Wanda Sykes Comes Out The Closet Declares She Is A Lesbian
Now I know I am late but I just found out that African American comedian Wanda Sykes has come out of the closet declaring she is a lesbian. I was just surfing the internet checking out some hip hop message boards and most of the comments were “no surprise”, “so what” or “no big deal” that Wanda Sykes is a lesbian. I know this will sound controversial but I think the reason some black people don’t care about Wanda Sykes coming out is because she is not viewed as a threat.
Now can you imagine an A list gorgeous black actress or handsome A list black male actor coming out? I mean this would shock the world wouldn’t it? Now Wanda Sykes is a solid entertainer but she’s just not that big a star.
Wanda decided to come out of the closet after the controversy over proposition 8 in the state of California. I doubt Wanda Sykes coming out will capture the black community’s attention because she just isn’t that big a star. I think when a really famous black actress or black male actor comes out then black people will really pay attention.
I am surprised that Wanda is a lesbian I did not know. I still think it is good that Wanda decided to come out because there are so few black entertainers declaring their true sexual orientation. There is definitely homophobia in the black community this is true. I think pop culture is very important even though some people try to pretend that they don’t care about pop culture.
I believe more black gay and lesbian public figures should come out of the closet. The more famous people of colour coming out perhaps the image of homosexuality will change. The public image of homosexuality is still a Eurocentric one and more famous black stars need to come out to remind the public anyone can be gay or lesbian regardless of of their racial background.
I don’t think Wanda’s declaration will hurt her career though since she’s not an A list star anyway. Wanda currently has a supporting role on the CBS sitcom “The New Adventures Of Old Christine”.
However, I still will the black audience be accepting of Wanda now? Since Wanda is a woman I think it is easier for female stars to come out then male stars. I just sense the public has an indifferent attitude towards lesbianism. I am not suggesting that the public is more accepting of lesbianism. My perspective is society still has a stronger fear of male homosexuality.
Lindsay Lohan & Clay Aiken What Is The Difference?
Last week, the second season American Idol runner up Clay Aiken finally admitted he is gay. The news is not exactly earth shattering since everyone knows Aiken is homosexual.I notice after reading various articles the media actually are very sympathetic to Aiken.
However, actress Lindsay Lohan is being treated differently like a complete joke. There seems to be this negative attitude towards lesbianism that it is not possible for two women to love each other.
I don’t know Lindsay Lohan, so obviously I don’t know if she is a lesbian or bisexual. However, I think it is interesting how society treats lesbianism and male homosexuality differently. It appears to me that society doesn’t really believe that young women can be lesbians unless it is some kind of publicity stunt.
What do you think? Isn’t Clay Aiken coming out also a publicity stunt to garner public sympathy? What is so special about Clay Aiken anyway? I don’t understand why Aiken is so popular sure he’s a decent singer but he’s not that great a singer. He didn’t even win American Idol. I read a rumor that he got paid in the six digits range for coming out to People’s Magazine.
Do people think Aiken is noble now? Aiken danced around “coming out” for years. Lindsay Lohan has been photographed kissing Samantha Ronson, holding hands, hanging out with her but she has not declared she is a lesbian.
Maybe Lindsay Lohan doesn’t feel the need to “come out” to make a big “production” and let the media create the hysteria anyway. In showbiz, any publicity is good publicity. Lindsay didn’t tell the press to write about her personal life she didn’t tell the media to follow her around and take pictures she is just living her life. It appears to me Lindsay Lohan is being smart by saying “nothing” while “not hiding” because she’s letting the public arrive at its own conclusions.
Aiken didn’t come out until he was able to profit from coming out and acquiring some free publicity. Lindsay Lohan hasn’t hidden the fact she is close to the female DJ Samantha Ronson but I don’t see Lindsay selling her story to the media either. Maybe Lindsay is using the press by not saying “anything”. Wasn’t Clay Aiken playing games with the media as well?
So why is Aiken being treated as some kind of hero and Lindsay Lohan is scorned? Everyone already knows Aiken is a homosexual it is not rocket science even Stevie Wonder knows Aiken is gay LOL!
Could it be because Lindsay Lohan is a woman society doesn’t treat lesbianism as seriously as male homosexuality? Society has a love and hate relationship with lesbianism some people view lesbianism as a form of sexual titillation for heterosexual men. However, I don’t recall Lindsay talking to People’s Magazine about her love life either.
Does The L Word Hold Back On Lesbian Passion?
I think the L Word doesn’t go far enough in exploring lesbianism. Sometimes the sex scenes on the L Word appear fractured and not very sensual. Why is it just insinuated when one woman is stimulating another? Why can’t we actually see the stimulation? Why can’t the show actually “show” the women actually having sex? What is the fear?
The L Word is on cable television so the writers and producers should have more freedom. I don’t understand why hold back on the passion? I think the producers behind the L Word should take the sexuality to the next level and explore the passionate love between women. Although I think this clip between Brenda and Tina is wonderful and totally sexy and cute. It is kind of weird to see Tina not with Bette though. I still think the scene is passionate.
Book Review: Sister Outsider
What does it mean to be black, female, and lesbian? Audre Lorde a black lesbian feminist attempts to answer these questions in her groundbreaking book “Sister Outsider”. How does a black lesbian woman negotiate between the gay, heterosexual, and black heterosexual spheres? Is the feminist movement a movement where the black woman can work in concert with white females? Or are mainstream feminists simply racists that want to devalue the experiences and views of black women?
“Sister Outsider” was published in the year 1984 by the Crossing Press. Lorde believes poetry and writing is important for black female emancipation. Lorde view is poetry is essential for people to express themselves and she views limiting poetry as a form of class bias and prejudice. Lorde discusses the “mythical norm” which is the white, thin, Christian, heterosexual male. Lorde says the mythical norm has the ultimate power in society since everyone is compared to the white heterosexual man. The mythical norm also creates, enforces, and legislates, laws that discriminate against the black woman.
Lorde also states that in order for emancipation to occur literacy is paramount. Lorde’s view is in order for for black liberation to occur people of African descent we must work together despite our differences. Lorde does not believe in separation from the black male she rejects white heterosexual feminist politics that focuses exclusively on gender. Lorde’s view is race matters and to ignore race and class is to ignore reality.
There Are No Boundaries To Lesbianism
There has been a lot of discussion on the internet that Sex & The City star Cynthia Nixon’s partner the education activist Christine Marinoni isn’t physical “attractive”. It is true obviously Christine isn’t as “pretty” as Cynthia and maybe that’s the point. Maybe Cynthia doesn’t care about looks?
I guess the old saying is true love is blind. I guess Christine must have a heart of gold. Maybe Cynthia sees something in Christine that nobody else sees someone that loves her and respects her. I was thinking perhaps this has to do with the fact in the lesbian community looks don’t matter as much as the mainstream and gay male communities?
It appears to me that the lesbian communities are more egalitarian. Lesbian culture don’t seems so superficial as gay male culture. In the gay male communities it is all about designer clothes, designer homes, designer bags, being rich and looking perfect. How can I possibly compete? Why should I even bother trying? Maybe if it was possible I should cross over to lesbianism? LOL! I am so sick of gay male culture sometimes! I am so sick of gay men they are so pretentious!
Honestly, look at Portia De Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres based on appearances Portia is clearly more physically stunning then Ellen. Ellen is also fifteen years older then Portia some people say they are using each other. Some internet blogs suggest that Portia is dating Ellen for social status and money and Ellen is dating Portia because she is young, beautiful, and sexually attractive. Another theory is Portia makes Ellen look good. Honestly, doesn’t anyone wonder how someone as unattractive as Ellen can obtain such sexy hot girlfriends?
Ellen DeGeneres is not a good looking woman compared to Portia De Rossi. Portia is young, slim, beautiful, feminine, and a great actress and she has excellent fashion sense. Ellen is a butch lesbian she dresses very masculine she tends to wear suits and doesn’t seem to care about her appearance.
Maybe it is a good thing in the lesbian community you don’t have to be fit, or young, or be in the best shape to have a partner. In the gay male community looks are so important and youth is also placed on a pedestal as well.
There is an intense pressure in the gay male community to look “perfect” to have the rock hard abs, the chiseled body, the toned legs, the shiny teeth, perfect hair, and face. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a lesbian for a day ? I don’t get the sense that being “thin” or having the “perfect body” is important in the lesbian community.
I could be wrong but that’s the assumption that I have. I am serious, if it was physically possible to become a lesbian for a day would it be easier for me to find a partner? In the lesbian world it seems looks don’t matter at all you don’t have to be physically attractive and in perfect shape all that matters is having a nice personality it seems.
Black Gay And Lesbian Heroes Are Very Important
One of the reasons I started writing this blog is because I want to provide an alternative perspective to the Eurocentric mainstream gay culture. I definitely am not a spokesperson for black gay people so please don’t think that I am. I am simply one gay black man, providing my perspective and views about the world. I am no leader or expert. I am a controversial, assertive, and outspoken man.
I used to visit mainstream gay blogs only feeling empty, very bored, restless, and yearning for more. I decided I had to start my own blog to claim my space and let my voice be heard. I don’t subscribe to just going with the flow I am an independent thinker. I also wasn’t impressed with the pernicious racism on some of the mainstream gay blogs. I decided instead of just complaining about life,I’m going to take action. I want to make a difference in my own way. I know I cannot save the world but I can provide my perspective and arguments on my own blog.
On my blog ,I have the control nobody can censor me. I was thinking to myself the other day who are my heroes? The black gay and lesbians that inspire me are too many. I decided today I am going to salute a few of the incredible black gays and lesbians that have made a difference in this world.
I remember during my undergraduate days one very important course I learned a lot from was introduction to Women’s Studies. I love Introduction to Women’s Studies because I learned about different forms of feminism. Feminism is not against men. In fact, feminism is i against homophobia, class privilege, racism, health care racism, and institutionalized discrimination and many more.
I recall reading about the black lesbian feminist group the Combahee River Collective and and intrigued with their work. One of the founding members of the Combahee River Collective was Barbara Smith. The Combahee River Collective is a very important black lesbian feminist organization. Barbara Smith is also one of the editors of the groundbreaking book “All The Women Are White All The Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave”.
“All The Women Are White All The Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave” was published in the year 1982, this book is still very relevant. Recent racist comments by white heterosexual mainstream feminists such as Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinem highlight the racial and cultural divide. The Combahee River Collective state black women cannot divorce themselves from the black race and just think about gender. Barbara Smith, Gloria T Hull, Patricia Bell Scott, and other black feminists state race, gender, class, sexual orientation are inextricably linked.
I think the book “All The Women Are White All The Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave” is such an important book especially right now. The media refuses to engage in a dialogue with the public about the racial and cultural divide in the feminist movement.If you read the book you will know the reasons why it does exist.
For example, Naomi Wolf is a mainstream pop culture feminist she’s just a businesswoman. I have read Naomi Wolf’s work in the beginning of her career the “Beauty Myth” is an important book. However, I began to read more of Wolf’s work and realized she is an elitist. Wolf may receive mainstream approval from Oprah but when I listen to Wolf I cringe she is less relevant to feminism these days. Naomi Wolf doesn’t care about black women or about people of colour. I prefer to read the works of bell books, Patricia Hill Collins, and Barbara Smith because their work puts theory into context.
Some white feminists focus only on gender and ignore race and class. Some white feminists refuse to acknowledge their role in discriminating against people of colour, their white skin privilege, and benefiting from the marriage market to powerful white heterosexual men.
Essex Hemphill is very important to me. I recall during my undergraduate days I read his incisive and incendiary book “Ceremonies”. Hemphill opened my eyes to the hidden oppression black gay men endure in North America. Although I am not African American I am a black gay man.
I was able to feel Hemphill’s pain when he discussed the hypocrisy of the black heterosexual community about homophobia. Hemphill also discussed a very important issue the ways in which black gay men are treated as sex objects by a hostile and very racist white gay male community. Television shows such as Queer As Folk are a perfect example of this bigotry. On Queer As Folk, the only time black men are on the program is during an intense sex scene. Black gay men are depicted as bodies and not as three dimensional and complex people. Queer As Folk is such a disservice but I am not surprised by the deleterious racism and sexism against black men on that program.
Audre Lorde is another black lesbian activist I love! Lorde’s book “Sister Outsider” is a black feminist classic. Lorde highlights the issue of the “Mythical Norm” which is the white, thin, Christian, heterosexual male. “The Mythical Norm” has the ultimate power in society and the white Republican party and the white Christian right are perfect examples of this. Lorde also wrote about the fallacy of the “Global Sisterhood” in feminism. Lorde says that feminism needs to be real about racism within the movement.
Patrik Ian Polk may be young but his incredible television show “Noah’s Arc” is so important to me. Ian Polk took the initiative and transformed pop culture. Thank goodness for Noah’s Arc and thank goodness black gay men we are no longer on the sidelines or in the back row we are in the front row! The issues that are important to black gay culture emerge and thank goodness for that! Black gay men we are no longer in the shadows in pop culture. Patrik Ian Polk has a huge role in demonstrating black gay men we fall in love, we have friends, jobs, careers, families, difficulties, just like everyone else.
Finally, I was able to see people that looked like me that are black and gay fall in love. Black gay love is so important and Noah’s Arc is a groundbreaking television program. I wish Noah’s Arc was able to reach a larger black heterosexual audience though. Why isn’t Noah’s Arc on BET or MTV? Viacom is the parent company for BET and MTV so I don’t see why Noah’s Arc can’t be returned to television. For a very long time I have yearned to see black gay men in love with each other.
Patrik Ian Polk’s television show Noah’s Arc, shatters a lot of cultural, racial, and social barriers. The program does not ignore gay racism which is rampant in the North American gay communities. Black gay men we are presented as comfortable with our sexual orientation and our racial identity. We are not depicted as licentious sex objects but as real people. On Noah’s Arc, the black gay men are cognizant of the black issues. Some black straight people think just because black gay men we are gay we lose our blackness and that is false. Noah’s Arc also explored issues important to the black gay community. I can’t wait for the Noah’s Arc movie to come out this year!!!
Langston Hughes is also a gay black hero but he was reticent about his homosexuality due to the pernicious homophobia of the black heterosexual community. Hughes poetry has dealt with homoerotic themes. The poems such as joy, desire, cafe 3am, waterfront streets, tell me, young sailor all deal with homoeroticism. The writer Faith Berry also wrote a biography on Hughes and discusses the fact Hughes loved black men and he had a Jamaican lover. Arnold Rampersad also wrote two memoirs about Langston Hughes and he admits Hughes was indeed a homosexual. Hughes is a major inspiration to me because he was a black gay male writer he also believed in black activism and human rights.
Lorraine Hansberry is a black lesbian icon and she was an amazing playwright. The heterosexual black media always discuss Hansberry’s play “A Raisin In The Sun”, refusing to acknowledge Hansberry was also a black lesbian. Hansberry also concealed her lesbianism during her lifetime she encountered multiple layers of oppression. Black women encounter racism, sexism, and also homophobia. Hansberry wrote for the lesbian publication “The Ladder” in the 1950s. Hansberry is known for her electrifying play “A Raisin In the Sun” yet the public doesn’t know she was also a black lesbian.
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