It's no big secret that ever since Latifah got her very convincing Cleo on in one of my favorite movies Set It Off (Stonie from the Bronx), the rumors about her sexuality have been on the rise. So when she recently did an interview with Upscale Magazine, and 'the question' was brought up once again, here is what she had to say.
Upscale: You've been asked so much about your sexuality. Wouldn't it be easier at this point to just speak on it-once-and be done with it?
Queen Latifah: I don't have to explain anything. I don't have to confirm anything. Look, I need my time. I need my life.
Upscale: But isn't that a part of being a celebrity, letting people into your personal life?
Queen Latifah: 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.
Upscale: Do you feel like you're understood by the people closest to you?
Queen Latifah: Absolutely. 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.
If people were paying attention last night before she introduced Dirty Money she said 'and he surrounds himself with beautiful women...just like me.' If that ain't confirming what we all knew I don't know what is. We don't need Latifah to confirm if she likes to eat Red Lobster on a daily basis. That case was closed years ago. If black folks are going to get their tits in a twist because they have a hard time believing that there are actual black homosexuals that exist outside of the chuuch choir sect, then it's their problem. I understand Latifah has a business and all, but at almost 40 there's got to be a time where you have got to live your truth. I just yearn for the day when being openly gay in your personal life will not be such an issue.
2 comments:
This is a little confusing. First, if you want homosexuality to cease to be an issue, why are you writing about it? You think black people have an issue with homosexuality? Really, so all those homophobes are black? Maybe we can take the vote away from black people. Are all the managers and agents in Hollywood black homophobes who are preventing the stars from coming out?
If you're waiting for a time when we stop writing or reading about celebs in gay relationships, ask yourself when we will stop writing or reading about celebs in straight relationships? That's right, NEVER.
No one said all black people are homophobes. i can speak on it because my father is black and most of my family on his side do not have an issue with me being gay. if you have a brand and are a mainstream artist, whether you are black or white it becomes an issue on if you are gay or not. The question is always asked to people who have those 'stereotypical' tendencies. All I'm saying is that Latifah does not have to say she's gay. That case has been closed years ago when she used to cruise through the West Village with a new girl in her car every week. Gay is the last taboo/civil rights issue in America because for the most part, in the religiuos dominated world in which we live, most have hang-ups about sex in general, especially homosexuality. i never generalized that all black people are homophobes. That would be ignorant to say.
Also when you say why am i discussing homosexuality if I would like it to no longer be an issue? From what I've learned growing up closed mouths don't get fed, and to spark debate about a hot topic, it needs to be discussed, which caused you to respond in the first place. I just wish that the media would stop waiting for a public service announcement everytime someone who is a celebrity turns out to be gay. If Queen Latifah, Ricky Martin, or anyone else were to walk down the street holding hands with their significant other and they happen to be gay, then that should be confirmation enough. You don't see Jodie Foster going around shouting it from the rooftops.
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