by Hillary Crosley Posted Aug 9th 2010 12:00PM
On Friday, an image surfaced of Queen Latifah and her rumored long-time lover, Jeanette Jenkins, hugging on a yacht near France. The two were celebrating the nuptials of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz but ended up reigniting the rumor mill: Is Queen gay? If so, why doesn't she just come out?
I'll admit I am a fan of transparency. Mostly because many people who are heterosexual and homosexual are transparent, whether they know or admit it, so why keep up the charade? I promise, the people closest to you already know your orientation. No, really, they do and they probably love you unconditionally. If they don't, well, that's something they need to work out by themselves but you can't let them dictate your personal life. But I digress.
Despite my opinion, I'm clear that being gay is not something society takes lightly, especially when the person in question is black, let alone a bankable Hollywood star. In the case of Queen Latifah, the photo above only confirms what many have speculated about the MC since her turn as Cleo in 'Set It Off' but still it's not our business to out Dana. You know why? Because it's not our job to saddle the Queen with the charge of being a gay black Hollywood poster child. Not everyone wants to be Ellen or Wanda Sykes, who are both open about their sexual orientation and their respective wives. In the Queen's case, proclaiming her sexual orientation might limit her roles in romantic comedies where she plays opposite male co-stars like Common and LL Cool J like in films like 'Just Wright' or 'Last Holiday.'
Ultimately, sexuality can be a double-edge sword. On one hand, if Queen were to come out, she'd encourage bunches of young kids to be ok with their homosexuality because a beautiful, successful woman is just like them. On the other hand, she might not continue to be as successful as she's been up to this point, so her story might serve as a cautionary tale, rather than one of pride. Still, if she doesn't discuss her sexuality, like say Jodie Foster, some might also say her silence is almost reinforcing the idea that homosexuality is bad, unnatural and whatever other adjectives Fox News-viewers use to describe alternative lifestyles.
Still, regardless of the many ways Queen's sexuality, and the discussion of it, can be viewed, it's no one's business but hers to discuss it. Because, honestly, we don't even know Dana like that and everyone needs a hug sometimes, right?
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