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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Latifah, queen of the rumors

For the last few days, the buzz on the gossip blogs has been that Queen Latifah is "engaged" to her trainer Jeanette Jenkins and plans to come out publicly soon.

The sources of this tidbit aren't exactly reliable; they range from Perez Hilton to a blind item in the New York Post to <insert your favorite dodgy rumor site here>. Here's how the Post put it on Monday:

"WHICH big Hollywood actress is about to come out of the closet? She's been living with her girlfriend in a small town, where all the neighbors know, and the two are now engaged to be married."

Perez and other bloggers have concluded that Latifah is the most likely candidate; she lives in a "small town" in New Jersey — where, incidentally, same-sex civil unions are legal.

The original source seems to be MediaTakeOut.com, which declares its reliability very loudly — you might even say they doth protest too much.

We haven't reported this "news" because it just seems so, well, unlikely. Isn't Latifah the one who recently told Glamour that "this gay thing hasn't messed up my appeal to the gentlemen"? There have been a lot of rumors over the years, but Latifah herself has dismissed them as idle talk.

Of course, she has also taken a "don't ask, don't tell" approach at times. When Ebony asked her about her rumored relationship with Jeanette, she declined to comment:

"No comment on that at all. I'm done commenting on all that ... It's ridiculous. I know me and that's all I need to know."

I doubt she's suddenly decided that we need to know, too. But of course she makes my gaydar ping. She's very convincing in Set It Off, for example. And she looks quite comfortable here, in a Mama Morton number from the upcoming CBS special Movies Rock:

Nah, that's not nearly as gay as this:

And then there's this photo from yesterday's 16th annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast, where Jodie Foster received an award (read our full article here). Latifah looks like she's thinking, "Uh-oh, I'm gay by association," and Jodie looks like she's thinking, "We know, Latifah. We know."

But never mind all that. Latifah's comments to Glamour and Ebony are very recent and just don't seem like the words of someone who's considering coming out. In fact, if she does come out, she'd better clarify those remarks. Take it all back, Latifah!

Check our Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. column on Friday for more, if anything more materializes. It could turn out to be a whole lot of wishful thinking.

  • scribegrrrl's blog
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  • Molly Bolt's picture

    I saw this story on

    I saw this story on queerty.com the other day, after they had picked it up from the Post. How ironic that Latifah is coupled with Jodie...the "leak" could be about either of them.  
    Nelfy's picture

    doubt that...

    I agree with you, she's probably not gonna come out, because why would someone make a fuss about it and say these negative things and then come out a few weeks later?? it would be cool if she were gay because she's a great woman, but these remarks were definitly not cool... so I doubt that she's even gay-friendly.

    and I agree with molly bolt, it could be about other people such as jodie as well. where does jorja fox live?? ;-) 

    "Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from." ~ Jodie Foster

    alex's picture

    I don't buy it either.

    She may be getting married, but no way is she making a big coming out statement. A good number of other people have been guessing that it's Kelly Mcgillis mostly because of the "lives in a small town" part of the rumor.

    Love that picture of the Queen with Jodie. With Travolta there, it must've been a gay ol' time!

    Slym's picture

    Latifah

    cetainly sets off the gaydar bell but as all others have stated, it would not make any sense whatsoever if she were going to come out that it would be any time soon; not after her comments of recent times.

    I'm still a bit irked about it, but as I stated before, I like her, she's come a long way and there's no way I'm going to discredit her because of a couple remarks she made; it doesn't undo all that she's done.

    Peace

    ice cream's picture

    OK Sure

    lol at that picture, it looks like they had a closeted celebrities convention.

    Was Tom Cruise there as well?

    O.T.

    I think a few years from now, when I decide to get "gay married", I'll call my partner "my personal trainer"(it makes sense if you have a dirty mind). Wife sounds so straight---so square. I think I can thank the Queen for that contribution alone.

     

    Keeva99's picture

    Closeted celebrities convention...

     lol...funny

     

     

     

    Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.  ~Faith Whittlesey

    GATA's picture

    right.

    What ever she says,, she will always look so gay to me.!
    RedBeet's picture

    Wait...the queen is in the dirty jerz?

    Seriously? Where?? I might go track her down and get her to come to my nice happy gay church.
    dypole's picture

    Yep, she does

    She lives in one of the really swank towns (so, not actually the "dirty" part of Jersey). A friend of a friend, who I met at some party, actually lives in the town and told me he drives by there all the time. He said she's not around much, though.

    "Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck

    swoopesbabe's picture

    latifah&gal pal

    they make an beautiful couple.nice 2 see an positive "womyn of color couple"
    Julez's picture

    will this make her the first American Black OUT Queer Female??

    i dunno im not a yank...just wondering.

     

    Seems like the blacks need role models...it is so sad the black

    community is so freakin homophobic that even once you are a millionaire

    or Billionaire ( " O " ) ...you need to HIDe...or chose to hide.

     

    Everyone KNOWS shes gay...grow up Queen and be a real role model.

    Young girls need to know it is normal and safe to live free and open.

     

    and if you can't do that ....you can always BUY your guilt away by purchasing

    a girls school in Africa.   

     

    Khia's picture

    HUH?

    I am speechless after reading your ...interesting post.
    112358's picture

    What about Sheryl Swoopes?

    http://www.afterellen.com/People/2005/10/swoopes.html

     

    She was the first that came to mind.

    Shyme's picture

    she's scared!!!!

    Nah!!! she wont come out.. its a black thing,, we're too scared to admit what's re lly inside(HEARTS),, i can understand her though,, its difficult if you're brought up cultured and all that,, But hope she'll just baby steps like jodie foster and COME OUT and stay out coz she's soooo Gay!!!!
    Prophet's picture

    You are too funny!!

    You are too funny!! Hilarious.

    I also picked up on Latifah's recent interviews making the rumours not 100% believeable.

    Prophet

    Lunakiss's picture

    Queen of hidin'

    I remember in one article years ago in one of the A-A mags. Queen had a ring on her finger. The reporter asked about it. She said she was married to herself. Ok,who bought that comment. At first I did then I thought how utterly stupid I could be.  I'm not fallen for anymore of her crazy responses. Queen is a Lesbian b/c she did not publicly announced like Laila Ali that she wasn't. The crazier and sporadic and defensive a person becoes about their sexual orientation 9 x out 10 their SCARED about it. A 100% sure they are. 

    It is a Black thing b/c their afraid to lose their fans which in their minds would damage their careers.

    LOL. A closeted Celeberities Convention. It does look like that.

    Peace be with you

     

    I'm in Vibe this month...pick up a copy..check me out and then put it back on the stand. thanks.

    peace imani (Imani Coppola's Black & White album from her mypsace page)

    bbiglovely's picture

    No matter whether she is a

    No matter whether she is a gay or not, many large people at largeplace.com are still her fans and love your forever.
    jackedup77's picture

    ...

    nevermind