“It just came out. I had just gotten married. So instead of speaking as a supporter, I was speaking as one of the victims. It just happened. I didn’t even think about it.
We continued with the rally and by the time I got to the hotel, I’m looking at the CNN scroll and it says, ‘Comedienne Wanda Sykes: I’m proud to be black and gay’ and whatever, I was like, ‘Oh lord. What the hell just happened?’ It was crazy.
It was funny though, because especially being an African-American celebrity who’s out, it was like they started treating me like a unicorn. We’ve never seen one of you before! It’s like me and RuPaul. I guess that’s it.”
— Wanda Sykes on The Meredith Vieira Show, reflecting on coming out at a Prop 8 rally in 2008.
Low Country Boy
I love the tone of her voice and her perfect delivery. Good for you, Miss Wanda!
CCTR
She is such a funny woman. Best to her and her family!
redcarpet30
Why not her to replace Jon Stewart?! She’d be perfect, her routine is already somewhat political. I know she had trouble with her talk show a few years ago, but The Daily Show is already operating and established.
AxelDC
I can’t get enough of Wanda Sykes. Her wit and delivery are priceless.
Curty
Wanda is pretty funny but to me she goes on about her being “black” too much. We understand that, can see that lol. If she can broaden her comedy just a little bit from every black stereotype and going on about it for laughs than she would be perfect for more comedy shows. It seems few comedians/Comediennes who are identify as black talk about anything else but being black and the typical “Black people, don’t do this or that” for laughs. And those who are Black know what I’m talking about. As an African, European, native American mix person, we have more to offer to the world than our skin color. Nevertheless, I respect her and her being an openly gay person famous person. Much respect for that.
Black Pegasus
@Curty: Good points, but since she started talking about her “gayness” it hasn’t translated into much work for her career. So at this point, talking about her “Blackness” makes little difference unless she starts getting major gigs again.
jwtraveler
Most comedy is personal. Comics talk about their own lives. Gays talk about gays, blacks talk about blacks, Jews talk about Jews, Arabs talk about Arabs, etc. If they talked about each other we’d accuse them of racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, etc.
Captain Obvious
@Curty: You realize you’re saying this at a time when many gay people(especially white since that’s their only tie to being a “minority”) only talk about being gay right?
Hell even you threw in all the mixed stuff like it matters or anyone even cares. If anything that just comes off like you want to dilute yourself to the majority of Americans, not just black.
Who cares if she talks about her experience as a black woman? That’s her truth.