Quips & Quotes
“Changing military policy that could potentially jeopardize our soldiers fighting for our nation is something I cannot support.”
– Sen. Orrin Hatch, responding in The Salt Lake Tribune to a Pentagon report saying that 70 percent of armed servicemembers favored lifting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
“The military, in my opinion, is a system of oppression and American imperialism. I want queers to challenge institutions of oppression, not become part of them.”
– Troy Williams, co-producer of KRCL’s RadioActive and QSaltLake columnist, on the report.
“[I]f you disclose things that are personally difficult to you in a constructive way, your physical health can improve.”
– U of U assistant professor of psychology David Huebner, telling HealthDay News about the mental health consequences of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to closeted troops.
“We personally didn’t see much trouble, but there was some negative response from students. Park City is generally seen as an accepting town, but though they preach it, they don’t really always abide by it.”
– Freddie Prettner, president of Park City High School’s new gay-straight alliance, telling The Park Record why the school needed one.
“It was really cool because these families often can’t afford [a normal Thanksgiving dinner].”
– University of Utah student Taylor Thompson, telling the campus’ paper, The Daily Utah Chronicle, about making Thanksgiving pies for Utahns living with HIV/AIDS with the school’s Bennion Center’s Campus AIDS Project as part of World AIDS Day activities.
“If you were to go around and take a poll of Utah State students, how many of them can really talk to you about HIV/AIDS? They are either uninformed or misinformed about it.”
– Joyce Mumah, sociology doctoral candidate at Utah State University, talking about HIV/AIDS with the school’s paper, The Utah Statesman.
“You know it is not me that has a problem, it is the church that has a problem with who I am.”
– Former Arizona Mormon Kent Flake, talking to Phoenix’s FOX affiliate about the high suicide rate among gay Latter-day Saints.