David Furnish

“Out of ignorance and fear comes judgment and division.”

“I think if you have an opportunity to live by example and make people aware of positive changes in our society, I think it's a great thing.”

“I was neeeever a cool kid.”

“When you're in a relationship with a very famous person, you have to make compromises.”

“Fear and ignorance fuel so much homophobia.”

“People don't ask me for my autograph.”

“We absolutely need more role models. I think we need more people to come forward and be proud of who they are.”

“I came from a happy family with loving parents, so my associations with marriage and children were all happy, positive things that brought me comfort as a child, which I wanted in my life.”

“In strictly medical terms, there's no difference between HIV and diabetes; they're not curable, but they're very, very highly treatable, and early information is power. The only thing - literally the only thing - that is different is the stigma. And we have to overcome it, because it is now the only reason people are dying.”

“I had a lot of failed relationships, a lot of unhappiness, a lot of shame and embarrassment, bad self-image stuff.”

“I'm always very proud when people ask me about being a Canadian.”

“I think if we could just level the playing field in life as much as possible, then we'd all be in a much better place.”

“Unfortunately, celebrity is a powerful thing. It can influence people, but if it can influence people in a good way, then that's a great thing.”

“If we can make HIV testing a normal part of looking after your health, we can truly envisage an AIDs-free future in the U.K.”

“A good art collection is emblematic of the people collecting it.”

“We have a lot of great lesbian role models in tennis. I mean, Martina Navratilova in her heyday was probably the greatest female athlete on the planet. Martina just kept breaking every rule. That's a great role model.”

“I think people get fearful of things they don't know or understand.”

“If you look at 'Gnomeo & Juliet,' the movie's message essentially says it doesn't matter if you're a 'red' or a 'blue': at the end of the day, parents should love their children and want what's best for them.”

“I like Madonna's music but not her movies. She should stick to what she is good at.”

“Putin is lovely.”