Singer Patti LaBelle says if she were
to be elected president of the gay community her first order would be
to legalize marriage equality around the world.
In an interview with Michigan gay
weekly Pride
Source, LaBelle discussed her big gay following, which she
said she became aware of early in her career.
“I've been in this business for maybe
51 years, and so I think 50 years ago,” LaBelle said. “The first
year I wasn't sure, but the second year of performing I got this love
– I mean, great love – from my gay fans. I always questioned,
'Why do they love me? Why do they really, really give a damn about
Patti LaBelle?' And I think it's because I'm such a free spirit and
such a drag queen, really, myself. The original drag queen.”
“I think if I ran for president of
the gay community, they might elect me. … It would just be one of
those things I was born to do.”
LaBelle went on to describe her first
order as gay community president: “I would let everyone gay who
wants to get married – no matter what city, what country, what
state – say 'I do.' That would be my first order. Everybody say
'yes' to gay marriages.”