Wanda Sykes’ presence is almost ubiquitous. She always seems to be the sassy sidekick in every random movie or television show. Her run as Barb on Julia Louis Dreyfeus’  New Adventures of Old Christine is actually quite successful. But lest we forget, there’s always Pootie Tang. But Sykes is taking that ‘take no prisoners’ candor she usually applies to her stand-up act and bringing it on strong in her real life. What spurred her on? The passage of Proposition 8 in California. Yesterday, to the surprise of many, she appeared at a  gay rights rally ( fresh from her stint at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino) to express her outrage at the bill banning gay marriage.

Sykes, who previously didn’t deny her sexuality (but also didn’t broadcast it) told the crowd she felt attacked by the ban. “Now, I gotta get in their face,” she said. “I’m proud to be a woman. I’m proud to be a black woman, and I’m proud to be gay.” Go Wanda. Although the Left Coast is supposed to be progressive about everything, this Proposition 8 kerfluffle has shown that all is not sunny and bright in California. I am glad that stopped pointing the finger at our people as the reason this bill passed. Obviously, it is more complicated than that and the protests have just begun.

Anyway, while others stars like Queen Latifah continue to neither confirm or deny being gay, Sykes decided that expressing her outrage was much more important than protecting her privacy. It certainly won’t impact her sassy sidekick status. And maybe, if she gets the chance to get her own sitcom again, the show creators won’t try to make her vaguely asexual as was the case in Wanda At Large but actually make her a fully formed character that still makes us laugh.