Wanda Sykes has a wife. Got a problem with that?

Seems Ellen DeGeneres isn't the only funny lady with a wife. Comedian Wanda Sykes is also married to a woman.

Sykes spoke out this weekend at a rally in Las Vegas protesting the passage of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California.

"We took a huge leap forward [in electing Barack Obama] and then got dragged about 12 steps back. ... Our community was attacked," Sykes told the cheering crowd.

"The New Adventures of Old Christine" star told the audience that she married her wife on Oct. 25. But she admits she doesn't talk about her sexual orientation often in public. However, the recent passage of Proposition 8 has made her so angry that she has decided to be more vocal.

"If we had equal rights, we shouldn't have to be standing out here demanding something that we automatically should have as citizens of this country," Sykes said. "... I said, 'You know what, now I gotta get in your face.' And that's what we all have to do now. They pissed off the wrong group of people! They have galvanized our community.”

What do you think of Sykes' impassioned speech? About gay marriage? About equal rights?

Should the gay community try to rebrand "gay marriage" as gay partnership and remove the religious aspect of this controversial issue?

Would it be easier to achieve the goal of giving homosexual life partners the same rights as heterosexual couples if the church was removed from the equation?

Read more about Proposition 8:

Leonard Nimoy votes no on Prop. 8, William Shatner calls it "dissident?"

Ellen DeGeneres urges you to vote no on Prop. 8

Sacha Baron Cohen crashes Prop. 8 rally!

Comments

[Lauren]

Remove the religious aspect? We're not talking about religious marriage we're talking about CIVIL marriage. As in secular?

Not to mention there were already religions (like Unitarian Universalism and even some Christian churches) who were ALREADY performing marriage ceremonies for gay couples who, by the by, are very religious. So they're being oppressed by this other group of (mostly) Christians that seems to think they own marriage. Marriage belongs to the religious and non-religious, to every colour and creed. No one should be denied their rights because someone else doesn't like them.

/rant

[straightbob]

Well Woo Hoo for Wanda! I think she's forgetting to mention that she really did not choose homosexuality. No man would date her! This new twist just amplifies her vulgarness.

[Steve from Arizona]

Yes, I DO have a problem with that. It's because the 'gay community' won't leave us, or our kids alone. We see that all of this will lead to FORCED 'gay education' with parents denied the right to opt their kids out of gay indoctrination. We see that this will ultimately lead to priests, ministers and rabbis being fined and/or jailed for mearly reading the Old, or New Testement in churches and temples. It has happened in other countries, but we won't let it happen here. I don't care who you $%^#, or who you 'marry'. However, if you insist on forcing me and my kids to participate, you're gunna feel a hot backlash.

[Emmett Williams]

The problem is that Gay people make straight people feel important. Straight people are no better. We are all the same. People of the universe. I am straight and happy GUY.

[LRM]

This is a different world than it was 50-years ago when my parents were growing up. I believe that you should be able to marry the person that you love. Life is too short to be unhappy, let people decide for themselves. If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, don't do it the law is not for you! But, for those that want to - don't take it away from them!

[Jane Marie]

I'm a straight atheist and I can get married. I can get married and divorced as many times as I want. I can get drunk and get married in the drive-thru in Vegas. I'm too old to procreate and I can still get married. Because I'm straight.

Civil unions are separate, but not equal. Ever hear a man say he wants to live long enough to dance at his daughter's civil union?

If the churches don't want to perform gay wedings, they don't have to. The Catholic church says it won't marry divorced couples -- but they can still get married in a private ceremony, at city hall or in an Episcopal church. Legally married. Let the churches do what they choose to. We can't outlaw everything that offends their religion. Read Leviticus. Men lying with men isn't the only thing that's claimed to be an abomination. What's next, we stone everyone leaving Red Lobster?

[tomk]

Brava and congratulations to Wanda Sykes and her wife!

Gay people want only the same civil marriage rights as straight people, period, nothing more and nothing less. These laws ensure important financial and legal protections, which are accorded only to straight couples by the state and federal government but unfairly denied to ALL gay couples.

A church can define marriage any way it wants. And nobody wants to force churches to perform same-sex marriages. But the government should not be allowed to discriminate against gay people by denying them marriage equality. And churches should have NO say in how civil marriage is defined, because it is a secular institution, NOT a religious one.

My hat is off to you and my heart is happy for you, Ms Sykes. And now more than ever my feet will be out in the street for you and for all gay Americans, protesting until these unfair and unequal laws are overturned.

[lisamonteff]

Good for Wanda! The Mormons should be ashamed of themselves-for discriminating against gays. For shame Mormons!

[Supporter]

What I do behind closed doors is none of anyone's concern. What you do behind closed doors is the same. I am not wrong to you or your children. I do not wish to MAKE your children understand my views and beliefs. So why do you force it upon your own children. 70% of homeless teens are gay and they got kicked out of their homes by their OWN PARENTS!!!! You people disgust me. My child could come home with 15 donkeys and a man telling me their in love and the weddings tomorrow. I'd bite my tongue and let them live their life. Cut the friggin cord and realize the more pressure you put on your own children to be heterosexual the more they will explore and the more they'll like it since it's only pissing you off, then when you kick them out and they go missing or end up dead you will have noone to blame but your own homophobic ways!.....By the way, I'm a loving single mother who served the milatary for over 30 years for your sorry asses and to top it off I have 1 beautiful daughter and a gorgeous daughter in law. An dI couldn't be more proud of them.

[Joe the straight]

PROBLEM? You wanna take it to street how you wanna screw with our kids head? you wanna go vocal huh...i say, bring it on sista!
I had much respect for this sista but nuff with that.

[Pat]

Take religion out of the discussion.....

Why should I as a Christian be asked to compromise my faith for others?

Let who whoever wants to get married do so but not in the name of religion.

[Pattie]

TO YOU WHO SPEAK SO WRONG OF THE GAY LIFE STYLE. "SPEAK FOR YOURSELE!"
KNOW ONE IS ASKING TO SLEEP WITH YOU!! I THINK THE PROBLEM IS...JUST MAYBE, YOU MIGHT JUST WANT TO TRY IT YOURSELF, WE DON'T WANT YOU OR WHAT YOU HAVE, SO GET OVER IT!!

[Jack sim]

Why doesnt she talk to BO..he's against it to..

So She feels attacked.. kinda like the mormons and the owner of the Coyote and the musical director who had to resign ..go scream at Barack Wanda you phoney

[Chris]

The United Church of Christ performed same-sex marriages... the Metropolitan Community Church performed same-sex marriages... the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations performed same-sex marriages... saying that the Church should be "removed from the equation" is saying that some religions are not equal to others.
Marriage Licenses are not granted by the Church, but by the Government and all citizens should have equal protection under the law.

[Susie]

I would like to know why people who are protesting Prop 8 are not taking their issue up with the real culprits - the black and latino communities. The minority vote showed up in this election for Barack Obama and these cultures are known to be staunchly against homosexuality. These cultures voted on Prop 8 resulting in the current state of affairs. Don't be mad at the Mormons - the Mormon church has a history of discrimination. They haven't changed. If you're not happy with Prop 8, take it up with the people who are responsible or the people who can change it - your state's legislature.

[Helen]

This discussion is lame and has never really been a "moral" issue. It's just what people choose to believe of that which is different from their know way. see:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibl.htm

[Cindy]

Marriage is what needs to be protected between one man & one woman! PERIOD If God intended for it to be otherwise, then two women could have a baby & vice-versa. I have never understood why this is soooo difficult to understand?

[CDiddy]

To anyone who has a problem with the gay community, you should really think about this - Did you choose to be straight and like the opposite sex? No i didn't think so, but guess what? We don't make that choice either, Sometime I wish people against prop 8 could walk in our shoes, someone to tell them its wrong to love who you love. I hope someday you will all understand the pain and anguish you put some of us through. Love is blind remember that

[Brooke]

To Steve from Arizona. You tell um! How dare these gays interfere with us straight folks. We should be the only ones to abuse marriage. Marry and divorce on a wim. Marry and cheat like we have been. Having children without marriage with different partners. As for our children, we do not need them hearing about gay people. We like our teenagers walking around school pregnant, acting like they just became prom queen. Posting their pregnant bellies all over myspace. We do not need the Gays gettin all up in our perfect world we have created. Get the &*#$ over yourself and take a long look around you. There is alot worse going on. You go Wanda!

[JMCardenas]

First of all, congratulations Wanda!, I too married my partner of 23 years on oct 31. I applaud your courage about your coming out, I too have done something i've never done, donated to cal against hate campaign, we shall overcome all the haters, "straight", "morally righteous"...

[Britt]

I'm sick of the passage of Prop 8 being blamed on the black and latino communities. white ppl got that passed. redirect your anger to the people nearest and dearest to you and leave us out of it. even if none of us had voted, Prop 8 would've passed.

[padre]

In response to Lauren: You said that Wanda went gay because no man would sleep with her. Um... she was MARRIED to a MAN and a lot of her earlier stand-up was about HER rejecting HIM.

But good job on making yourself look ignorant and intolerant.

[Rebecca]

Call me crazy but why does the gay community want to have something that is inherently a Christian thing? The whole idea of marriage is based on a religious ceremony in a faith that for the most part, believes in a family that has a father and a mother. I guess what I mean is that it seems to me like they are fighting to have something that doesn't really represent their unique community. I don't have anything against gay marriage- I just don't understand why they want it. If I were gay, I wouldn't want marriage, I would want something that was MINE and not something that mimicked a "straight" relationship. This is meant as a loving comment, I hope it sounds that way...lots of love to all my gay friends. :)

[Leslie Whitman]

I am a very straight woman taking my hat off to Wanda Sykes & giving her the utmost respect. And to all of the fellow straight people: If you voted yes on 8---- you ought to be ashamed of yourselves! And for all of my fellow Christians, do you not recall the written scripture in which God proclaims DO NOT JUDGE! Where does it state in the Bible that polygamy is OK?? Hello Utah. $40+ Million spent to oppose---did you forget about the needy & abused children who could have used that $$$??? And yet, the hyprocrites think spending $ to fight against people who want to share love?? God will be waiting for all of you at the gates when you pass & if you think he will bat his eyes, get ready!

[Paul]

This is just INSANE. We can elect a BLACK president to the highest office of the country, but yet we can't allow gay people to marry??! What's up with this country? And those of you quoting the Bible providing proof against homosexuality, read it again! There are more passages praising all forms of love in that book. Open your damn eyes and minds for a change! Look deeper! Geez