“You're not under attack when others gain rights and privileges you've always had.”
LGBT QUOTES: 40+ POWERFUL QUOTES ON PRIDE, EQUALITY, AND RIGHTS
Powerful, insightful, and known for speaking openly about equality, identity, and social justice, Dr. DaShanne Stokes has been quoted around the world by world leaders, politicians, celebrities, and in books, newspapers, magazines, and beyond. As both a sociologist and a member of the LGBT community, his work brings together scholarship, lived experience, and public commentary. Collected here is the official resource hub of his most memorable quotes about LGBT rights, identity, equality, and social justice.
Search or Browse LGBT and Pride Quotes Archive Below
On Equality and Human Rights
“Never be content to sit back and watch as others' rights are trampled upon. Your rights could be next.”
“Fear is the intended result of codifying homophobia into law.”
“Calling for an end to hate shouldn't be treated as a punishable offense.”
“What matters most is not 'what' you are, but 'who' you are.”
“It's terrifying to think you could become the next statistic.”
“Terror doesn't change people from gay to straight. It just hurts innocent people.”
“It's not conversion 'therapy;' it's conversion brainwashing.”
“Prejudice plunges you into a world of fear and hate. That's no way to live.”
On Understanding Privilege
“Privilege doesn't just insulate people from the consequences of their prejudice, it cuts them off from their humanity.”
“Privilege is not knowing that you're hurting others and not listening when they tell you.”
“Privilege is when you contribute to the oppression of others and then claim that you are the one being discriminated against.”
“People often call fighting discrimination being 'PC' because they don't want their own unearned privileges challenged.”
“Privilege is when you can afford to sit back and watch as others' rights are trampled upon.”
“There is nothing 'honorable' or 'reasonable' in giving a pass to those who want to discriminate.”
“Bigotry lives not just in our words, but in our actions, thoughts, and institutions.”
“When you've grown up mis-educated, surrounded by fear and hate, unaware of your privilege, lies can sound like the truth.”
On Religion and Freedom
“When we hide discrimination under the guise of 'religious freedom,' we make a mockery of human rights.”
“If you think your religion requires discrimination, you're probably misreading your faith.”
“What does religious freedom mean if we would use it as a cover for hate and privilege?”
“Same-sex marriage has not created problems for religious institutions; religious institutions have created problems for same-sex marriage.”
“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.”
“I've fought for religious freedom and I can tell you that anti-gay 'religious freedom' bills aren't it.”
On Love and Inclusion
“What does love mean if we would deny it to others?”
“The world could use more love. Why deny it to others?”
“The power of love is that it sees all people.”
“Urging an organization to be inclusive is not an attack. It's progress.”
“People think that LGBTs adopting children will hurt them, but it's not being in loving homes that hurts children most.”
“Love should never mean having to live in fear.”
“Amazing how eye and skin color come in many shades yet many think sexuality is just gay or straight.”
On Activism and Speaking Out
“Only by speaking out can we create lasting change. And that change begins with coming out.”
“We must speak truth to power and confront ignorance with facts.”
“The minute we look away, the minute we stop fighting back, that's the minute bigotry wins.”
“One of the best ways you can fight discrimination is by taking good care of yourself. Your survival is not just important; it's an act of revolution.”
“If you love your country, you must be willing to defend it from fraud, bigotry, and recklessness--even from a president.”
“Prejudice is learned. What will you teach others through your actions and words?”
“If you'd combat bigotry, use honest language and call things out for what they really are.”
“We must speak truth to power and confront ignorance with facts.”
Dr. DaShanne Stokes is a sociologist, author, speaker, and public intellectual whose work examines power, inequality, race, gender, sexuality, politics, and social institutions. As a member of the LGBT community, he has researched, written, taught, and spoken extensively on LGBT rights, sexuality, gender identity, discrimination, prejudice, equality, and social change. His work explores how institutions and systems of power shape LGBT people's lives and how recognition, belonging, and social change can challenge exclusion and inequality.
Collected here is the official archive of Dr. Stokes' quotations about LGBT rights, sexuality, gender identity, discrimination, equality, identity, inclusion, and social justice. His quotations explore the challenges LGBT people face, the relationship between identity and power, and the broader struggle for dignity, freedom, recognition, and equality.
Dr. Stokes' work on LGBT issues extends beyond his quotations to scholarly publications, book chapters, op-eds, interviews, and media appearances. His commentary has addressed LGBT rights, sexuality, gender, discrimination, and social inequality for both academic and public audiences. Together, his scholarship and public commentary connect LGBT issues to larger questions of power, politics, identity, recognition, and social institutions, making this collection a resource for readers seeking thoughtful perspectives on LGBT equality and social change.
NOTE ON ATTRIBUTION AND USE
Dr. Stokes is pleased and humbled that people have found value in his thoughts and words to have quoted him on an array of merchandise, videos, and other products. Please contact Dr. Stokes before using his name, likeness, and quotes prior to use for any desired sales, advertising, promotions, merchandising, or other political or commercial products and ensure that your use of his name, likeness, and quotes do not imply his involvement, association, or endorsement.
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