Wanda Sykes, an American actress, was not always the joyful lesbian she is now. Her family struggled greatly in coming to terms with her sexuality. There may have been occasions when she struggled to fit in as a black lesbian in society. She, on the other hand, stayed firm and established herself as a proud wife and mother.
Wanda Sykes is an actor and comedian from the United States who is best known for her work as a writer on The Chris Rock Show. According to Entertainment Weekly, she was named one of the top 25 funniest persons in America in 2004.
In Late Night with Seth Meyers, Wanda Sykes discusses how she incorporates politics into her comedy and offers advice on how to avoid spending time outside. (Originally published on October 24, 2018)
Wanda earned the American Comedy Award for Outstanding Female Stand-Up Comedian in 2001, as well as a Comedy Central Commie Award for Funniest TV Actress in 2003.
Wanda Sykes’ Unexpected Decision to Become a Comedian
Marion Louise and Harry Ellsworth Sykes, the Portsmouth native’s parents, welcomed him into the world on March 7, 1964. She graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor of science in marketing after attending Arundel High School in Gambrills.
Wanda, 54, began her career as a contracting specialist at the National Security Agency, but after five years, she decided to take a detour and pursue a career in stand-up comedy. In 1987, she gave her first live performance in front of an audience at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, DC.
Wanda soon got to share the stage with J.B. Smoove, Adele Givens, Bernie Mac, D.L. Hughley, and Bill Bellamy as she refined her skills at local clubs. Her first break came when she opened for Chris Rock at Caroline’s Comedy Club, which led to her joining The Chris Rock Show’s writing team in 1997.
Since then, the comic has acted in films such as Pootie Tang and on television shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Wanda Sykes’ family did not approve of her sexual orientation.
Wanda came out as a lesbian during a rally in November 2008, shortly after California voters passed Proposition 8, which outlawed gay marriage. She even delivered an impromptu speech during the ceremony, which she later said she had “no intention” of giving.
After announcing herself as a proud lesbian, she surprised herself by expressing all of her rage in the speech. Wanda, on the other hand, took a significant step by coming out to her traditional parents. In fact, she came out to them at the age of 40 before speaking publicly about her sexuality.
They weren’t ready to welcome her at first, and Wanda even admitted as much in a Piers Morgan interview. As she stated in June of 2011,
Wanda’s family struggled to accept her homosexuality at first, but they soon reconciled after Wanda gave birth to her children.
Wanda’s Parents Didn’t Attend Her Wife’s Wedding, But They Reconciled Quickly, How?
Wanda married her lesbian wife Alex Niedbalski in October 2008, long before she came out publicly. Wanda was having problems with her family accepting her sexuality at the time they met in 2006.
Her parents didn’t even show up for her wedding with her wife. And, after a brief split, they put their disagreements aside when Wanda became a mother to her lovely children.
Wanda’s wife gave birth to their fraternal twins, daughter Olivia and son Lucas, on April 27, 2009. Wanda’s parents, unable to keep the family together, took on the role of grandparents while grappling with their daughter’s sexuality.
Anyway, the family is happy with their life at the moment, and Wanda hasn’t bothered to show her children to the world. She believes that her 9-year-old children would be better off if they did not have to stand in front of the camera.
