Wanda Sykes: "I'm Proud To be Gay"

LAS VEGAS — Comedian Wanda Sykes says the passage of a same-sex marriage ban in California has led to her be more outspoken about being gay.

"You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation. 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," Sykes told a crowd at a gay rights rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"Everybody that knows me personally they know I'm gay. But that's the way people should be able to live their lives," she said.

Sykes, who is known for her feisty and blunt style, said the passage of California's Proposition 8 made her feel like she was "attacked."

"Now, I gotta get in their face," she said. "I'm proud to be a woman. I'm proud to be a black woman, and I'm proud to be gay."

Sykes' appearance at the Las Vegas rally surprised organizers. She was in town performing at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Comments

[cocodee]

If one of us is denied civil rights, all of us are denied civil rights!

Please write to senators and representatives. Let your voices be heard!

[nevadagirl]

I'm not gay, but dang, Wanda is looking better than ever. Girl on girl must be good for the complexion!

[Misterdc]

Right. And being black makes her a good dancer. ... Jesus!

[LeanLeftAmerica]

You go Wanda!!! And let's keep up the fight. One group at a time... speaking of which...

I have always had many a good thing to say about M0RM0NS (despite what I really feel about the actual religion). Bottom line was that they seemed to be good people.

Now the bottom line is...

You decided to get up in our business. We're gonna get up in yours. Your choice to effect our lives on a daily basis WILL have an equal and just response.

Prepare to have us in your daily lives until prop 8 is overturned. You've earned it!!!!

[berrycooda]

WELL.....AIN'T THAT PRECIOUS.....

And I'm sure the whole world is proud that you're proud...

Nothin' like being LOUD AND PROUD....

[OrleansCatalan]

It's better than being quiet and shamed.

or loud and hateful.

[Lucious]

I'm 55, so not much surprises me anymore, but the intolerance of these comments, in 2008 for Buddha's sake, just turns my head 360 degrees. Amazing. What the hell is wrong with people that they can't be more concerned with the love or lack of love in their own lives instead of working themselves up in a sweat because someone else is doing just fine. I'm a long time fan of Wanda. Gorgeous and beautiful Wanda Sykes. She makes me laugh and is very easy on my eyes. I'm a heterosexual white cracker, been married to the same sweetheart for 36 years, and my "lifestyle" is not a choice. Like Wanda, I was born as I am. You go Wanda. Would love to meet you and your family.

[yhgtup]

You're still funny as he**, Wanda Sykes. Your sexual preference has nothing to do with anything.

[berrycooda]

But she is proud.....and she really didn't have to tell us what she does in her bedroom.....

Now she can be FUNNY AND GAY at the same time....

[fedupwithlies]

....wow....I had no idea...caught me off-guard....was'nt thinkin' 'bout it.....okay...that bein' said, she's STILL funny , so what preference she chooses, live and let live....let's move on....

[VictorLaszlo]

You mean she's funny, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S GAY? Gosh, that's mighty big of you.

[TrustMeImASalesman]

I respectively request that the "Fairness" doctrin be in play now!

Hey Wanda, and what's your point? Personally, I grieve that you have chosen this life style. However, I don't have to like it or support it!

I think same sex marriage is wrong! Period. And, I do NOT want it hammered at me at every turn. So, I believe you've made a terrible choice. But, in America at leat, I think I'm allowed(JUST LIKE YOU) TO express my/your opinion as well.

We'll see if the Huffington Post is fair!

[emh]

"fairness" doctrine? what do you mean? fairness is every citizen of this country being afforded equal rights regardless of color, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

btw, since you don't seem to have paid much attention, being gay really isn't a "choice." and it's patronizing to say you "grieve" for her "choice." really - do you think she cares? and do you think that anyone wants to be hammered with your personal opinions? especially ones that are so driven by prejudice and self righteousness? ugh.

[TrustMeImASalesman]

Like President Regan used to say: "Well there you go again"! I didn't hammer you with my opinion; I expressed it. It seems she didn't care about telling the world either. She's seems proud to do it and doesn't "CARE" IF everyone else doesn't agree. And if it doesn't agree with yours, you get ugly! And yes it's a choice! A bad one in my opinion, yet a real choice. You don't like this viewpoint because you don't want to be held accountable for it!
And FYI, I don't dislike her, she's pretty good comedian, but who cares if she's "Chronically Happy"?

Now have a great day! Calm down and take you meds.

[CTariannaFan]

You are allowed to state your opinions, however wrong and moronic I may find them. Did anyone suggest you couldn't? And you are correct, you do not have to support Sykes' "lifestyle choices."

So what, exactly, is your point?

[afraid]

You don't have to marry someone of the same sex or not . And it grieves me because you think that Wanda should have to marry someone of the opposite sex or not ....And that is just my opinion....

[nevadagirl]

Well then don't marry someone of your own gender. I don't agree with gun ownership in the city limits for people who don't hunt so I don't own a gun. Problem solved.

[NHGranite]

I grieve for you that you have chosen to not use the intelligence you seem to have, but have chosen to be ignorant. Did you choose to be heterosexual? Why do you believe a gay person chooses to be gay? Not that there's anything wrong with it, but many of the gay people I know have been at many points in their lives tormented by being gay. It's something they accept about themselves, if they can, it is who they are.
You can choose to learn.

[KevinFletcherTweedy]

Go Wanda! You rock! There's always been something very special about your blunt humor and persona and I applaud your "coming out" on this issue!

love n hugs ... Kev

[2008FedUP]

Did ya think we didn't know this? Maybe it was the "dude" hairdo and non feminine look she possesses. Duh, next...

[ARTIST50]

I didn't know it, never thought about it, don't care about it.

[jimmsc]

There's a curiosity in 1Samuel 18-25 in which the passages tell a story between the relationship of David and Jonathan. One can argue that they are just close friends, but it's not until 1Samuel 20:30 that reveals Jonathan and David's friendship to be more passionate. Saul, Jonathan's father, angered by his son's attraction towards David said "do not I know that thou has chosen the son of Jesse to thine confusion." In IISamuel 1:25-26 however, David laments the death of of his comrade Jonathan: "very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." Whaaaat!?
But given the Bible's anti-gay stance, it's interesting that the story of David and Jonathan gets a pass and most Bibical scholars scoff at the homosexual innuendo by dismissively interpreting it as two guys who just happens to have a strong bond.
Never mind that in 1Samuel 18:1-5 states their obvious infatuation with each other:

And it came to pass when he
made an end of speaking unto
Saul, that the soul of Jonathan
was knit with the soul of David.

Then Jonathan and David
made a covenant,
because he loved him as
his own soul. And Jonathan
stripped himself of the robe
that was upon him and gave
it to David.

I'm not a Bible scholar but the above verses are overtly homosexual. The story is actually told beautifully with no sense or indication of immorality by the narration.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

LMAO@!!!!!!!

[Banji81]

You are completely full of sh*t. The fact is, when you attempt to use such tenuous means to make your point, it totally destroys whatever validity your argument may actually have.
Try again, Buster!

[Nikola Tesla]

Looks like SOMEONE is uncomfortable in their closet.

[jimmsc]

The homosexual context of the the story is beyond question. In ISamuel 19:7 Jonathan actually risks his relationship with his father because he ordered his son Jonathan and his servants to kill David. But David risked his life to "slew the Philistine and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel." Despite David"s heroism, Saul wanted David dead because of his son's attraction for David. When Jonathan tried to protect David from his father Saul, they "kissed one another, and wept one with another" until David departs.

I don't think I'm reaching "tenuous means" to interpret a story that has such a distinct homosexual overtones or that the Bible has made great strides in contradicting itself. Calling my argument bullshit without an argument of your own to counter "destroys whatever validity your argument may actually have. "

[kjstjohn]

When I read this, I thought EXACTLY the same thing that you did. There are so many surprising things in the Bible for those of us who read it cover to cover. If you just rely on the lectionary or on sermons, you will miss most of the passages like this one.

[DiBaskin]

Oh please. David was a womanizer. He was not Gay. You need to read the whole story life. He loved his friend. You can love someone without having a sexual relationship with them.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it was pretty obvious...:).

I'm glad that she's being more outspoken - more people need to be more outspoken about this travesty against a group of people because of who they are.
It's nobody's business what anyone else does.

[DeeW]

It was obvious? I'm so bad at noticing this stuff! I was surprised when Rosie came out ... now in retrospect I guess it was obvious, lol. I dunno ... maybe it's a good thing I don't think about it because it really doesn't matter.

[Topfeeder]

Dee gots no gaydar!

[nevadagirl]

Not obvious about Wanda at all. She used to married to a dude.

[NeverRepublican]

That's good...you should be proud.

Your c r a p p y stand-up is something NOT to be proud of.

[bongogirl]

Well, I'll be doggone.

[moosha]

I was just thinking about her "fiance" on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Krazy Eyes Killah. Too funny!

[moosha]

I'm glad that Wanda is proud to be gay, however, I think celebrities should, not stay in the closet, necessarily, but refrain from talking so much about their private lives. It helps an audience suspend belief when they are onscreen. Like Tom Cruise - one of our greatest actors, but when he's onscreen, what do you see and think of? Scientology and jumping on Oprah's couch.