Barbara Gittings Quotes

Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.

As a teenager, I had to struggle alone to learn about myself and what it meant to be gay. Now for [48] years I've had the satisfaction of working with other gay people all across the country to get the bigots off our backs, to oil the closet door hinges, to change prejudiced hearts and minds, and to show that gay love is good for us and for the rest of the world too. It's hard work---but it's vital, and it's gratifying, and it's often fun!

What the homosexual wants, and here he is neither willing to compromise nor morally required to compromise — is acceptance of homosexuality as a way of life fully on a par with heterosexuality.

Putting a label [homosexual] on myself was a big step forward...once I said, 'Yes, that's me, that's what I am,' I was able to work with it.

Do you remember when we picketed the White House in 1965?