Welcome Out, Wanda Sykes

Jim Burroway

November 17th, 2008

Comedian Wanda Sykes surprised organizers of Saturday’s anti-Prop 8 rally in Las Vegas by officially coming out as a lesbian and announcing that she is now married. Sykes says the passage of a same-sex marriage ban made her feel “attacked,” and emboldened her to be more outspoken about being gay.

Here’s the video:

Ben in Oakland

November 17th, 2008

I am a bito ut of the cultural loop, so I have no idea who she is. But I do have a question: where was she before the eleciton?

werdna

November 17th, 2008

Yeah, that sentiment has been expressed in other places as well, but at this point I figure better late than never. Sometimes it takes a sharp blow like the passage of Prop 8 to inspire people to stand up and speak out.

As you suggest by the fact that you don’t know who she is, she’s not a huge celebrity–she’s a comedian and writer, she’s been on a few different sitcoms, etc. If she didn’t realize before how important it was to be public about her sexuality, she does now. Besides, I’m willing to forgive a lot for her coming up with “now let’s go get our damn equal rights!”

Timothy Kincaid

November 17th, 2008

You may have seen her in Monster in Law or Evan Almighty or on TV in The New Adventures of Old Christine. She’s pretty well known.

Ben in Oakland

November 17th, 2008

I’ve heard of the references. I rarely go to the movies, preferring to rent, and watch only a small bit of TV. I hear the names, but have no connection beyond that.

Jason D

November 17th, 2008

Ben, she’s got a couple standup specials that are worth seeing. She’s done voices for movies like Banyard and Over the Hedge.

She even had her own show for awhile called “Wanda At Large”.

She’s quite sassy and fun.

She’s also in a TV-spot that started airing like last month encouraging people to stop saying “That’s So Gay”. It might still be on YouTube somewhere.

Louie

November 17th, 2008

Congratulations to Wanda for coming out, at least officially.

I’ve always known her as a black, lesbian comedian and she’s really funny.

My husband and I got to see her show during the True Colors tour stop in Phoenix a few months ago.

Everyone knew she was gay, she just wasn’t very “out” about it.

Now, thanks to Prop. 8, she is.

If anyone uses NetFlix for their rental service, you can find some of her material there. Also there are gay comedy festival DVDs that feature some of her material too.

Louie

November 17th, 2008

Oh, and the PSA she did for GLSEN and the Ad Council’s “Think Before You Speak” campaign is here

werdna

November 17th, 2008

And she’s great on “Curb Your Enthusiam” too…

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.