‘There’s always been gay people in the black community.’ – Queen Latifah
Society is not accepting enough of gay black people, according to Queen Latifah.
In an interview with Uptown Magazine, the 45-year-old discussed how difficult it is for black gay women, but stopped short of including herself in that category.
The actress and TV host, who is frequently pictured with her rumoured partner Eboni Nichols, has never personally commented on her own sexuality.
“People’s ideas in general are antiquated when it comes to who you love,” she said. “We haven’t moved as quickly as we probably should. And the reality is that there’s always been gay people in the black community, so it’s not foreign to us. And not just as a black community but just a society as a whole.”
She claimed that being gay was ‘not a character flaw’, adding the opposition to gay marriage angered her.
“Who you choose to marry is really up to you and it’s not something you should be judged on. I don’t find being gay or lesbian to be a character flaw,” she said. “Couples should be protected under the laws of this country, period. It actually angers me. It’s not unusual so let’s be adults and let’s move forward.”
In her latest film Bessie, Latifah plays 1920s blues legend Bessie Smith, who was herself bisexual.
The Uptown article ponders if the role is Latifah’s ‘coming out party’, but decides in the negative when the actress makes a veiled comparison after a question about audiences reactions to her character’s ‘bedroom acrobatics’.
“I’m not really sure how people will feel about Bessie’s bisexuality,” she replied. “It’s not like it’s a secret with her story. She was just free.”
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16 Comments
Dennis Macaulay
April 30, 05:33Bessie liked women?
Lol
My mom who was a fan will not like this at all
**off to call her**
I will enjoy making this call
pinkpanthertb
April 30, 05:36Lol. Do tell us how it went.
Dennis Macaulay
April 30, 05:42Oh I will enjoy doing this. She loves the woman and Sinatra
Gad
April 30, 05:43This woman,s message is clear and valid. I don’t get the fuse about her not mentioning her sexuality. Is she supposed to start her msg with a sort of introduction that centres on her sexuality?. Just as blood flows in the vessels of all men so has gays been in amongs all people of all races.
pinkpanthertb
April 30, 05:45Curiosity is a flaw of humanity. And when something or someone is shrouded by a mystery, the natural tendency of man is to be curious about him or her.
But I love how she firmly keeps her private life separate from the media.
A-non
April 30, 06:09Queen Latifah can do no evil in my eyes.
kendigin
April 30, 06:13Yea she is very down to earth and humble.
pete
April 30, 06:15I love Queen Latifah.
Max
April 30, 06:21I’m more interested in seeing the movie.
Nice msg though.
Dennis Macaulay
April 30, 06:27I like that she doesnt want to give in to the pressure and come out (thats assuming the things we see are true). Coming out is a very personal journey that one does at his or her own time.
She actually supports GLAAD’s activities!
Id like to see the movie, she is a great actress. I always watch Chicago. This is not the first time she will be playing a gay woman; if you are old like me then you probably saw her in Set it off
trystham
April 30, 07:29*singing* “Frankie wanna blow up the bank huh, Frankie wanna rob a bank”. The last scenes were…*runs off sobbing loudly*
Lothario
April 30, 13:12Set It Off was epic……too correct!
Sinnex
April 30, 07:04Why are some people just concerned about coming out? She hasn’t expressly said she was a lesbian, so why should a magazine decide to ‘out’ her? It is nobody’s business if she decides to come out or not. Instead of them to focus on what she said, they spent half the time commenting on her rumoured sexuality…..mtchewwwwww
pinkpanthertb
April 30, 07:05You read the interview?
Ruby
April 30, 11:33Well said Mama!
rennydiokno2015
May 01, 09:10Reblogged this on rennydiokno.com.