"I was appalled and shocked that Bush used the State of the Union to attack same-sex marriages and indicated that he would support a constitutional amendment"

In this quote, Jean O'Leary expresses her strong disapproval and surprise at previous President George W. Bush's usage of the State of the Union address to slam same-sex marriages and suggest the possibility of a constitutional amendment to prohibit them. O'Leary, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist, is horrified by the reality that the president would use such a substantial and unifying occasion to assault a marginalized neighborhood and their rights. She is also shocked that the leader of the nation would support a step that would even more victimize and limit the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. O'Leary's words convey her dissatisfaction and aggravation with the political environment and the absence of assistance for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.