|
Columns
Video
Currently Recapping
Popular People
|
Wanda Sykes Comes Out as Gay and Married
Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes officially came out this weekend, announcing to the estimated crowd of 1,000 gathered in Las Vegas at one of the many rallies for gay rights taking place around the country on Saturday that she's gay, and that she legally married her wife in California on Oct. 25. Sykes (who divorced her husband of seven years in 1998), has spoken out about gay rights issues many times in the past, recently participated in a campaign to fight anti-gay slurs, and has openly referred to her wife in some of her stand-up routines. Sykes at New York's Apollo Theater in June 2008 But she has always declined to specifically discuss her sexual orientation publicly — until now. "I don't really talk about my sexual orientation," she told the crowd at the Las Vegas GLBT Community Center. "I didn't feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life." "Everybody that knows me personally, they know I'm gay. But that's the way people should be able to live their lives." But the passage of Proposition 8, she told them, spurred her decision to officially come out. “ We took a huge leap forward and then got dragged 12 feet back. I felt like I was being attacked, personally attacked — our community was attacked." "Now, I gotta get in their face," she continued. "I'm proud to be a woman. I'm proud to be a black woman, and I'm proud to be gay." Sykes joins WNBA player Sheryl Swoopes as one of the few high-profile black women in America who have publicly come out as a lesbian or bisexual woman. Just before the Nov. 4 election, Sykes talked about homophobia within the black community on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, acknowledging there are differences between the black civil rights movement and the gay civil rights movement, but saying, "discrimination is discrimination, and of all people, black people should know about discrimination." Currently co-starring with Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the CBS comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine, Sykes — along with Jasika Nicole on the Fox sci-fi drama Fringe, and Kristen Vangsness on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds — is one of the few out actresses currently playing a leading or supporting role on primetime broadcast television. Sykes and Louis-Dreyfus in a recent episode of Old Christine She and her wife are among the 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who married during the four months same-sex marriage was legal in California, including many lesbian couples in the entertainment industry. Sykes said in her speech that she believes passing Proposition 8 will ultimately backfire for those who are against gay marriage. "They pissed off the wrong group of people," she told the crowd. "They have galvanized a community. We are so together now and we all want the same thing and we shouldn’t have to settle for less. Instead of having gay marriage in California, no, we’re gonna have gay marriage across the country." Watch Wanda's speech at the Las Vegas rally here: |
Recent blog posts
New forum topicsActive TopicsNew Comments
|
Welcome to AfterEllen.com!
- Login
- Join Now!
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Picking jaw up off the floor
YOU MUST HAVE READ MY
I assumed Wanda was gay all
I assumed Wanda was gay all along...gayday ringing off in loud alarms with her. I would love to see Queen come out, but something tells me she prefers to keep it private and on the DL. It may be better for her career. But to hell with that. Why don't all the gay celebs come out at once and Rock Hollywood. Maybe then we queers would get a few more equal rights!
~grace
coming out
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
YYESSSS!!
I'm Shocked
Yay!
I'm glad for her
Good for her. I'm glad she was able to do this.
Made me happy to read this.
Agree
Oh Snap!
oh snap yeah!
YAY WANDASYKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I heard that
You can do it Queen! lol
-<_>_<_>_<_>_<_>_<_>
"The first duty of a man is to think for himself"
Jose Marti
Did you see the article about Queen and her experience w/a man?
Check out www.blackgaygossip.com
Queen Latifah Opens Up About Sex With A Man
Q Latifah
Hahaha I thought the same thing while reading.
Queenie
Congrats to her! She's funny
I never knew that. Good
I never knew that.
Good for her!
[West - The Writers Mafia]
There isn't much visibility
There isn't much visibility for gay African Americans. I'm glad she's chosen to come out at this time. It is giving me the courage I need to do the same.
GOOD LUCK! "Don't
GOOD LUCK!
"
Don'tthreaten me with love, Baby. Let'sjustgo walking in the rain."-Billie Holiday
www.myspace.com/TalkCrz
Pissed off the wrong group of people, indeed.
I'm glad there is still a dialogue going on about this, even after the election buzz has calmed. I like being able to turn on the news at night and see people continuing to protest.
Persistence is the mother of all successes. Hopefully other minority women will follow suit.
My name is Tender. Tender Forever. http://www.fonfreaka.blogspot.com
Yeah they pissed the wrong people
I know for sure that we all grind our ... while thinking about what happened in california. I certainly am and I'm afraid a Harper government in Canada will bring the same.
I'm there with you and will fight with you.
Chris Dykeboichris.
No.
Harper has stated that he will not press the issue. A motion to reopen the marriage debate was brought forth in parliament not long after Harper won his first minority in 2006. It was straight up defeated, and Harper said he wouldn't bring it up again.
The Supreme Court of Canada's interpretation of section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms isn't going to change soon, and the Civil Marriage Act is still around. Gay marriage rules. Canada rules. California sucks. Awesome.
-A
!
Gay marriage rules. Canada rules. California sucks. Awesome.
I would say the legislative process in California sucks. When Canada was having their own nation-wide debate over the legalization of same-sex marriage there was a lot of talk about having a nation-wide refferendum. A LOT. The Liberal government dismissed the idea almost imediately after it was proposed (couple days later), even Stephen Harper was against it.
How it is that a minority rights issue can somehow end up at the will of a popular vote in California confuses me. I think there's a vital piece of legislation missing there or something... but I don't know much about how the American system works on those levels.
Canadians seem to put a lot more faith in the courts than Americans in terms of how their ideology is reflected in politics... I remember the Liberal government consulting the courts very thuroughly before they'd even take the discussion to the floor.
If Canada had had a vote on the issue we may have been in the exact same boat California is now. At the time the yes / no opinion on the issue was pretty fairly split. If there had been campaigning involved in the run up to the referrendum, who knows what would have happened?
Harper Government
Harper Government
GO Wanda!
Awesome
This is great news. I went to the protest in S.F. today and it was soo great to be there as a black queer woman and to hear Rev. Amos Brown, a local NAACP head and a baptist preacher speak out in favor of LGBT rights.
I've been so dejected lately but I think my spirits are slowly beginning to lift. There is hope. These things just take time.
My throat is sore from yelling and screaming...
Wanda's speech was awesome! It really got us fired up to go rally traffic for the cause later.
I ended up looking to my left only to see Wanda protesting not even 5 feet away from me. Of course, I geeked out and bothered her.
I'd say we got more honks than fingers...so that's a good thing.
I'm kindasortaextremely
Well...
Awesome
- - - - - - - - - -
-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
I blog, therefore, I am
Wonders never cease!
There were always certain people and/or celebs who I'd point towards and say, "They should get together," or "I think she's a lesbian." My ex would always tell me that I thought every woman was gay...which isn't entirely true (just most of my favorites just so happen to turn out to be...). With Wanda, it was always wishful thinking...but the confirmation is still shockingly awesome. :-)
Anywho, on a more serious note, I've always loved and admired Wanda Sykes and now I'm even more grateful for her. As a lesbian of color, I find it unbelievably hardpressed to find positive representation-especially that of celebrity status- to speak against homophobia and discrimination. There's still a lot of homophobia and/or ignorance in minority communities (which, honestly is what helped pass Prop 8 in the 1st place), so every voice that is heard from within, I believe is another chip in the great wall of continued inequality. So, to her, I say THANK YOU!
Thanks Wanda. coming out
Thanks Wanda.
coming out at a pivotal moment in time like this is exactly what we need from all our closeted high profile celebs.
way to go wanda :D
------------------------------------------------------
My Photography
I must've...
I must've not been begin attention lately, 'cause I didn't even know she was gay, haha! I've always loved Wanda and I love this news! We need people like her right now...
http://www.youtube.com/BetweenThaLines
Yeah!!
"They pissed off the wrong group of people," she told the crowd. "They have galvanized a community. We are so together now and we all want the same thing and we shouldn’t have to settle for less. Instead of having gay marriage in California, no, we’re gonna have gay marriage across the country."
No, we're gonna have gay marriage across the world!! Woot!
Knew she was gay
Really glad she finally made the decision to come out. Good for her and the community too. We need as many people repping us as possible.
----Jasmeen's Signature---
Jill's new vlog at Shewired.com
http://shewired.com/FeaturedWriter.cfm?ID=18
Rose Rollins is super hot.
Isn't Queen Latifah a super duper dyke?
I have always loved Wanda.
Alicia Kes is that You?...Aww :(
FREEDOM!!
Yeah! Do you girl, i'm so proud. I wish more would come out. not that they can't "live" their lives but I just think she did a bit of community service by coming out publicly.
So Proud Of Wanda
www.myspace.com/lunakiss7
We needed an African-American/Black person to come out especially during these times. I'm so happy Wanda Sykes step up to the plate and came out. Bug Ups for Her! Now, Wanda can not fight against homophobia in the black community by herself. More people of color need to come out and put faces on the words gay and lesbians and bisexuals. They need stand up and out and speak the truth about what's really going on. Stop hiding behind fear. If you're not helping solve the problem then you are part of the problem. Too tired to write more. Let's pop some bubbly and give a toast to truth seekers.
Peace!
I couldn't agree more!
I certainly do wish more
I certainly do wish more African Americans were out but maybe Wanda's coming out will offer some hope to those who don't want to be out. I'm not saying you have to go out in the street wearing rainbow everything but sometimes being open with friends and family can change hearts and minds. I have witnessed this personally and the risk is worth the gains.
Latifah, you can do it. I mean, what straight celebrity keeps their relationship under wraps like she does?
**www.350.org**
Sorry, Sarah for doubting you and your knack for knowing
I remember Sarah had an article on "Lesbians on Leno" and everyone was saying the same thing, "We love Wanda but what is she doing in this article ? She's not gay."
We were all debating that really confusing term "girlfriend". But I guess that now lays to rest all the ambiguities when Wanda says it.
Oh ye of little faith!
And there was us all thinking the Christian [sic] lobby was attacking the gay community when in fact, "They have galvanized a community ... Instead of having gay marriage in California, no, we’re gonna have gay marriage across the country." Truely, the Lord works in mysterious ways.
Congratulations to Wanda on her marriage and on becoming another visible member of the community. Awsome!
Awesome.
_ _ _ _ _
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)
Hooray!
Yay for Wanda! Always loved her, always had an idea she was part of the community. It's always gratifying to see people come out whose work is enjoyed and respected by a wide range of people. It brings it all down to the fact that we are all alike and deserve the same rights. In surgery, if you do an operation, you sure can't tell who is black or white or Oriental or gay or straight on the inside. We all are the same!
I agree in thinking that the defeat of Prop 8 will probably have a rebound effect in making people more unified on this issue. CT did it and NJ's civil union status will ultimately press forward to a vote on marriage. Little by little we will gain in this goal of equality.
"Now, I gotta get in their face"
This is great news....sure the part about Wanda coming out, but more than that, that she will be GETTING IN THEIR FACE! I love it. What a talent to have on our side. She will be quoted all over the place and this is what is needed to stop the maddness.
--Mari
Mari SanGiovanni
Author of: Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer...
www.GreetingsFromJamaica.com