Wanda Sykes: Declaring Herself Gay, After Feeling 'Attacked' By Proposition 8

Posted Nov 16th 2008 12:12PM by Karu F. Daniels
Filed under: Entertainment Newswire, Entertainment

By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Wanda Sykes has come out of the closet and is proudly stating that she is, indeed, "proud to be gay."

The acclaimed comedienne and star of the CBS sitcom, 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' spoke her truth during a gay rights rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation," the Emmy Award winner said. "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,".. --> START SWF PUBLISHER Module: 267995 -->

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

The motivation behind the revelation: the Nov. 4 passage of a same-sex marriage ban in California that has took the nation by storm.

Sykes aid the ban (also known as 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."

According to the 'Associated Press,' Sykes' appearance at the Las Vegas rally surprised organizers.

One person who was not so surprised, but was, indeed, elated was Terrance Dean, author of the best-selling memoir, 'Hiding In Hip Hop,' who said he is proud to see a black celebrity come out of the closet.

"How brave and courageous for a black celebrity to finally come out," Dean said. "What so many in Hollywood are afraid to do, especially blacks, Wanda Sykes has taken a step forward. This is a milestone of firsts in our community of black celebrities who will be coming out."

The popular motivational speaker and gay rights activist's provocative and explosive memoir discussed the down low life of many celebrities, rappers, and actors who live secret double lives.

Dean may have been prophetic, too.

"I have been saying that within the year a major celebrity will be coming out. In my book, Hiding In Hip Hop, I have discussed many celebrities who live secret lives and how we in the entertainment industry know, but the public is unsuspecting. Wanda has taken a giant step and trust me, others will be following."

Wanda Sykes: Declaring Herself Gay, After Feeling 'Attacked' By Proposition 8

Posted Nov 16th 2008 12:12PM by Karu F. Daniels
Filed under: Entertainment Newswire, Entertainment

By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Wanda Sykes has come out of the closet and is proudly stating that she is, indeed, "proud to be gay."

The acclaimed comedienne and star of the CBS sitcom, 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' spoke her truth during a gay rights rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation," the Emmy Award winner said. "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,".. --> START SWF PUBLISHER Module: 267995 -->

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

The motivation behind the revelation: the Nov. 4 passage of a same-sex marriage ban in California that has took the nation by storm.

Sykes aid the ban (also known as 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."

According to the 'Associated Press,' Sykes' appearance at the Las Vegas rally surprised organizers.

One person who was not so surprised, but was, indeed, elated was Terrance Dean, author of the best-selling memoir, 'Hiding In Hip Hop,' who said he is proud to see a black celebrity come out of the closet.

"How brave and courageous for a black celebrity to finally come out," Dean said. "What so many in Hollywood are afraid to do, especially blacks, Wanda Sykes has taken a step forward. This is a milestone of firsts in our community of black celebrities who will be coming out."

The popular motivational speaker and gay rights activist's provocative and explosive memoir discussed the down low life of many celebrities, rappers, and actors who live secret double lives.

Dean may have been prophetic, too.

"I have been saying that within the year a major celebrity will be coming out. In my book, Hiding In Hip Hop, I have discussed many celebrities who live secret lives and how we in the entertainment industry know, but the public is unsuspecting. Wanda has taken a giant step and trust me, others will be following."

Kanye West has taken to his blog to address his arrest early Friday morning in the U.K. for allegedly assaulting a paparazzo.

You could tell he's pissed, cuz he's speaking in all caps!

Says Kanye:

"WHO'S WINNING, ME OR THE MEDIA?
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH LIGHT I PUT OUT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING JUST AS HARD TO ONLY DELIVER DARKNESS. IF YOU LISTEN TO MY MUSIC, HOW COULD I DELIVER SO MANY POSITIVE UPLIFTING MESSAGES AND BE THE MONSTER THAT THE MEDIA PAINTS. PAPARAZZI GIVE REAL PHOTOGRAPHERS A BAD NAME. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, THEIRS ARE WORTH A THOUSAND DOLLARS…

LET US NOT FORGET THE PAPS KILLED PRINCESS DIANA. WHEN WILL THERE BE A LAW PASSED THAT SIMPLY ENFORCES THAT SOMEONE HAS TO ASK TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOU. THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE COMMON COURTESY. RIGHT NOW THE PAPS ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND THE PEOPLE THEY SHOOT ARE BELOW IT. WHAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IS PICTURES TAKEN WITH THE INTENT TO SELL….LIKE DRUGS WITH THE INTENT TO SELL… OR CROSSING CUSTOMS WITH ENOUGH MERCHANDISE TO HAVE THE INTENT TO SELL. THE EXPLOITATION OF MY IMAGE IS THE PROBLEM. IT PRODUCES A "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" BEHAVIOR THAT CAUSE THE PAPS TO DRIVE RECKLESSLY ON FREEWAYS, JUMP OVER FENCES AND INVADE PRIVACY ALL IN AN EFFORT TO GET THAT "MONEY SHOT." YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SELL A PICTURE OF ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. AFTER THIS LAW IS PASSED, WHEN YOU ENTER A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE A BASKETBALL ARENA ETC., THERE WILL BE A SIGN THAT READS…"ALL PHOTOS TAKEN HERE ARE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND CAN BE USED AT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS DISCRETION." OBVIOUSLY RED CARPET EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WILL ALSO APPLY. THE PERSONAL PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE PAPS IS WHEN THEY TRY TO CATCH YOU BEING A REGULAR PERSON. I AM NOT A CELEBRITY. I'M A NORMAL PERSON THAT'S JUST FAMOUS. I REFUSE TO SNEAK IN AND OUT OF BACK DOORS AND KITCHENS OF HOTELS ETC….

I AM PROTECTING MY PERSONAL SPACE SINCE THERE ARE NO LAWS TO PROTECT THAT FOR ME.

I PUT MY HAND UP TO THE CAMERA IN SELF DEFENSE!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED…WHEN I LEFT THE CLUB, I WAS ENCOUNTERED BY A THIRSTY PAPARAZZI AS USUAL. HE FELT HE HAD MORE RIGHTS TO MY SPACE THAN ME, SO I PUT MY HAND UP TO PREVENT HIM FROM TAKING MY IMAGE. I DIDN'T ASSAULT HIM BUT MERELY PUTTING MY HAND UP TO COVER HIS LENS. MY SECURITY YELLED, "GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM." I GUESS IN ALL THE COMMOTION THE CAMERA SCRAPED HIS NOSE.

THREE HOURS LATER I GET A KNOCK AT MY HOTEL DOOR. THERE WERE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS IN FRONT OF MY ROOM AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD MY SECURITY GO SPEAK WITH THEM. THE COPS WERE VERY CORDIAL BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ARREST ME BECAUSE A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THAT WAS THE BOGUS PART. THEY PLACED ME IN HANDCUFFS AND DROVE ME TO THE STATION. THEY SPOKE ABOUT HOW THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PUBLICITY STUNT BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER BUT THEY STILL HAD TO GO THOUGH THE MOTIONS. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL THERE WERE PAPARAZZI HANGING OVER THE BRIDGE ABOVE THE HOTEL TRYING TO GET A SHOT OF ME GETTING OUT THE POLICE VAN. EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T CHARGED, THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT MORNING, PLASTERED ACROSS EVERY MEDIA OUTLET… KANYE GETS ARRESTED. IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT I WASN'T CHARGED OR THE FACT THAT I HADN'T ASSAULTED ANYONE. ALL THAT MATTERED WAS THAT I WAS ARRESTED.

SIDEBAR, THEY QUOTED ME AS SAYING…"GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM!" LIKE I WAS TALKING IN THIRD PERSON. HE TRIED TO MAKE ME SOUND LIKE A CRAZY PERSON AND PEOPLE BELIEVED HIM. WHAT MERIT DOES THIS GUY HAVE THAT HE CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ME AND PEOPLE TAKE IT AS LAW? THE FACT THAT HE COULD GET ME ARRESTED OFF A MERE COMPLAINT BUT I CAN'T ASK HIM TO STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME IS VERY LOPSIDED.

WHO'S WINNING, ME OR THE MEDIA?"by perezhilton.com

OK, so wtf is wrong with him! If he did actually hit the guy hes W R O N G! You pay the price of fame by having cameras in your face all of the time end of discussion!

thoughts?

comments?

My suggestion- First of all do not get violent. Get ORGANIZED!

It is basically impossible for him to loose at this point unless the voting machines get rigged...

Spew your bullshit here about what you will do if he looses. Do not threaten violence on anyone LOL! You don't wanna get a call from the FBI...

Are you considering doing anything special or nice? We are just curious as to what everyone else is doing??

I am voting then going to a friends house to watch him win. Then, the next day I am going to church and thanking god for giving us someone who has the power to change this country in the right direction. I think I will be on my knees all day thanking god!

And what will you do??! Share with the rest of us!!

Don Cornelius did WHAT????

The Soul Train legend was arrested in Los Angeles on Friday night on suspicion of felony domestic violence.

That's some serious stuff!

Someone from Cornelius' house called police, who arrived on the scene and arrested Don.

He was taken to the police station and released on $50,000 bail early Saturday morning.

Cornelius is married to Victoria, however the identity of the victim has not been released.

The victim was not taken to the hospital and injuries are unknown at this time.

Violence is never the answer!(*Photos and Article from perezhilton.com)

LOL is all we have to say!

Barack Obama will be debating John McCain on October 15th 2008. LAST DEBATE??!!

If you don't watch your just dumb!

And register to vote at Obama's site www.voteforchange.com