Queen Latifah To Headline Gay Pride Concert (Will People Be Shocked Or Go "Meh"?)

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• Orville | May 20, 2012 8:42 AMReply

  The discussion on this forum ignores an important point to be heterosexual means your sexuality is public because it is mainstream and acceptable. However, to be gay means your sexuality is considered a private matter. I have read a lot of comments where people are saying "well she has a right to privacy" and blah blah blah. The question still remains if being gay isn't that big a deal anymore why hasn't any A list black entertainer come out of the closet? Tracy Chapman, Queen Latifah, and Tyler Perry could do a world of good by coming out.

• Joshua | September 3, 2012 1:58 PM

  Actually Frank Ocean is a successful openly bisexual black artist and Nicki Minaj is bisexual even though she doesn't really talk about it anymore. But there are some rappers that suppirt gay rights like Jay-z

• Logic | May 20, 2012 9:23 AM

  I completely agree with the first portion of your comment. I think the knee jerk reaction for a lot of people is to say no one cares because the discussion does innately make them uncomfortable. It seems like tolerance, but it's really just silencing the issue. And we all know what silence equals. It's a bit like when white people claim they don't see color when a discussion gets too uncomfortably racial. Sexual orientation obviously does matter. To say otherwise is disingenuous if not naive, and almost always a sign of heterosexual privilege. Most gays and lesbians will tell you that while sexuality shouldn't matter, it most certainly does, which is why discourse and visibility is key.

• Todd | May 20, 2012 7:04 AMReply

  I knew she was a lesbian from first setting eyes on her and I'm not a lesbian. I think everyone knows, right? You would have to be totally clueless not to know immediately. I honestly don't think she's ever mentioned it one way or the other. No, its not going to matter to anyone in her case. We'll still like her.

• Christopher Tracey | May 2, 2012 5:20 PMReply

  I wish her well with her life but unfortunately the LGBT lifestyle will be tolerated but never accepted.

• jk105 | May 3, 2012 11:35 AM

  Tolerated would be a step in the right direction. Fighting for equality is a long haul.

• MJAliya | April 30, 2012 11:52 PMReply

  I understand that the desire for privacy as I myself am a very private person however there is a difference between being private and hiding who you are and I think Queen Latifah is definitely hiding under her ability pass as heterosexual. If she were completely out it most definitely would have limited her opportunities and guarantee you she wouldn't have been casted into some of the roles she's played over the years. People want to pretend that everyone is accepting of gay people now but that's not the case whatsoever and my own life is a testimony to that. I'm 21 years old and even amongst my own generation there are a lot of people who are very homophobic and yes it's true that not every black person is fearful of homosexuality but it's still nowhere close to being accepted or seen as normal. It's merely being tolerated in some places in my opinion. But there isn't an open conversation about it still and people are still very uncomfortable with this topic and unwilling to let go of the stereotypes they have surrounding gay people. I think it's important for LGBT celebrities to be out because when they hide it reinforces the false belief that there is something wrong with us. Also media matters whether people want to admit it or not. LGBT youth need to see people like them out and proud and being accepted by society. And homophobes need to see that too so they can let go of their ridiculous beliefs about us and finally come to terms with the fact that we are human in the same way as all other humans are.

• james evans from the c-g pj's | April 30, 2012 4:13 PMReply

  Queen's not hiding anything. Just cause she doesn't put her private life on blast doesn't mean she's hiding. Just means she likes her private life to be PRIVATE, which I totally understand. I saw her at the movies once quite a few years ago holding hands with her then-partner at The Grove, and they looked as happy and comfortable as any young couple, mindin they own bitness (which I'm sure they would tell us all to do.) Props to the Queen.

• T'Challa | April 29, 2012 6:51 PMReply

  1. She's almost certainly gay or bi-sexual at the least. She was photographed in very intimate moments with her supposed partner. 2. Nobody cares.. it wouldn't hurt her at all if she "came out" because most people assumed she was gay already. 3. There is a double standard for females.. women can be openly gay without much backlash. Men.. not so much..

• Bama | April 29, 2012 12:28 PMReply

  If I wanted this conversation, I'd go to Mediatakeout.

• jj | April 29, 2012 3:56 PM

  So why did you choose to take part in the conversation?

• Question | April 29, 2012 6:38 AMReply

  WTH is homophobic anyway? Is it a pact with the devil or a secret nest of fraternities and sororities? Is there something wrong with wanting your children to bare grandchildren? What is a Homo and what do they do? Huuuummmmm... Homo Sapiens? Homo erectus? Homo sexual? Huuuummm... why would a woman want another woman kissing on her private parts, and reciprocate the action? And if one woman objects to such behavior, they are the bad person? So it's okay for men to .... you know? But those who view that as odd and possibly nasty are the bad guys?

• lsia | May 1, 2012 5:21 PM

  There is something wrong with your spelling. "Bear" vs. "Bare"
  
  There is something wrong with obsessing over what consenting adults do in their bedroom.
  
  Why would a woman want another woman kissing her private parts? Perhaps because it feels good. Has anyone ever kissed your private parts? Try it.
  
  Why should people care what you find odd or nasty? And lest you bring up Biblical arguments (a complicated text that demands one know the difference between bare and bear)...what if the person is question is not Christian. Do they still have to live by what YOU believe?
  
  Did you have sex before marriage? Get tatoos? See a fortune teller? Wear earrings and other adornments? Eat shellfish? Eat pork? According to the Bible you're odd and possibly nasty. What would you like us to do about that?

• jj | April 29, 2012 11:28 AM

  What is homophobic?
  
  Reread your post. But troll, you know that.

• Ali | April 29, 2012 10:27 AM

  Why is your mind going to sex?

• littlenino | April 29, 2012 10:06 AM

  "Is there something wrong with wanting your children to bare grandchildren?"
  
  No, but there is something wrong with disapproving of them if they are gay.
  
  "What is a Homo and what do they do?"
  
  You know what one is and what we do is love each other.
  
  "But those who view that as odd and possibly nasty are the bad guys?"
  
  Bad guys is putting it mild. I call them bigots.

• alien | April 29, 2012 6:04 AMReply

  I don't judge her even though she has specifically said she was not a lesbian and said some mild but disparaging things about that rumor. When you're scared you say and do effed up things. Anyway, I don't think she should HAVE to come out professionally if she doesn't want to. To each woman their own journey and all that. I have a lot of love for her even though I would have respected her SO MUCH more if she had just refused to talk about it all together than out and out deny it.

• Karen | April 29, 2012 4:33 AMReply

  Queen Latifah isn't hiding anything. She's minding her business and doesn't officially have to come out and make a big deal about it like everyone else is. I don't think she cares about what endorsements. Ellen is a Covergirl spokesmodel like Queen and she's out and no one cares. True, the black community doesn't have many very well-known out gay and lesbian celebrities, but if you can't come out on your own for whatever reason, then that's something to work on or not. Don't look for celebrities to be your role models, they're human too, and sometimes you have to find inspiration within yourself, be your own superhero. Come on now. Queen publicly coming out isn't going to do a whole lot to help the black gay and lesbian community. It might help people come out, but will it stop the gay bashing or people shunning their family for being homosexual? Nope. We put way too much on celebrities sometimes.

• Orville | April 29, 2012 12:35 PM

  Okay Karen, can you answer this question, why hasn't an A list black entertainer come out of the closet? Queen Latifah DOES have mainstream endorsements just like Ellen Dengeneres. The difference is Queen is marketed to black consumers. So yes, I think Queen Latifah is afraid to come out because she fears it will hurt her wallet.
  
  Even Tracy Chapman isn't out and we all she's gay. Tyler Perry is gay but he's in the closet too. Karen, I think IF Queen Latifah did come out it would make a difference. I never said if Queen declared her lesbianism it would change the world. However, Queen Latifah is a high profile black actress and she's very well respected. Queen Latifah would challenge some of the negative stereotypes some heterosexual black people have about gays and lesbians.

• Deborah | April 29, 2012 2:50 AMReply

  Don Lemon said "the black community is homophobic"? The ENTIRE BLACK COMMUNITY IS HOMOPHOBIC?!?! Really? Really, Don Lemon?? Or are there certain members of the Black Community, such as some members of his family or his church, that wouldnt or won't accept his homosexuality? I am so tired of hearing that the black/ African American community is homophobic or hates homosexuals. The black community is not a monolith!! We all don't think alike! Sheesh! 'smh'

• littlenino | April 29, 2012 10:01 AM

  He didn't say "entire." I am mixed black/latino and in my family the latino side is probably more homophobic than the black side. However we would be kidding ourselves if we didn't admit Lemon's point that there is homophobia in the black community, a bigotry that probably prevents Queen from coming out.

• Orville | April 28, 2012 10:29 PMReply

  I just wanted to add Don Lemon the CNN anchor said he was afraid of coming out because he said the black American community is homophobic. I think Don Lemon is the only high profile black gay man out of the closet right now that is not a stereotype. So I think Queen Latifah is fearful of coming out because she has more to lose I suppose than say Wanda Sykes. No offense to Wanda Sykes fans but she`s not a star. It is kind of like Tyler Perry he`s gay everyone knows it but he won`t come out because he`is afraid of losing the black Christian audience.

• Jayson Jay | April 28, 2012 9:54 PMReply

  Good for her. She doesn't HAVE to do anything she doesn't want to do but she CAN do whatever she wants. She is beloved.

• jj | April 29, 2012 3:21 PM

  She doesn't HAVE to do anything and she CAN be beloved. But that freedom for her also extends to others don't HAVE to silently pretend she is a courageous person when in reality she is afraid to be truthful to the world about who she is.

• Karen | April 29, 2012 4:41 AM

  Right on!

• Pats | April 28, 2012 9:07 PMReply

  She does not have to "come out" or validate anyone else other then herself. Her sexuality is her own. Why are gays expected to make this public declaration and famous ones bullied into being the public face? It's your responsibility to be your own hero in the face of adversity. It's not her job or anyone else's to come out so the supposedly you'll feel better about being you. And let's keep it real, even in the gay community racism is an issue. The support Ellen gets isn't the same Latifah would receive.

• Orville | April 28, 2012 10:18 PM

  Pats yes there is racism in the gay community this is true I won`t deny that. Since Ellen is a white lesbian, race is not a barrier to her success. Ellen appeals to the white gay community and mainstream white society. White liberal American culture is more open minded about homosexuality than African American culture which is rooted in Christianity. However, Meshell N`Degeocello the bisexual singer came out in the 1990s she said BET would not support her. So the reason Queen Latifah isn`t coming out is not because she is afraid of losing support in the black American community. Although Queen Latifah lives in a glass closet she refuses to come out because she fears heterosexual blacks will not support her.

• Taz | April 28, 2012 8:19 PMReply

  Meh. In fact, double Meh.
  
  Who cares where she sings or why unless you want to hear her sing live. I think Queen is doing what everyone should do. She is living her life on her own terms....and minding her business. She does not have to come out to be a poppet for others or do anything else. I have never understood how a group can make sooo much noise about wanting to be treated equal while they call attention/advertise (publicly) how different and special they are from everyone else. Anywho, maybe if we all minded our own business instead of others, lived up to our own expectations and not others, gossip wouldn't be so prevalent and everyone would be much happier.

• Deborah | April 28, 2012 7:39 PMReply

  JMAC is right headlining the Long Beach Gay Pride Parade doesn't mean she's gay. It just means she's FABULOUS!! and FIERCE!!!
  And if she is a Lesbian...meh. She's got it goin' on! Like a BAWSE!
  She doesn't owe anyone ( gay or straight) an explanation. Keep them guessing if they don't know and if they know, then they don't have to guess!

• Deborah | April 28, 2012 7:23 PMReply

  Queen has to consider all of her endorsements and personal appearance deals. She isn'like Ellen DeGeneres . Ellen has been "out" for over 15 years, is an established comedienne, talk show host and spokesmodel. If she was to have some support from the established gay community, especially the lesbian community ( Ellen, Portia, Wanda Sykes, Sheryl Swoops) to name a few and have the continued spokesmodel contracts and endorsement deals then she could. Madison
  Avenue can talk about "inclusiveness and diversity" but, that usually means "not so fast...one at a time."

• Nicole | April 28, 2012 7:17 PMReply

  "Meh..."

• JMac | April 28, 2012 6:05 PMReply

  I don't think performing at a Gay Pride event = gay. At least that would be her "out" if some fans have a problem. It's nobody's business what she does behind closed doors ... if not illegal. As long as she doesn't make a big thing out of it, no one else will either. Worked so far. Wish some hetero celebrities would follow the same path - not putting their relationships on blast I mean, lol.

• jj | April 29, 2012 3:11 PM

  "Wish some hetero celebrities would follow the same path - not putting their relationships on blast I mean, lol."
  
  Is Denzel acknowledging his wife at the Oscars, putting his relationship on blast?
  Saying yes, I am gay, is stating a fact of life. The closet is for cowards. If Queen came out, it would be no more "on blast" than Denzel speaking about his wife. The people who have problems with it are people who have problems with open gays.

• Karen | April 29, 2012 4:40 AM

  I agree totally with your second comment.

• JMac | April 28, 2012 6:31 PM

  Just because she is celebrity doesn't mean she has to explain anything about her private behavior. If someone decides to snap pictures of her (probably w/o her knowledge or consent) that shouldn't be a requirement she has to explain anything to anybody. The moment you respond and "feed the machine," the more public things become ... and the nosier people get and the more intrusive. But who cares what her partner of the moment feels, who cares how she feels as long as she helps validate someone else, that's the only thing that matters? I don't think so. She's a rapper/singer/actress - if she doesn't want to be a "hero," nobody should expect her to be.

• Orville | April 28, 2012 6:12 PM

  I disagree JMAC when Queen Latifah decided to become famous she no longer has a private life she's in the public domain. The mainstream media won't out Queen Latifah because they like her. However, Queen Latifah I believe she should come out and declare she is a black lesbian.
  
  Queen Latifah and her former lover Jeanette Jenkins were guests of Alicia Keys on her Yacht in the south of France. The media got some pics of Queen and Jeanette have a romantic embrace for the world to see. Just because Queen Latifah has not officially come out doesn't mean she's not a lesbian. Queen is well known in the lesbian community to frequent the hot spots in New York City and Los Angeles. My girls in LA tell me Queen is well known she just refuses to come out. And I think that is kind of sad. Queen Latifah could do so much for the black gay community to come out of the closet but she refuses to.

• jk105 | April 28, 2012 5:54 PMReply

  of course it should be her own decision whether or not to come out, but personally I wish she would do it because her closet just reinforces the idea that African Americans are homophobic.

• Karen | April 29, 2012 4:39 AM

  Some African Americans already prove to be homophobics, and Queen not coming out doesn't reinforce that anymore than someone who commits a hate crime against gays does. The Black Church isn't very gay friendly and that's a fact. Queen does what she pleases. Why does it really matter for her to officially or physically voice that she's a lesbian? She's trying not to draw attention to it, because her sexuality shouldn't be a big deal. That's the lesson to be learned. It's not a big deal, stop paying so much attention to what others do whether you have a picture of it or not. Stop highlighting what gay people do just because they're gay, that straight people can do and aren't ridiculed or questioned for. I'm with Queen on that stance.

• Orville | April 28, 2012 5:49 PMReply

  Queen Latifah lives in a glass closet everyone knows she's a lesbian. I think Mediatakeout was the first black blog to break the story about Queen and her former lover Jeanette Jenkins.
  
  I am surprised Queen is going to be at a gay pride event since she's tried so hard to hide her lesbianism. I wish Queen Latifah would come out of the closet she could do so much for the black queer community.

• Jk105 | April 29, 2012 3:17 PM

  As I stated, coming out is Queen's decision. However I have seen her cooing on television about how sexy her male movie co-stars are, pretending to the straight world that she is straight. So by being a coward and staying in the closet she indeed reinforces homophobia because she telegraphs to the world that being gay is something to hide.
  And coming from a black church, the homophobia is real--and it is deplorable. Coming out challenges the hate.

• Maya | April 28, 2012 8:19 PM

  The only person who doesn't know that Latifah's gay is your grandma. No big deal, moving on.

• Critical Acclaim | April 28, 2012 5:19 PMReply

  I didn't know Shadow and Act had become a gossip rag. Poorly done.

• CareyCarey | April 29, 2012 10:19 PM

  @ Robes, Marissa may have an argument, but in my opinion it's unfounded. If you've been visiting this site, as you said, surely you know that each of it's major contributors has their own brand of postings. Tambay does most of the film reviews while many of Sergio's contributions focus on social issues in the black community and how they relate to the black "stars" of the film world. He has repeatedly said he is not a reporter, nor, in this capacity, is he a journalist. More importantly, I don't understand how you, or anyone, could surmise from this post that homosexuality is distasteful to him. That may be true, but again, how did you come to that conclusion? If anything, it would be understandable that one would have that opinion about Marissa based on her statement-->"I have told him repeatedly that Queen Latifah is NOT gay and he still posts crap like this. Who cares if she goes to a gay and lesbian event? That DOES NOT make her a lesbian" ~ by Marissa. On the other hand, Sergio merely asked the questions and qualified them--> "I ask these questions becuase someone has to. How do you feel about this? Is this big news as some would like to call it or much ado about nothing? This all goes back to black imagery in the media. Should black actors and actresse be allowed to be themselves or have to still hide behind a facade to avoid losing their fanbase?" by Sergio | April 28, 2012 4:45 PM In short Robes, in the context of this issue, there was no need for Sergio to connect Queen Latifah to any of her past or current projects. The focus of this post was her inclusion in the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival, which she is a headliner.

• Robes | April 29, 2012 9:35 PM

  Marissa has a point, regardless of who wants to see it or not. From what I've been reading on the site, this post is typical of the author's outlook. It would seem that homosexuality is at once titillating and distasteful for him, but the kicker is that no attempt at connecting this "news" to the subject's work is made. Not even a mention of Single Ladies. At least when Whitney Houston died, some of the interest revolved around Sparkle & the Exhale sequel. This has nothing to do with any pertinent film & TV projects, but opening the door to a changing focus can't be selective. You have to update us on Halle Berry's custody battle too.

• CareyCarey | April 29, 2012 12:29 AM

  I see the drama queen supreme has awakened from her slumber. Marissa, I am convinced that you love Sergio and you just don't know how to tell him :-). Surely you read what he said so way are you attaching all those less than flattering name on him. Oh... you didn't read the post? Here... let do it again ---> "Of course the internet and media sources are buzzing that this will be Queen Latifah's big "out and proud" appearance and making some sort of official "coming out" announcement from her... And suppose if she did "come out", does it really matter anymore in this day and age? Would millions of people (black and white) who are her fans suddenly just turn their backs on her? I seriously doubt it" ~ Sergio. So now Marrisa, what the heck did you read? I know... I know... you just adore everything about Sergio but, you fear he will reject your advances. That's so cute. :-)

• Marissa | April 28, 2012 10:35 PM

  It's just Sergio. He's a homophobic and sexist jerk always bringing down the what's otherwise a great website. I have told him repeatedly that Queen Latifah is NOT gay and he still posts crap like this. Who cares if she goes to a gay and lesbian event? That DOES NOT make her a lesbian. She is too busy with her career (just look at how much she has in the works) for a man. People need to leave her alone. She's not one of those celebs who promote their personal lives for attention so she doesn't owe anyone an explanation. All these comments are pathetic! Almost every A-list star faces gay rumors and she is no different! People need to leave her alone and get a life!!!