Gay Life Through Notable Quotables Trivia Game | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Being gay can happen in any walk of life, in any world. If you have one gay experience, does that mean you're gay? If you have one heterosexual experience, does that mean you're straight? Life doesn't work quite so cut and dried," said a noted tennis pro who defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets at the Houston Astrodome in 1973. Who was this legendary player?

Answer: Billie Jean King

Riggs played and won against Court in 1973. He lost in doubles matches against Navratilova and Shriver in 1985. King and Riggs remained friends until his death in 1995. The quote has to do with the acknowledgement of her affair with an erstwhile hairdresser, Marilyn Barnett. King's point - one experience does not a homosexual, or a heterosexual, make - is well taken.

2. The late Mike Royko, a Pulitzer prize-winning columnist in Chicago, once quipped, "If God dislikes gays so much, how come he picked Michelangelo, a known homosexual, to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling while assigning Anita to go on TV and push orange juice?" To which "Anita" was he referring?

Answer: Anita Bryant

In the late 1970's, Anita Bryant successfully led a repeal of a gay rights ordinance that had previously been passed in Miami-Dade, Florida. A singer and former beauty queen, she was spokesperson for the orange juice industry in Florida. Gore Vidal commented later, "As to Anita's fear that she'll be assassinated? The only people who might shoot Anita Bryant are music lovers."

3. Fran Lebowitz, the noted humorist, once commented, "...if you removed all of the homosexuals and homosexual influence from what is generally regarded as American Culture, you would be pretty much left with 'Let's Make a Deal.'" Which of these books did she NOT write?

Answer: "Portable Dorothy Parker"

"Portable Dorothy Parker" was written by Dorothy Parker. (Now wasn't that easy?)

4. "If it wasn't for Jews, fags, and gypsies, there would be no theater!" was a remark made by the main character, Frederick Bronski, in "To Be or Not To Be". Among other accomplishments, the actor portraying Bronski also wrote and directed "The Producers" (1968) and "Young Frankenstein" (1974). Who is this comic genius?

Answer: Mel Brooks

Two of Mel Brooks' trademarks in his film are the oft-used line "we have much to do and less time to do it in" and the frequent use of Jewish jokes and references. Normally, "fags" or "faggots" is a derogatory term, but this is an instance that the context is decidedly not meant in a negative manner.

In contrast, one of the most hateful manners in which it has ever been used is in connection with the Rev. Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church, in Topeka, Kansas. Among other things, he runs the following website: "www.godhatesfags.com". I recommend a strong constitution to see this site.

5. In a 1986 speech, this widow of a civil rights leader assassinated in Memphis in 1968 proclaimed, "I am here tonight to express my solidarity with the gay and lesbian community in your struggle for civil and human rights in America and around the world. I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice on sexual orientation."

Answer: Coretta Scott King

Not content to shun public life after her husband's murder, Mrs. King has continued her role as a civil rights activist. Medgar Evers was murdered in 1963 and Malcolm X (husband of Betty Shabazz) was murdered in 1965. Rosa Parks is best known for her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus to a white passenger.

6. "Now we had all this mob over the weekend, which itself was a disheartening spectacle...We have to call a spade a spade and a perverted human being a perverted human being." This remarkable comment referred to the 1987 gay march on Washington and was offered by which member of the U.S. Congress?

Answer: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina)

Jesse Helms has consistently been the most vociferous member of Congress to espouse the trampling of human rights for gays. He retired from the U.S. Senate in 2002. Dornan was a close second in his anti-gay rhetoric, but his constituency in largely Republican Orange county retired him in favor of a more moderate Democrat, Loretta Sanchez. Notably, while Dornan was condemning gays in a speech, Dornan's wife shouted to some hecklers in the audience, "Shut up fags!", which was later used as a title to one of Dornan's books. Thurmond and Lott rarely address gay issues openly and publicly.

7. Married in November 2002 to his longtime girlfriend Carey Lowell, this actor, male lead of American Gigolo and other, even more well-known films, said, "Yes, I'm gay, when I'm on that stage. If the role required me to [have sexual relations with] Horst, I'd do it."

Answer: Richard Gere

Gere was referring to playing the character of Max in "Bent" - a play with the backdrop of gays living in Nazi concentration camps. Gere further stated, "The stage is different, everybody knows you leave the character at the stage door." In a mild contrast, John Dukakis, son of presidential hopeful Michael Dukakis, asked his agent, "Would you play a homosexual if your father were running for office?" to which his agent replied. "Sure." John went on to conclude, "But if I were REALLY gay, I couldn't, I wouldn't, do it." John Dukakis went on to play a gay role in "Making Love".

8. This stunningly beautiful actress and wife of famed film producer Carlo Ponti, stated, "Every star, female star, must have this following. I don't know why homosexuals like me. Maybe, just because I like them. God made homosexuals, so He must love them. I love them, too." Who is this actress?

Answer: Sophia Loren

She has actually been married twice to Ponti. The first marriage was annulled to save him from bigamy charges because the Mexican divorce from his previous wife was ruled invalid. They later remarried. Suffering from severe stage fright, the academy award winning actress does not do live theater.

9. Former Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich noted, "The Air Force pinned a medal on me for killing a man and discharged me for making love to one." This comment was made following his discharge in 1975 for being homosexual, in spite of his heroism in the Vietnam War.

Answer: True

Matlovich actually set himself up to be a test case, and although the discharge was confirmed, he did win a "substantial monetary settlement". The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" compromise simply did not work to protect gay and bisexual men and women in the military. It was removed in 2011.

10. This leading man who played "Brick" in Tennessee William's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" remarked, "...by the time I get through with all the things that I really admire about people, what they do with their private parts is probably so low on the list that it is irrelevant."

Answer: Paul Newman

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was an excellent film, but the screenplay had to be modified to remove virtually all homosexual references in order to please the censors. In the original play, the relationship between the characters Brick and Skipper is significantly more than just high school football buddies. SPECIAL NOTE: Many of the quotes themselves are part of a collection by Leigh W. Rutledge called "Unnatural Quotations".

This is an excellent book that shows both support of the gay community as well as some of the lack of support and even hatred that is endured by this community.

It is a great read and I recommend it for any adult. Aside from the actual quotes themselves, all other parts of this quiz represent research by the author of this quiz. I hope you have enjoyed this quiz and I would love to hear from you.

Source: Author woofi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Lanni before going online.
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Gay Life Through Notable Quotables Quiz

Often, remarkable people add sparkle to the times in which we live through their wit. Others often remind us of the work that is left to be done. Join me in exploring some notable quotes about the gay community by familiar personalities!

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