“Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?” – James Arthur Baldwin

A quote from the novel Giovanni’s Room by gay author and activist James Arthur Baldwin (1924– 1987), who questioned our perception of sexuality, race, and class in his many acclaimed novels.

In Giovanni’s Room, Baldwin claims that sex and gender do not matter. All that’s important is whether people love each other. This statement resonated with millions of people struggling to express their love to a person of the same sex.

With this quote, Baldwin assured them that it really does not matter who is the object of your love – only that love is present.

“Nature made a mistake, which I have corrected.” – Christine Jorgensen

Christine Jorgensen (1926–1989) was an actor and artist and one of the first people to have sex reassignment surgery in the United States.

She was also one of the first to speak openly about the process. She made it clear in her statements that nature had been wrong to put her in a man’s body and that the surgery finally made things right.

This way of thinking helped normalize transgenderism and allowed transgender individuals to accept themselves for who they are.

“My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” – Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde (1934–1992) was an American writer and feminist. She described herself with words such as; “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.”

Her anger towards how people of color, women, and members of the LGTBQ community were treated was often expressed in her writing. In the quote above, she calls for others to also show their anger.

Lorde encouraged people to step out into the light and told them that the only true safety lies in making yourself known and demanding the acceptance and respect that you deserve.

“If a transvestite doesn’t say I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite, then nobody else is going to hop up there and say I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite for them.” – Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992) was an American activist and a drag queen. She was one of the first people to fight for the rights and dignity of drag queens.

By being very vocal about the specific struggles faced by those who dress in drag, she encouraged others to keep fighting for rights and respect.

Marsha Johnson also co-founded the Gay Liberation Front and Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR).

“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” – Jason Collins

Quote by athlete and former NBA basketball player Jason Collins (born 1978). He made history when he publicly identified himself as gay in 2013. After this statement, many athletes came out and declared their long-hidden sexualities.

It became a milestone for more gender equality because, as Collins says: Being open about sexual orientation is an important step towards ending prejudice.

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