created problems for religious institutions religious institutions have created problems for same-sex marriage.

Prejudice plunges you into a world of fear and hate. That's no way to live.

Fear is the intended result of codifying homophobia into law.

Love should never mean having to live in fear.

In the unification of two minds, orientation of sexuality is irrelevant.

The power of love is that it sees all people.

The world could use more love. Why deny it to others?

People think that LGBTs adopting children will hurt them, but it's not being in loving homes that hurts children most.

What does love mean if we would deny it to others?

We come to a corner where there are a few people protesting the festivities. I don't understand this at all. It's like protesting the fact that some people are red-haired. In my experience, desire is desire, love is love.

If you voted for a man who said "Grab em by the pussy," you have zero room to claim to protect anyone in bathrooms.

I've fought for religious freedom and I can tell you that anti-gay 'religious freedom' bills aren't it.

Today's 'religious freedom' policies should not be seen as a problem limited to LGBT people but as a co-optation of religion that affects us all.

Only by speaking out can we create lasting change. And that change begins with coming out.

The Catholic Church standing in "solidarity" with members of the LGBT community while condemning their behavior as "sinful" is a little like attempting to stand with two feet in one shoe. "Love the sinner, hate the sin" sounds really high-minded until you realize the only sin committed was being born different.

Love has no gender - compassion has no religion - character has no race.

Either you are homophobic or you are a human - you cannot be both.

Homosexuals are not made, they are born.

Homosexuality is immutable, irreversible and nonpathological.

Being homosexual is no more abnormal than being lefthanded.

Can you imagine, somebody telling you, your love for your dearly beloved is a sin! Can you imagine, somebody telling you, women are inferior to men, and are meant only serve the men! Can you imagine, somebody telling you, a man can have multiple wives, and yet be deemed civilized! Here that somebody is a fundamentalist ape - a theoretical pest from the stone-age, that somehow managed to survive even amidst all the rise of reasoning and intellect.

Privilege doesn't just insulate people from the consequences of their prejudice, it cuts them off from their humanity.

Rainbow on the inside!” He giggles. “Can you imagine if we all took them for Pride? Dozens of us. Hundreds. Thousands? All of us marching, rainbow to the core?

Those with unearned privileges often spin things as 'political correctness' to further silence those they wish to oppress.

It's hard not to be a fighter when you're constantly under siege.

If you can't tell from my rap lyrics already, yes I am a feminist. And when I'm saying "hoe" or "bitch" I am actually referring to men. ...That sounded bad, in someway. But at the end of the day, I'm sick of rappers using "bitches" and "hoes" as terms towards women. Feminists are NOT a hate group. Feminists are not all female. Nor has it got an anti-male agenda. It's about equality! I've had a weird, special bond with women since I was a kid. And it's just a shame really that I'm gay.

Bigotry lives not just in our words, but in our actions, thoughts, and institutions.

Prejudice is learned. What will you teach others through your actions and words?

The mere fact that I exist, means that I deserve to be here and to express myself any damn way I please.

The mere fact that I exist means that I deserve to be here and to express myself any damn why I please.

If you'd combat bigotry, use honest language and call things out for what they really are.

Sometimes it takes more than shouting it to show your pride. It takes more than a sign, a fabulous outfit, or a month of parades. Pride has to resonate from within; shine out to everyone around you. It has mean something to you and only you first before you announce it to the world.

Saying it's hard being straight is like complaining to the poor that it's difficult being wealthy.

Persecution complexes are reaffirming to those who benefit from unearned privileges.

If you think being straight means you're being discriminated against, you're probably misreading your privilege.

Those who benefit from unearned privilege are too often quick to discount those who don't.

Bigotry that is known and visible is bigotry that can be challenged.

Bigots often like to say they're the ones being hurt as they oppress and hurt others. Never fall for the 'pity the privileged' routine.

If you love your country, you must be willing to defend it from fraud, bigotry, and recklessness--even from a president.

Trump didn't divide America. He just doused us with gasoline and fanned the flames.

Building bridges takes us further than building walls.

Discrimination is discrimination, even when people claim it's 'tradition.

Calling for an end to hate shouldn't be treated as a punishable offense.

What does religious freedom mean if we would use it as a cover for hate and privilege?

It's terrifying to think you could become the next statistic.

Tolerance is certainly an improvement over hate, but it is not the same thing as freedom.

Privilege is when you contribute to the oppression of others and then claim that you are the one being discriminated against.

What matters most is not 'what' you are, but 'who' you are.

Political correctness’ is a label the privileged often use to distract from their privilege and hate.

It's not 'over-sensitivity' to ask to be treated with the same dignity and respect shown to others.

There is nothing 'honorable' or 'reasonable' in giving a pass to those who want to discriminate.

When we allow violence against some, we enable violence against all.

Bigotry and sexism destroy the unity needed for a nation to live.

It speaks volumes when people who are discriminated against go on to discriminate against others.

Standing against discrimination for some while supporting discrimination against others hurts us all.

Political correctness' as 'over-sensitivity' is code for saying the privileged shouldn't have their unearned privileges questioned.

Saying something is 'politically correct' is often a way of dismissing the voices of the oppressed.

The minute we look away, the minute we stop fighting back, that's the minute bigotry wins.

Bigotry is based on deception, of oneself and of others.

Tolerance of intolerance enables oppression.

Reducing a group to a slur or stereotype reduces us all.

Urging an organization to be inclusive is not an attack. It's progress.

Privilege is when you can afford to sit back and watch as others' rights are trampled upon.

You're not under attack when others gain rights and privileges you've always had.

Never be content to sit back and watch as others' rights are trampled upon. Your rights could be next.

Privilege is not knowing that you're hurting others and not listening when they tell you.

If anyone makes you feel less than you are, for the color of you skin, for where you come from, for the gender of the person you love, for the religion you have faith in, stand up, speak up, roar. No silence till we are equal.

human beings are human beings, just treat everyone like that.

I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that.

I support same-sex civil unions and I believe no should be denied their rights

I oppose same-sex marriage but I would advance equal rights in employment for gay and lesbian people. I appointed a few judges who were gay and I had few people in my cabinet that I found out were gay. I never asked peoples sexual orientation.

I oppose same-sex marriage and civil unions but I support domestic partnership between gay and lesbian couples. I have no problem with gay and lesbian couples adopting. I support equal benefits for same-sex couples such as hospital visitation rights

Antigay activists have historically maintained that same-sex sexuality is a lifestyle choice that should be discouraged, deemed illegitimate, and even punished by the culture at large. In other words, if lesbian/gay/bisexual people to not have to be gay but are simply choosing a path of decadence and deviance, then the government should have no obligation to protect their civil rights or honor their relationships; to the contrary, the state should actively condemn same-sex sexuality and deny it legal and social recognition in order to discourage others from following that path.Not surprisingly, advocates for gay/lesbian/bisexual rights see things differently. They counter that sexual orientation is not a matter of choice but an inborn trait that is much beyond an individual's control as skin or eye color. Accordingly, since gay/lesbian/bisexual individuals cannot choose to be heterosexual, it is unethical to discriminate against them and to deny legal recognition to same-sex relationships.(...)Perhaps instead of arguing that gay/lesbian/bisexual individuals deserve civil rights because they are powerless to change their behavior, we should affirm the fundamental rights of all people to determine their own emotional and sexual lives.

A defeat for humanity would be the failure to recognise the rights of two people who love each other.A defeat for humanity is that people accept such hatred and discrimination into their hearts.A defeat for humanity would be the failure of the church to recognise that nobody can control who a person loves.A victory for humanity would be the dissolution of a theocratic dystopia that promotes anti-equality (aka "the Vatican") which has no place in a modern society.

Terror doesn't change people from gay to straight. It just hurts innocent people.

Amazing how eye and skin color come in many shades yet many think sexuality is just gay or straight.

It is exhausting living in a population where people don't speak up if what they witness doesn't directly threaten them.

The truth is, the notion that gay marriage is harmful to marriage, is sort of mind-boggling, because these are people trying to get married. But it seems to me, if you want to defend marriage against something, defend it against divorce.

Privilege is presuming to speak for others you know nothing about.

When we hide discrimination under the guise of 'religious freedom,' we make a mockery of human rights.

Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them.It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.

As you, my fans, know I’m scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the ‘bathroom’ law. HB2 — known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act — dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use. Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace.No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden. To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments.Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.

It's important to remember that having a conversation about us (LGBT) without us will usually be a recycling or preconceived ideas and misconceptions. Can you imagine a group of male church leaders discussing the role of women in the church without females present. We would call that misogyny. Or church leadership discussing indigenous issues without ever consulting with indigenous people themselves to get insight into what their life experience is really all about. We would call that white supremacy/racism/elitism. The church has done a great deal of talking about us but rarely has spoken with us. So when church leaders discuss LGBT people, relationships and the community without speaking with or spending time getting to know LGBT people it does beg the question why. What is there to fear? Why the exclusion? Is this another evidence of homophobia? It's time for the church to invite LGBT people into the conversation. For some this is a conversation about their thoughts and beliefs but for us it is about who we are. You can ask questions. What was it like to sit in church and hear the word abomination to describe your orientation. What was it like to get to the point of coming out knowing you might be rejected by those you've loved and a church you've served.? How did you find resolution of your Christian beliefs and your sexuality? In listening you will learn. That's why it's so important to remember. No conversation about us, without us.

It takes some intelligence and insight to figure out you're gay and then a tremendous amount of balls to live it and live it proudly.

There are those from religious backgrounds who resist and oppose LGBT equality; some very obsessively and publicly. They make bold accusations and negative statements about gay and lesbian people, their supposed "lifestyle" and relationships. But when a son, daughter, brother, sister or close friend comes out it is no longer an "issue" it becomes a person. They realise everything they'd said was painfully targeted at someone they love. Then......everything changes.

It is immensely gratifying to hear from fans from around the world where being a gay or lesbian teen, having feelings for someone of your own gender is simply not acceptable. We noticed that our show fills a huge void for large audiences in many different countries. That’s why our choice of format for the show, the web series, is such a fortunate one as it allows viewers in those countries to feel acknowledged. While the series is not exclusively dealing with gay and lesbian issues, the fact that we don’t sanitize it gives us truly global appeal, especially with the gay and lesbian community. In fact, demand is such that we are subtitling the show in French and perhaps other languages to even better reach those audiences.