On Jesse Helms

He was a real republican, with all the prejudices that, to me, are the foundation of that party, currently. To be a republican today means you want to deny something to citizens. I believe Democrats are neurotic; republicans are psychotic. Republicans always fear that if we let people do that thing, whatever it is, the world will go to hell. In my opinion, any republican who says they are Christian is a liar, or is in denial; fake Christians, maybe.

Helms said he didn't consider Mapplethorpe an artist. Who cared? Jesse knew as much about art and artists, I believe, as Trump knows about decency. After I would see Helms on TV, I'd have to wipe the spit off the screen.

I always thought Helms must have been deep in his closet. A more disgusting person I'd never found until Trump came onto the scene; and yet I don't believe Trump to be anti-gay....just anti- a lot of other minorities...

I own a large Mapplethorpe book of photographs. The photographs are dramatic, some staggeringly arresting and beautiful. I didn't care for most of his homo-erotic photographs, but his other works were fabulous.

It's sad that he died too young and in the way he did. He was an ARTIST.