I don’t have to explain anything. I don’t have to confirm anything. Look, I need my time. I need my life. … You know, I was looking at something the other day. A magazine with Jennifer Aniston on the cover. That’s a strong woman right there. All of these people in her business — who is she dating? Angie this. Brad that. They come up with so much stuff. That’s a tough situation to be in. My situation is small compared to that. But still, I don’t feel like I need to explain. I’m the one living it. You write about it. You go ahead and speculate. I’ll just live it. I don’t feel like I need to explain things to a perfect stranger. The people who matter know. And they love me for Dana. I don’t have to tell Joe Blow. Joe, you worry about who YOU sleeping with.
—Queen Latifah, being about as awesome as a celebrity can be while dodging rumors about her lesbianism, in Upscale magazine
Revemupman
I agree with Queen Latifa, she lives it your write it. She dosen’t have to confirm shit….
mojojojo (absolutely not jason!)
What’s the point of denying it when everybody knows? You go to Black sites like mediatakeout, everybody not only knows but they’re ok with it (Yes Jason, or whatever your name is, the Black community knows she’s gay, the way they know Tyler Perry is gay and they still go to both their movies. Asshole.) Anyway, my point is that she’s got her base on her side. She’s still going to get work no matter what because she’s just a big enough star that they can sell her name for a movie but she doesn’t carry big expensive action or sci-fi movies, just mid-range ones which don’t cost much, so she’s not much of a risk for Hollywood. Plus she’s a woman. It’s not as big a deal for Lesbians, as Ellen has proven, and Latifah is very likable, I think more so than even Ellen so she’ll work for as long as she wants. So come out already…
christopher di spirito
I would be much more shocked if I learned she was straight.
Hilarious
@mojojojo (absolutely not jason!): Because much like Clay Aiken your fans don’t dump you until after you admit it.
She’s a celebrity and she owes us absolutely nothing. Plain and simple.
We fight like mad to get it through people’s heads that it’s not a choice and then like hypocrites we demand everyone come out as if they’re doing something wrong by keeping their business their own.
No one should have to “come out” because there’s nothing to “come out” of. She’s not lying to anyone, she’s not hurting anyone, she’s not doing anything wrong at all.
She’s living her life and that’s her only obligation to the world.
The truth of the matter is those screaming for anyone they suspect is gay to come out just want to use those people for their own agenda and then won’t care at all when that same person’s career goes to shit. Very few have made a comeback in Hollyweird after coming out and I can assure you Queen Latifah would be one of those people who’s career ended that very moment.
Cal
Sounds like she just confirmed she was gay.
Qjersey
It’s sad that she won’t come out. The Black community needs some out Gay folks for young black kids to look up to.
Tonic
She’s the one making a big deal of it. Her avoidance makes it seem that shame is involved. If she doesn’t want people asking about her girlfriend, she might want to stop bringing her down the red carpet. They’ve been together for years, so at this point it seems silly to pretend she doesn’t exist. To deny this huge chunk of her personality speaks volumes.
How about something like: “I don’t believe the details about who I date are anyone’s business, but I have a very beautiful girlfriend and I’m very happy. Thanks.”
jason
You go, girl.
While I think it’s important for gay or bi people to be out and proud, it shouldn’t be forced on them unless they are utter hypocrites, such as these evangelists or beard-parading actors.
In a sense, I think it’s productive for Queen Latifah that she dismiss Joe Blow. I know this might sound harsh but sometimes I feel that these Joe Blow types simply want a headline for themselves.
counterpoll
@Tonic: How is she “making a big deal of it”? I’m not disagreeing with you but I haven’t followed her career for awhile , but haven’t deen the “big deal.”
Thanks.
Cam
I like her, but I think her comments about Poor Jennifer Aniston and everybody being in her business are off because Aniston seems to continually do interviews where she talks about her personal life, anything to stay in the public. So I don’t like when people try to point to celebs and say “Poor them, look at everybody in their business.” Well my response is, if they didn’t want that they wouldn’t be granting 20 interviews a month to US Weekly and PEOPLE.
As for Latifa, I really think it would be great if she came out, it doesn’t sound like she will anytime soon. If you saw her in the movie “Set it Off”. She played a lesbian, and I wonder if she was closer to coming out back then, but maybe some advisors told her not to.
scott ny'er
I think it’s interesting how when it’s Clay Aiken, Sean Hayes, Ricky Martin, etc, some peeps (and I’m definitely looking at Queerty in some of those scenarios) are much more vocal and incensed about how they should come out and because they don’t, that they basically suck. But with Queen Latifah, it’s a different scenario. It’s very supportive and loving. There’s some hypocrisy going on here.
Rashid
She absolutely has a point. However, there aren’t enough out celebrities, and until many like Latifa do so, coming out as an actor won’t be the most feasible thing to do. Also, there’s a scarcity of out black celebrities.
Tonic
@counterpoll
You’re right, counterpoll, “big deal” wasn’t the best choice of words (wish I could edit comments sometimes). However, the refusal to acknowledge one’s wife or girlfriend simply because one is gay is cowardly in my opinion. If it were a girlfriend of 3 months, I could understand, but they’ve been together for several years. I would respect anything along the lines of “Yeah, I have a girlfriend, but so what?”
Black Pegasus
Dear Queen Latifah,
While agree with you in principle, I must disagree with you
in terms of what’s practical. YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO HONEY!
When YOU, Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith, Tom Cruise, and all of your celebrity colleagues entered into stardom, you did so with the understanding that your PRIVATE LIVES will instantly become LESS PRIVATE. If you didn’t have this understanding, you were sorely misinformed! If my gay black ass were seen coming out of a known gay club, you better believe my co-workers will be gossiping about me in the lunch room. What gives YOU and other celebs immunity from the same scrutiny JOE BLOW will undoubtedly receive if he/she’s sexuality were in question???
BITCH PLEASE!!!
***DROPS THE MIC AND SASHAYS TO THE LEFT**
Hilarious
Why are people making this about race? Jesus freaking Christ.
If she was white then you’d back off? Really?
There’s a scarcity of black celebrities in the first fucking place. Complain about that. It’s easy to harp on things and stop making sense when you refuse to use any rational form of logic at all.
Luxury
I don’t understand why Gay people of all people always say “why doesn’t he/she just come out, we already know”.. it irks the hell out of me. The coming out process is not about ‘you’. She’ll come out when she’s ready. We’ve got to stop thinking that it’s somehow easier for celebs to come out.
MickW
Maybe her girlfriend doesn’t want to have to deal with their relationship becoming public, she may want to keep their relationship private and her life private, not everyone who dates a celebrity is looking to live their relationship out in the press.
Ealan
@Luxury
Thank you for saying that. We get so caught up in what we want sometimes, it seems like we forget that this is her life. Being a celebrity does not make her a martyr for our cause. Coming out has got to be her own choice.
@Cam
I sorta hear you about the celebrities interviews, but I personally think that maybe the celebrities and media alike need to show a little restraint. It seems like people just figure if stars are giving these interviews, then they have to answer any questions they’re asked, and some celebs don’t mind that. And some of them do pimp their personal lives for publicity. But its important to remember that not all of them do. Queen Latifah has never done that. For years now, she’s consistently)said that she’s not going to discuss her personal life. It seems kinda invasive that people won’t respect that.
SSCHIEFRSHA
@Qjersey: But I thought they had a hero in what’s his name? Uh the prolific director with the overly long film titles.
Cam
@MickW: said..
No. 17 · MickW
Maybe her girlfriend doesn’t want to have to deal with their relationship becoming public, she may want to keep their relationship private and her life private, not everyone who dates a celebrity is looking to live their relationship out in the press.
________________________
Don’t date a Doctor if you don’t want to put up with the long hours.
Cam
@scott ny’er: said…
I think it’s interesting how when it’s Clay Aiken, Sean Hayes, Ricky Martin, etc, some peeps (and I’m definitely looking at Queerty in some of those scenarios) are much more vocal and incensed about how they should come out and because they don’t, that they basically suck. But with Queen Latifah, it’s a different scenario. It’s very supportive and loving. There’s some hypocrisy going on here.
________________________________
You’re right, and I think I’m guilty of some of it. I think the reason Latifa doesn’t irk me as much is because unlike Martin and Aiken she wasn’t activly pushing her image out there as “Hey ladies, you can date me”. And hayes pissed me off because when he came out he was a major douchebag, AND he was on a show that would not have fired him if he did come out. So she isn’t touching those same nerves, but you’re right, it is hypocritical. She is living in a house jointly owned by she and her girlfriend, she brings her girlfriend to events, and the press won’t photograph them together and it does bother me when they live completely uncloseted personal lives, but have the press corraborate their hiding.
robert g.
I’m not sure why it has become verboten to out someone. If anyone has personal knowledge of Dana’s orientation it is their choice to share it or not, and I would encourage them to do so. In my life, if you sleep with me you forfeit your right to privacy, and I’m more than happy to spread the word.
fc
Queen owes us nothing period and we don’t owe her nothing we make the choices to buy her merchandise. Dana is really secure with herself.