--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay…" description: "\"Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay rights, but who wants to join the army or get married anyway?\" — John Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg" --- # Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay rights, but who… ![“Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay rights, but who wants to join the army or get married anyway?” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg) > “Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay rights, but who wants to join the army or get married anyway?” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocacy for gay rights is questioned when personal priorities like military service or marriage seem irrelevant. **In simple terms:** Advocacy feels pointless if personal goals differ. Key Takeaway Align personal values with broader causes. Themes activism identity personal priorities social issues Mood contemplative questioning Type sociological personal When to use this quote - military enlistment - marriage equality debates - personal lifestyle choices Key Concepts advocacy conflict of interest identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Why prioritize personal goals over collective rights? - How to reconcile personal life with activism? A Different Perspective Personal contradictions can weaken public messaging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-rights/) [Joining the army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joining-the-army/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [Finally, fighting for gay rights, speaking out in various places and making friends, men and women, was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weinberg/finally-fighting-for-gay-rights-speaking-out-in-various-places-and/) [George Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weinberg/) > [My father was furious with me, absolutely furious. I'm sure he wouldn't have been so mad if I'd have volunteered to join the army.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/my-father-was-furious-with-me-absolutely-furious-i-m-sure-he-wouldn-t/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [I didn't want to work at Pizza Hut and I didn't want to join the Army. So I just decided to go out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-didn-t-want-to-work-at-pizza-hut-and-i-didn-t-want-to-join-the-army/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I am old school, I joined the gay liberation movement in 1972. If you had told me in 1972 that in the year 2009…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-am-old-school-i-joined-the-gay-liberation-movement-in-1972-if-you/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [Sixteen- and 17-year-olds pay taxes and can join the army, so surely they should in turn be given their right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/sixteen-and-17-year-olds-pay-taxes-and-can-join-the-army-so-surely/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [In fact, the big steps forward for advertising, especially after World War I were when government just began employing the tools of advertising for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/in-fact-the-big-steps-forward-for-advertising-especially-after-world/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) > [The moment that you have a child - that you know that when he'll turn 18, he'll join the Army and go there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/the-moment-that-you-have-a-child-that-you-know-that-when-he-ll-turn/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I guess if you're stupid enough to join the army without thinking about getting shot at, then you really are a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blunt/i-guess-if-you-re-stupid-enough-to-join-the-army-without-thinking/) [James Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blunt/) > [Join the army and see the next world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/join-the-army-and-see-the-next-world/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [It's nonsense that people join the army to serve the country, like the politicians do it only for the sake of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-manekshaw/it-s-nonsense-that-people-join-the-army-to-serve-the-country-like-the/) [Sam Manekshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-manekshaw/) > [It will be my sincere and constant desire to observe toward the Indian tribes within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/it-will-be-my-sincere-and-constant-desire-to-observe-toward-the/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [We’ve been fighting about gay marriage for what, 15-20 years now. Is there any evidence that fighting gay marriage is contributing to a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blankenhorn/we-ve-been-fighting-about-gay-marriage-for-what-15-20-years-now-is/) [David Blankenhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blankenhorn/) > [... fighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there-because we lie that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/fighting-for-gay-marriage-generally-involves-lying-about-what-we-are/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zell-miller/it-is-the-soldier-not-the-poet-who-has-given-us-freedom-of-speech/) [Zell Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zell-miller/) > [So the whole of war, when you look at it is probably run by professional soldiers, and the rest of them are just recruits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-scarfe/so-the-whole-of-war-when-you-look-at-it-is-probably-run-by/) [Gerald Scarfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-scarfe/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. 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Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay rights, but who wants to join the army or get married anyway?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Waters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay-rights-but-who-wants-to-join/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay-rights-but-who-wants-to-join/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/john-waters-751_army_yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay_415560.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yeah, I know I should be fighting for gay rights, but who wants to join the army or get married anyway?” — John Waters", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Waters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Yeah, I know I should be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay-rights-but-who-wants-to-join/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/yeah-i-know-i-should-be-fighting-for-gay-rights-but-who-wants-to-join/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```