“We are flung into a solitude so severe that it inadvertently increases our sense of freedom as it loosens our bonds to any specific group, whether racial or sexual. Our perception of the limitations of ourselves and of others is sharpened considerably, as is the passion of our self-respect. We begin to see that perhaps all people must be our people, since the various factions of peoplehood to which we "belong" are so very hard to please; and that we must be "every person" in any event if we are to assume the absolute largest freedom for ourselves. I reached the point with both groups, lesbians and blacks, of just saying: Accept me as I am, with this tendency I have of being able to love everyone, including you, or just don't fucking bother me at all.”