Queen Latifah was the headline
performer at this weekend's Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride
Festival in California.
According to eurweb.com,
Latifah told the crowd that she was happy to be in the presence of
“her people” and “I've been waiting to do this for a long
time.”
The 29th annual event is
considered California's second largest Gay Pride festival, drawing in
a crowd of approximately 100,000 people.
The 42-year-old Latifah encouraged the
crowd to “conquer hate with love” as she performed such hits as
U.N.I.T.Y from her 1993 album
Black Reign and Ladies First from
her debut 1989 album All Hail the Queen.
She also told the crowd that hip hop is
“missing the female voice.”
In an on-the-scene video report from
NoMoreDownLow.tv,
some festivalgoers openly discussed the rumors Latifah has faced
about her sexual orientation.
“I think it's kind of like a little
coming out for her. Like, she's coming to our Gay Pride. I'm really
excited about it,” a man said.
A less subtle man added: “It's
finally time she does something for the gay community – with her
being a lesbian and all. Yes, I said it.” (The video is embedded
in the right panel of this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)