Over the past year, it seemed as though everybody had something to say about being gay. From the President and First Lady, to talk show hosts, actors, singers, athletes and even Honey Boo Boo, there was no lack of participation in the national dialog about marriage equality, religious freedom, and sex. Yes, there were haters who indelibly made asses of themselves, but there was also lot more love than ever before. Here’s a selection of the most memorable things people had to say about being gay this year.

"I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

President Barack Obama (source)

"Guilty as charged. We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit."

Dan Cathy, president, Chick-fil-A (source)

"15 or 20 years ago it would not have been possible for me to come out. Back then, people still had such narrow views, but today many of them are more liberal. Being gay is no longer a taboo in many parts of society. That has affected sports, even boxing."

Orlando Cruz, Boxer (source)

"Heterosexual marriage is the heart of our civilization."

Newt Gingrich, GOP Presidential Candidate (source)

"When my wife and I leave California, I want to have my marriage recognized in Nevada, Arizona, all the way to New York. How can you stop people from loving each other? How can you get upset about loving?"

Wanda Sykes, comedian (source)

"If you’re not sure how you feel [about same-sex marriage], go and meet some of the families and see what they’re looking for. Once you take it out of the caricature of what gay people are and what gay marriage is, and put it in the reality of family and what these folks are fighting for, it's really amazing."

Whoopi Goldberg, The View co-host (source)

"Here we go again. Pandering to the .3 percent of the American population that consider themselves transgender. Now I get to explain this to my 8-year-old, if I just wanted to watch a nice family show with some nice music."

Gretchen Carlson, Fox & Friends host, about Glee (source)

"I feel like those people (who criticize Glee’s gay characters) should stop writing letters and get a hobby. I personally get letters from kids every single day who write to me in secret because they live in environments that don’t accept who they are. So I really could care less about what those people say."

Chris Colfer, actor/screenwriter (source)

"I feel the denial of gay marriage sends a prejudice message. Our youth deserve a fair + hopeful future with government that values us equally."

Lady Gaga, superstar (source)

"While the [Boy Scouts of America] does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the B.S.A."

Official policy of Boy Scouts of America (source)

"Ain't nothing wrong with being gay. Everybody's a little gay."

Reality show personality Honey Boo Boo (source)

"Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give him a good punch. Ok? You are not going to act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you are going to be a male. And when your daughter starts acting too butch, you reign [sic] her in. And you say, Oh, no, sweetheart. You can play sports. Play them to the glory of God. But sometimes you are going to act like a girl and walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl and that means you are going to be beautiful. You are going to be attractive. You are going to dress yourself up."

Rev. Sean Harris, in a sermon in Fayetteville, North Carolina (source)

"[My Scoutmaster] had been telling me all along that we’d get by the gay thing. It was by far the biggest goal of my life. It's totally devastating."

Ryan Andresen, 17, learning that he will not earn Eagle Scout status because he is gay (source)

"I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman."

Mitt Romney, GOP Presidential nominee (source)

Zach Wahls, activist son of a same-sex union (source)

"With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued. They've chosen to teach division and intolerance."

Chad Griffin, Human Rights Campaign (source)

"Wait a minute, he was in Brokeback Mountain."

Blake Shelton, country singer, referring to Jake Gyllenhaal (source)

"When I see two guys kissing, I’m like, how come I can’t kiss one of those guys? They look like they’re having a good time."

Louis C.K., comedian (source)

Rep. Michele Bachmann, wild-eyed GOP Presidential candidate (source)

"The marriage-equality issue should be recognized for what it truly is – a civil rights issue that must be approved to assure that every citizen is treated equally under the law."

Bruce Springsteen, singer/songwriter (source)

"My friends, welcome to the other side of the rainbow."

State Senator Ed Murray, at signing ceremony legalizing gay marriage in Washington (source)

"I’m really disturbed about the gay marriage thing. Because I think gay people should get married, cause it’s their own business ... Because as a Black man, I think you’ve got to be against any form of discrimination."

Charles Barkley, sports commentator & former basketball superstar (source)

"There were a lot of Romneys. There was the Romney who was going to be better on gay rights than Ted Kennedy; now there’s the Romney who checks with Rick Santorum on that issue."

Rep. Barney Frank (source)

"It’s two people that are in love with one another. What’s the issue?"

Janet Jackson (source)

Sanders: "You punched me because I’m gay?"

Jenko: "What? No, I... oh, come on. I punched him and... he turned out to be gay afterwards."

Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill, 21 Jump Street (source)

"The more it happens, the easier it is for others, although I do understand why some actors choose not to come out. I have several famous friends who are still in the closet."

Cheyenne Jackson, actor (source)

"To the gay community I apologize if I did something, but all I said was I was against same-sex marriage. But I am not condemning you. My favorite expression is, ‘Love one another … as you love yourself, love thy neighbor.’"

Manny Pacquiao, boxer (source)

"The Wisconsin I know believes that with each passing year and each generation, our country must become more equal, not less."

Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin (source)

"I think to each its own, if nobody is hurting anybody, who cares? Everyone should be able to do what they want and be happy. Who you love is who you love. That’s the way I see it."

Jennifer Hudson, Academy Award winner (source)

"I was asked earlier if I was gay. Well, I can answer this way: I’m very gay and happy. I’ve never been with a woman, so I guess I’m straight. Okay? But I’m straight enough to know the difference between right and wrong. I am straight enough to know that if you want to marry whoever you want to marry you should be able to marry whoever you want to marry."

Patti LaBelle, legendary singer (source)

"I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want. It’s the new tolerant me!"

Eminem, rapper (source)

"I grew up in the South but I started dancing in my twenties when I got out of the Air Force, and studying dance, you’re surrounded by gay guys all the time. You get to know them and you have to shift gears!"

Morgan Freeman, Academy Award winner (source)

"If proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love … then surely, surely we can give everybody in this country a fair chance at the American Dream."

Michelle Obama, First Lady (source)

"My buddy Kevin’s boyfriend was able to watch him graduate from Marine Corps training. That’s change! And we can’t turn back now."

Kal Penn, actor (source)

"If marriage is radically redefined as a way of just affirming loving feelings of attraction, then equality will require allowing people who love dogs to marry dogs. And people who love ice cream to marry ice cream."

Daniel Heimbach, professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (source)

"It’s everyone’s own decision to [be gay]. It doesn’t affect me and shouldn’t affect anyone else."

Justin Bieber (source)

"The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."

Anderson Cooper, CNN Anchor (source)

"As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love, and want to marry," she said. "I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."

Carrie Underwood, country singer (source)

"The gay porn audience often looks to a hulking macho fantasy, and he (Erik Rhodes) provided that. He was Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the ‘Avengers’ cast wrapped in a gay package. And the fashion connection and the fact that he had a brain elevated him from your everyday escort-slash-porn-god and gave him texture."

Michael Musto, columnist, on the death of a porn star (source)

"Welcome to the 66th annual Tony Awards, or as we like to call it, 50 Shades of Gay!"

Neil Patrick Harris, actor (source)

"I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn’t but people were curiously desperate to suggest I was ... when you know a gay guy has a crush on you, it’s the most flattering thing."

Daniel Radcliffe, actor (source)

"I’d really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry. Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment."

Matt Bomer, actor (source)

"The majority of my fans have been amazing & supportive. But I am in shock and ashamed of many of my ‘fans’ who are standing firm in their stance that I am ‘less than’ them because of my sexual orientation. To those who feel this way: I gladly show you the door and wish you well on your journey."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, addressing Facebook fans who object to marriage equality (source)

"As I’ve been involved in the fight for marriage equality, one of the things I’ve learned is how many people were harmed by the campaigns in which I was involved. I apologize to them and tell them I am sorry. While there have been recent victories, this could still be a long struggle in which there will be setbacks, and I’ll do my part to be helpful."

Ken Mehlman, former Republican strategist (source)

"I think honestly, some people who think they’re gay, they’re confused. People can misconstrue closeness for love. People can feel connected, they bond. I’m not saying all [gay people are confused]. Some people have a desire to be with the same sex. But that’s them."

Stevie Wonder, who quickly apologized (source)

"Nature made Sam, it wasn't a choice.... You all have fought for him as surely as you were one of his parents. You've changed and are changing the lives of little boys and girls who realized somewhere along the way they're just different from their other brothers and sisters. And so the fuck what."

Actress Sally Field remarks on her gay son and the LGBT community during her HRC Ally for Equality Award acceptance speech. (source)

"This morning, I went into the normal green room that we typically go into … I barged right into a room of twinks: One Direction! Security was not exactly too tight, with all due respect. I barged right in. It was crazy!"

Andy Cohen, TV host (source)

Cameron: We’ll just make an excuse. We could say "We’re not going to any more weddings until gays can marry."

Mitchell: Oh, now we’re political. We leave town on Gay Pride Weekend because we don’t like the traffic.

Eric Stonestreet & Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (source)

"Tony Perkins and the [Family Research Council] point to the LGBT youth suicide rate as proof that the ‘gay lifestyle’ is dangerous and unhealthy ... while at the same time doing everything in their power to drive up that suicide rate. Tony Perkins sits on a pile of dead gay kids"

Dan Savage, good-deed doer (source)

"Ewwww … gay guys are the horniest people in the world. Most of them probably have AIDS … I would be so scared if I was a gay guy … you’ll like die of AIDS."

Paris Hilton, recorded during a cab ride (source)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (source)

"I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads."

Rupert Everett, actor (source)

"My eyes don't shed tears, but boy, they bawl when I'm thinkin’ ‘bout you."

Frank Ocean, hip hop artist (source)

"You shared one of the most intimate things that ever happened to you – falling in love with someone who wasn’t brave enough to love you back. Your relieving yourself of your ‘secret’ is as much about wanting to honestly connect as it is about exhibition. We are all made better by your decision to share publicly."

Jay-Z, hip hop artist (source)

Chris Kluwe, NFL placekicker, in a letter to an anti-gay politician (source)

"I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career. I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

Orlando Cruz, boxer (source)