“This means more to me than any Grammy I could ever win … It will take a village and an army, [some] countries and continents to make bullying a hate crime.”

— Lady Gaga, accepting the Hero Award from the Trevor Project, which fights suicide among LGBT youth. It was presented by the family of Jamey Rodemeyer, a teen fan who killed himself earlier this year. (Eonline.com, Dec. 5)

“I basically took something that was extremely erotic and very intentional, and I reduced it to a simple kiss. I got a lot of criticism for that.”

— Director Stephen Spielberg on his treatment of “the more sexually honest encounters between Shug and Celie” in his 1985 film adaption of “The Color Purple,” the novel by Alice Walker that included an explicitly sexual relationship between the two women. (Entertainment Weekly, Dec. 5)

“I’ve never sounded more like a tranny in my life.”

— Openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris, after inhaling a gas that deepens the voice, during a Dec. 1 guest-host stint on “Live! With Kelly.” (Reuters, Dec. 2)

“Truly sorry for saying the word ‘tranny’ on Live this week. Twice! Should have been more thoughtful. Didn’t at all mean to offend.”

— Openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris, apologizing the next day via Twitter. (Reuters, Dec. 2)

“I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there.”

— Troy, Mich., Mayor Janice Daniels in a June 25 Facebook post, before she was elected, that made national headlines this week. (Detroit News, Dec. 5)

“While I do believe marriage should be between one man and one woman, it was inappropriate to use that language. … It was inappropriate and I do apologize. It was meant to be a joke, silly, a funny thing.”

— Troy, Mich., Mayor Janice Daniels apologizing during a Dec. 5 radio interview, noting she has no plans to resign. (Detroit News, Dec. 5)

Top photo: Pop star Lady Gaga (publicity photo)