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

[Dilz]

Yay! Wanda. Im so happy for you and the way things are going in this country. There is nothing to fear when one is being honest and true.

[edsel]

I'm sure your parents are also very proud

[JohnShank]

I am POSITIVE they are. Are yours?

[ElvisGump]

I wonder how lesbians feel when they discover their male fans are depressed to discover they are gay? I get depressed every time I discover this fact. I can remember having an instant crush on Ellen years and years ago when she was first on the comic scene, and crushes on someone famous is depressing enough when you think, "Man she's so funny and smart I would barely have a chance with a girl like her if I ever met her," and then you find out they are gay and your crush is utterly hopeless from the start.

Same kinda crush on Wanda for me and I was thrilled and jealous last season when she and Matthew hooked up on "Old Christine". Matthew is nerdly like me, so hey,

Alas, damned crushes on actresses and stars. I mean I know they are utterly ridicoulus to begin with, but even my unrealistic fantasy is dashed!

[jnik]

YEAH, LIKE YOU HAD A SHOT!

[BlackJAC]

I know what you mean: when I first saw Rachel Maddow, I thought, "Now if we can get her to grow her hair out, we got something here." Then I learned she was a lesbian, and now I think "Now if we can get her to grow her hair out and also make an exception for me..."

[BCubedReg]

Yeah, Rachel does it for me too (intelligent, atractive, funny.. what's not to like)... I was severely depressed when I found out she was a lesbian... I still think she's great, just wish she was available.

[ohioan73]

LOL! I think you are a male lesbian. Your "gaydar" is broken. :D

[folksonomy]

I love Wanda's comedic genius, and I'm glad she's being outspoken about something very personal to her.

Thank you Wanda!

[Passenger57]

I'm sorry...I just don't understand why people would care if two gay people got married. So what? Two men wanna get married,what do I care? Two women - same thing. Why would this bother people? Perhaps if they randomly threw Molotov cocktails after each wedding I might grow concerned,but otherwise, I don't see how their marraige,or gay couples receiving health care coverage like any other married couple,or adopting children,or whatever other issue that comes up is any of my business.
Religion plays a major role in people disapproving of it, but if they can find exceptions to other things in the Bible or any other religious book,they can skip over the "no gay" parts,too!
The only thing that bugs me are celebrities that don't say whether they're gay or not. I think the times have changed enough that there won't be any negative repercussions from it. The public usually finds out eventually anyway,so they may as well let the cat out of the bag.

[StayGoldLikeFlair]

"Perhaps if they randomly threw Molotov cocktails after each wedding I might grow concerned.­.."

LOL, easily the funniest thing I've read all morning

[Twopennygal]

We shouldn't have to say one way or another. Do straight people announce their orientation? And Peter Paige of Queer as Folk fame made a very good point when he said that when a gay actor comes out in publicly, they run the risk of never getting another straight role, and there aren't enough gay roles out there, so they'd wind up almost never getting to act. Since Peter has come out, he has taken up directing and producing.

[BlackJAC]

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I'm always surprised whenever someone comes out of the closet?

[KevinVT]

Always loved Wanda. Now I love her even more!

[fredamae]

Wanda, I love your Spirit. You are doing just fine living your life the way you do. It takes a noble courage to come forward and sometimes it takes getting PO'd enough to use our voices.

I am not gay, but, share your approach and reasoning in my own life as an advocate for the "other war against the people, by the people/gov't", Medical Cannabis/Cannabis Prohibition. Far too Many People are needlessly Suffering as a consequence of these Laws, Rules and Policies, as well.

We have got to educate our Lawmakers and Policy Setters to Butt the hell out of our Personal Lives, Our Health Care and Our Right to choose.

Go Wanda! and God Bless you!

[LoyalJane]

Wanda sykes, Queen Latifah, I suspect a few others. Sometimes I feel the gays get a lot of acting jobs in hollywood because of the network of gays IN HOLLYWOOD

[AnotherTry]

This is a joke right? You named two people, one of which is still in the closet. Care to name more?

[BoVandy]

sometimes I feel like there are people too stupid to breathe, you're one of them

[Avatar73]

So let me get this straight, we are suppose to be proud when someone states that they would like to be with someone of the same sex? Lasciviousness cannot be checked once we cave in to this behavior watch it propagate into something else.

[fredamae]

So? Whats your point?

[jazzartkitty]

who cares, Wanda is sheer brilliance!!!

[alsm9]

Yes, it's a big gay conspiracy LoyalJane. *rolls eyes* oh brother.

[IRepTheKing]

I didn't know Wanda was gay, but I've like her comedy. I STILL like her comedy (as do with Ellen), but this was voted on by the people of various states. The laws of our land has always reflected what the people put into effect. This law is no different. What this says is that these states who voted to ban gay marriage aren't ready to change the definition of it. Whether you like it or not, it was a democratic decision and we live in a democratic nation. I personally didn't have such a vote in my state (NC), but I would have voted with the ban as well. Maybe that gets me hated responses, but everyone has a view and the views of the majority in this country aren't ready to redefine marriage and the sacred institution God created it as.

(hateful responses will be ignored appropriately)

[AnotherTry]

What happens when religious believers are they minority? Will you accept your civil rights being taken away by majority vote? The constitution has something to say about that. You should read it.

[ellawensmom]

I was at church yesterday, and since I'm a Mormon, you can imagine how interesting it's been of late. I was sitting in the last meeting of the day, and the Prop 8 thing came up. It started out kind of ugly with a woman saying, "Our church is being persecuted, and gays around the country hate us." So, I raised my hand and said, "Well, this statement is probably not going to make me very popular, but I feel the need to say it anyway. The church members are feeling persecuted, but imagine how gay people feel about being denied something they believe is their civil right. I have alot of sympathy and compassion for them, and I think it's a shame how all of this is happening. I don't like the backlash against the church, but I feel sympathy for the gay community,­too."
They think that if same-sex marriages are allowed the Temples would have to perform gay marriages, or shut down marriages completely. I don't believe religion should interfere in government, but I also believe that government shouldn't interfere in religion. Separation of church and state has to go both ways. I don't know what Prop 8 would have done because I don't live in California, and didn't become super informed about it. Would it have made it possible for religious organ. to be sued for refusing to perform ss marriages? If not, then there is a VERY unfortunate misunderstanding going on.

[fredamae]

No, your belief does Not get a hateful response. However, It will get a Question or two.
1) WHY do you care? You encounter folks from the gay community in church, in grocery stores, in clothing stores, in toy stores, on the street, in your doctor's office..et­c. How has that in Any manner affected you personally and interfered with your life?

2) Name one time you and Your choice of Personal Life Style has been negatively impacted by sharing this life with any gay person behind the closed doors of your home?

ok, three questions

3) Why can't you just live and let live, Why do you feel you have to object to something You will most likely Never be involved in and Why do you believe it is OK to discriminate and judge those who believe differently than You without also wondering What It would feel like if You were Forced to live your life by whatever Whims the Popular vote decided.

4) Sacred Institution? If it were Sacred there would Be NO Discrimination. The "Word Of God" does Not teach the Hate you practice, now does it. You commit Sin against your fellow man in the Name of God.

Have a nice day!

[jazzartkitty]

if people "really cared" about the sanctity and sacredness of marriage, they would forget about gay marriage and same sex people who love each other and focus on violence and poverty, 2 BIG things that destroy marriage, children and people. I am exausted with the myopia on this topic. Let gay people marry, it wont change me at all as a hetero.

[MomWithTwoHeads]

What if people had the right to vote away rights "proposition-style" back in the 50s and 60s? They would have outlawed integration and voting rights and everything else. And in California, you only have to do it by simple majority. One vote. Not even a two thirds majority. To raise taxes in CA, you need two thirds majority, but to strip rights, one vote.

So go on. Be happy. You're on the wrong side of history. But go on. Democracy is limited by the tyranny of the majority. This issue will eventually prevail.

It's against the consitution's spirit to strop rights. Period.

[Bryony]

Exactly!!

[roannamac]

But you see, that's the issue. "God" and I don't believe there is any such being, did not institute anything. Human beings did. This did this when they had no consept of the world and what was really real. I don't understand how people can look at the world as it is now and still use "God" and the bible as their source of reference. There are things that it says in the bible that makes absolutely no sense. I look at people who are hateful towards gays and I think, "so you think this is a choice", you think all these people with the pain in their faces at these rallies, these people who's jobs could be ruined, who can and have been beaten and killed, they CHOSE this". Wow. This is why America is in the state its in. Racist, hateful and one of the shortest life spans in the world. Ignorance.

[benne]

Love Wanda!!!

[boyo1872]

The absolute lunacy I am hearing from these posts helps sums up how uninformed most people are about laws, tradition, and the process of democracy. The people have voted..the­y don't want gay marriage. Our laws were designed to deal with marriage between a man and women, which is actually not an extension of rights but a loss of rights. Tradition going back hundreds of years states marriage is between a man and a woman. The federal government does not recognize gay marriage. Let's face the facts....t­he best thing the gay community will get in 99% of this country is civil unions..al­l the protesting and boycotts and threats will do nothing but create a bigger backlash against the gay community.­...I am in an interracial marriage..­I am no racist or homophobe or xenophobe.­.but myself and many rational americans are getting put off by the craziness of this issue. This is a non-issue.­.get over yourselves, and move on because we have more important things in this country to deal with. Now..if you pushed to have homosexuality and civil unions inserted in the language of the Equal Protection Clause, then maybe more regular (non-partisan) Americans will support your struggle.

[rhettisha]

Were you born in 1872?

[AnotherTry]

Connecticut and Massachusetts' citizens would beg to differ. If it is legal there, it must be legal everywhere. Did you also support Jim Crow laws?

[boyo1872]

This has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the rewriting of a large part of our legal system to suit a small minority who basis for arguement is that their rights are being denied, when in fact their rights are not being denied since the law defines marriage as a loss of rights. Study the law..read the Constitution. Why do you think Obamo doesn't support gay marriage? I bet you all the money in the bank it's not for religious reasons rather it is for legal reasons. Redefining marriage will create a legal quagmire!!!!

[MoeB]

Concerning your "the people have voted" statement:

We live in a democratic republic. Which means there are certain protections for the minority from the will of the majority. Why? Because the founding fathers knew that the majority would not always be right. This is an instance where popular vote should not take away the rights of another citizen.

Being a person in an interracial marriage, would you be happy if people voted and rejected marriage for interracial couples, and gave you an "alternative" marriage called civil unions? Would you be happy with that?

And for the record, civil rights protests also created an initial backlash. That's fine. Eventually the majority will come around and see that gays are actually RIGHT on this issue.

Look, personally I feel if CHURCHES don't want to marry gays, then that's their right. They shouldn't be forced to. However, to enact LAWS that define marriage based on religious terms is wrong. This is not a theocracy.

[boyo1872]

Again..mar­riage has already been defined as a union between a man and a woman. This has been defined by tradition and law that go back hundreds of years. The banning of interracial marriage would violate the law because you are atttempting to ban the union between a man and woman. This has nothing to do with same gender unions. If you would put aside your emotions and examine the law as it is you would realize that to redefine the laws pertaining to marriage would result in a legal quamire. Again the comparison of interracial marriage is null..it is like comparing an apple with an orange. For those who still don't get this, think..why doesn't Obama support gay marriage? Read these links by Thomas Sowell..on­e of the country's most distinguished intellectuals and an economics genius.
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell081606.php3
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell110508.php3

[HotheadPaisen]

YOu are in an inter-racila marriage yet support this ban? Several states outlawed inter-racial marriages until fairly recently. Was that OK with you? Suppose they wished to reinstate the ban- would that be OK with you? Suppose you and your spouse traveld to one of those states, got into and accident, one of you was in critical condition but the other couldn't vist because you're not 'family'. Still OK? How bout if one of you inherited or bought property in one of those states but died suddenly- you'd have no claim to the property..­.OK now?
And you you or your spouse adopted each others kids...

All you people who think it's ok to discriminate agains Gays due to 'tradition' and religion, well how bout if the huge section of Christians who don't believe in divorce ruled your state? OK with those of who want to remarry? Too bad. How bout those of yuu who had already remarried? So sad- you don't count any more...

Would it still be "crazy" if a group of citizens could just decide YOU were outside the benifits and protection of the law?

[boyo1872]

The arguement of race is of no comparison­...I by law would have a legal right to marry a woman outside of my race..and what if state decided to ban interracial marriage? This ban would be in violation of the law which states that marriage is a union between a man and a woman..rac­e or skin color mean nothing. Gays are within the protection of the law when states have enacted civil unions... and I am pro-civil unions for every state. Of course gays should have equal rights..bu­t marriage has nothing to do with a gain in rights..it­'s a loss of rights defined by the law of the state. GET PAST THE RACIAL COMPARISON!!!

[Midasgurl]

Actually the comparison has to do with denying somebody unalienable rights. Whether it's by race or sexual orientation, it is still discrimination. And black people are abhorrent when they are the first in line to deny gays their rights -- because blacks are the most whiney when it comes to claiming discrimination. Get over yourselves. You are not special and don't own discrimination. And btw, I'm black (in interracial relationship).

[RButler]

Wanda, I didn't know. But, I like that your talent as a comedian was what you gave us. There seems to be 2 types of people in the world ( I exaggerate for effect). Whether they are black, female, gay, Jewish or some other distinguishing feature, some live their lives beyond the limitations of that particular feature and for others it's an 'issue' and it can be an obstacle for others to overcome in order to be around them. There are fat people who are lovable and for whom their size is incidental to who they are. For others, they are in your face about it and you have to get over it.

for me, you're being gay is fine but someone like Rosie O'Donnell, who I like sometimes, she can be annoying about being gay and then she puts the burden on others.

I have a friend who has long hair and a full beard and complaints frequently that people treat him in a way he doesn't like. I said 'either cut your hair and shave your beard OR quit complaining about how other people look at you'. It's almost like a woman who wears a low cut blouse to work and then complains that men look at her chest. Either cover up or quit complaining but we live in a society that allows us all kinds of freedom and then we complain when others don't approve. Where is it written that others have to like your 'shtick'.

[rhettisha]

Getting treated differently because you have poor grooming practices and being denied basic civil rights are two very different things. People flaunt their heterosexuality in my face all the time and I just put up with it. I'm just asking for the same right to have people put up with me.

[MoeB]

Yes! How many times during a walk do you encounter heterosexual people "flaunting" THEIR sexuality? Yes, there are gays who do take it to another level, but they are in the minority..­.just the same as with heterosexual couples.

[AnotherTry]

So let me just sum up for you: "Back in the closet, fa****s!"

Did I get that about right?

[Midasgurl]

If what you are has never been challenged as being "less than" or something to be ashamed of, by those who consider themselves more perfect than you, then you've never had reason to be proud of being who you are. Lucky you!

[BCubedReg]

"Proud to be gay" --- what does that mean?

I never said I was proud to be heterosexual, and I've never condescended towards anyone for being gay.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE.

We need to stop categorizing gay as a special segment of the population. They are an equal part of the population, and should be afforded the same rights and privileges as everyone one else. Get rid of civil unions... it's all marriage. Get rid of special considerations, they are all inalienable rights.

Separate but equal is not equal.

If you have walked on the moon.. that's something to be proud of. If you have won a gold medal in the olympics., that's something to be proud of. If you are the first person to walk barefoot on the sun, that's something to be proud of. Being gay is not something to be proud of, it is who you are.

The only way to get rid of homophobia is to stop making "being gay" something to fear or a badge of honor. "Proud to be gay?"

YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

that last sentence with all the CAPS not only should make you feel better, but I know, you know Wanda heard you too. I know I did.

I guess it is all good for the shout outs to the proud to be gay people, because in America we all have a right to speak and express our feelings/emotions. the founding fathers put it in writing.

[BCubedReg]

MadeinAmericaProud -- I'm not sure I understand your comment.

What I was trying to say is that gay people should not have to feel "proud to be gay". We are all who we are. We can't change that and we should be accepted for who we are.

The passing of Prop 8 in California was an unconscienceable act by mean spirited individuals who continue to parse the population into subgroups.

We are all people, and we should be accepted for who we are. The word "Proud" denotes accomplishment. You are who you are and you should be accepted for who you are.

[klwnstl]

STAND UP AND FIGHT yes I am reposting so you all can reply to me to:
Just to think a twisted prop. in a twisted country. I voted NO on prop 8 ....I voted Absentee because I am still a resident of California but in school in another state. And as a CA registred voter I was so dissapointed in the out come. I would move to CT but I hate cold weather. I will just have to stand up and FIGHT. You can knock us Down but you will never knock us OUT.....I want to be married in California and DamIt I will be.Even if it takes as long as it took to get a Black president .....

[scottowego]

Connecticut is only cold for about four months out of the year. There's lots to do in cold weather too! Learn to ski, snowmobile, go to the movies! I live in Upstate NY and I love the cold and snow. It's great to have a roaring fire in the wood stove- very romantic. Unfortunately I'm up here alone so there's no cuddling! But happiness is where you find it.