Society is not accepting enough of gay black people, according to Queen Latifah.
In an interview with Uptown Magazine, the 45-year-old discussed how difficult it is for black gay women, but stopped short of including herself in that category.
The actress and TV host, who is frequently pictured with her rumoured partner Eboni Nichols, has never personally commented on her own sexuality.
Representing: In an interview with Uptown Magazine Queen Latifah said it wasn’t unusual to be black and gay, but stopped short of including herself in that category
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‘People’s ideas in general are antiquated when it comes to who you love,’ she said. ‘We haven’t moved as quickly as we probably should.
‘And the reality is that there’s always been gay people in the black community, so it’s not foreign to us. And not just as a black community but just a society as a whole.’
She claimed that being gay was ‘not a character flaw’, adding the opposition to gay marriage angered her.
Parallels: The 45-year-old plays bisexual blues icon Bessie Smith in the upcoming HBO biopic Bessie
Nothing wrong: The actress told the magazine she did not see being gay was a character flaw
‘Who you choose to marry is really up to you and it’s not something you should be judged on. I don’t find being gay or lesbian to be a character flaw,’ she said.
‘Couples should be protected under the laws of this country period. It actually angers me. It’s not unusual so let’s be adults and let’s move forward.’
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In her latest film Bessie, Latifah plays 1920s blues legend Bessie Smith, who was herself bisexual.
The Uptown article ponders if the role is ‘Latifah’s coming out party’, but decides in the negative when the actress makes a veiled comparison after a question about audiences reactions to her characters ‘bedroom acrobatics’.
‘I’m not really sure how people will feel about [Bessie’s bisexuality],’ she replied. ‘It’s not like it’s a secret with her story. She was just free.’
Queen – whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens – also said her first ever nude scene was odd – but ‘no more uncomfortable than kissing a girl’ on a film set.
‘I’ve never done that before,’ she said. ‘It was a little odd but it was also a quiet, relaxing thing.
Private: Although she has never openly discussed her own sexuality, Latifah is frequently seen togeher with her rumoured partner Eboni Nichols
‘Sometimes she was so alone, and it was a moment for Bessie to acknowledge her vulnerability, which I can completely relate to. When you get to strip it all down and have a moment to yourself, sometimes the world comes crashing down in that little moment, or maybe it’s a moment of peace.
‘I don’t find [the nude scene] any more uncomfortable than kissing a girl in Set It Off and sticking to the script,’ she added. ‘You have to take your mind off of yourself and honor that character.’
In the interview Latifah also said she rued missing the chance to interview Bill Cosby before her show got cancelled.
Close: The two were spotted enjoying a relaxing vacation together in Brazil in January
She was due to interview the 77-year-old comedian but the one-on-one was postponed when rape allegations against him resurfaced. News reports at the time said this was the reason Latifah postponed, but her show denied this insisting Cosbys people were the ones to pull out.
‘I would’ve absolutely had to ask him about it because it just would’ve been too big an elephant in the room,’ she said.
‘It’s unfortunate because he has done so much in terms of entertainment, culture and black folks. But right is right and wrong is wrong. All these women, all these stories, it’s just… what a big stain on such an amazing career.’
