“I didn't come up with the lie. It wasn't mine. They handed the lie to me, and I tried like hell to make it work for a while.”

“Now whenever I left class to go to the boys' room, I worried that I would end up on the blue tiled floor in a puddle of piss and blood.”

“James, youd like Lou Reed, Michael insisted. He was bisexual.Their laughter turned to coughs. They were all staring at me when I turned around. I told myself to relax.Oh, yeah? I said. He doesnt so...”

“I mean, I really liked him to the point where being around him was sort of wonderful and painful all at the same time, you know?”

“Please your mother: just lie around upstairs and smoke some pot. Be a revolutionary.”

“She kissed me on the cheek, and my mom sang Theresas name from the open front door. She loves Theresa. I think she loves me more when Im with her.”

“I don't think that God says, "Go to church and pray all day and everything will be fine." No. For me God says, "Go out and make the changes that need to be made, and I'll be there to help you.”

“Our work is not about transcending this world to get to a better place; our work is to be fully present here; to heal ourselves, and our planet in the spirit of service and compassion.”

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

“This is our big chance to see what people think of us. The real us. We have to show em there's nothing to be afraid of. If we don't get over our fears, they never will.”

“Denying what you are didn't keep people from knowing what you are.""And flaunting it isn't what saved you."Ykka takes a deep breath. The muscles in her jaw flex, relax. "And that would be why I ask...”

“I didn't come up with the lie. It wasn't mine. They handed the lie to me, and I tried like hell to make it work for a while.”

“Ive been fighting to be who I am all my life. Whats the point of being who I am, if I cant have the person who was worth all the fighting for?”

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

“We got a fightin' side a mile wide, but we pray for peace 'cause it's mostly us that end up servin' overseas.”