Wanda Sykes

There is no doubt; Wanda Sykes is one busy woman! You can find her on a multitude of television shows and specials, including The Wanda Sykes Show which currently airs Saturday nights on Fox or in her reoccurring role on the CBS show The New Adventures of Old Christine. In October 2008, Sykes appeared in a television ad for the Think Before You Speak Campaign, where she used humor to scold a teenager for saying "that's so gay.” In April 2009, Sykes landed number thirty-five in Out magazine's Annual Power 50 List. Also in 2009, Sykes was the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, becoming both the first African American woman and the first openly LGBT person to get the role. In addition, Sykes' third comedy special, Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me premiered on HBO in October 2009. Did I also mention she’s happily married to her wife of two years, and they just became mothers of six-month-old twins?

Whether she’s making you laugh until you pee your pants or making you critically think about our society, she is all about being herself-an inspiring, super woman who always keeps it very real! So rather than taking up too much of her time, we jumped right into her thoughts on life, love, and family.

In 2008, you came out to the public just before marrying your wife, Alex. Which was harder, coming out or being in an interracial relationship in our society?
Wow! Coming out, yeah. Of course we know we are an interracial couple, but we don’t even see it like that. One because she was raised in France, so all of the stereotypes that you get when you live here, she doesn’t have them. But it’s pretty funny, she’ll slip up, well not slip up, but she’ll say some things and I’ll have to tell her “that’s not cool to say [laugh].” And not even about Black people, but she’ll just say some things and I say yeah you really can’t say that here. But it’s nothing mean or nasty; it’s just that sometimes she just doesn’t know the way things are here. But, yeah, coming out was the hardest thing. Basically, I have no regrets. But it’s just the thought that people who you don’t even know, strangers who just walk by you on the street, they know some things that are very personal about you that really is not a decision. But hey if it [coming out] means I can help with gaining equality for the LGBT community, then, like I said, I have no regrets. I’m happy to help move it along.

Not to dwell on this issue, but did any particular group or community, like the LGBT community or heterosexual community, or the Black or White communities, give you any negative criticism about your relationship?
Honestly, it’s all been very positive. And if there has been criticism, then I haven’t heard it. Yeah, it has all been very positive. So do you think that your relationship has affected your career in any way, maybe even having a positive impact on your career? Honestly, I think it has helped. I don’t know as far as getting work, but it has helped me as a performer. Because now when I’m out there, it’s like nothing to hide and it’s all out, it just opened me up, I think.

Since you handle it so well, do you find yourself being asked for advice on how to deal with the public and a gay, lesbian or interracial relationship?
Yes, and I tell them, you know, as long as you are comfortable with yourself, that’s the first step. Just be who you are. Then once you’re comfortable with that-I mean it’s a lot of anxiety and it’s very scary, but once you do it, it’s so liberating.

Congratulations on becoming new parents! Do you get any rest?
No, no rest at all [laugh]!

How is it being a new parent?
Amazing! This has just changed my life completely-like, what the hell did we do [laugh]! I know! There is so much people just don’t tell you about parenting. No, people don’t tell you all this-otherwise there would be no more people [laugh]! You have to just keep saying, “It’s great, it’s great!”

So, you have an amazing career and a family, how do you juggle it all?
You know when I do have time off, the little bit of time I get, I do cherish it. I don’t waste it. I spend time with my family and my close friends, and we really enjoy those times together. [But] you have to make the time. I also surround myself at work with good, talented people. So they make my job easier. Just recently on my show, we had to bring in some new producers, because it was killing me. Now things are running a lot smoother, I’m getting more time off-I get home earlier. No more sixteen-hour days, it’s getting a lot better!

Does your wife stay home with the children or do you two have help? No, she works. She travels like maybe every other week, sometimes three days out of the week. So yes we have help, we don’t have someone who stays with us, but we have help.

Knowing that you and your wife are from two very different cultures, have you talked about how you plan on raising your children?
Oh yeah you have to talk about raising your children. Both of us are pretty much on the same page. Our kids, they will be all over the place. So she [my wife] speaks French to them, and of course I speak English. Although, I’m trying to learn French, I have to figure out if they are talking about me or if they are trying to double-team me or something [laugh]. Then her [my wife’s] mother lives in Spain for most of the year, so the kids have already been to Spain and her stepdad speaks Spanish to them. So our kids are going to have a very diverse upbringing. So far they seem to be sweet babies.

Until they are seven years old, like my son [laugh]!
Yeah then they turn on you [laugh]!

Congratulations of your NAACP nominations! What does this mean to you?
I am very, very honored! It’s a big deal for me; this really is a big deal for me. One, it’s from the NAACP, and then to be recognized by your peers, it feels good. Also, to be recognized by an organization that has been at the forefront of equality. For them to recognize me, an openly gay woman, to me it just says more about their commitment on equality. I can’t thank them enough for what they have done and what they will do.

So where do you see yourself going this year? Do you have any other projects in the works?
Oh Lord! So, I’ll tell you right now my wife and I are walking through Costco’s. We gotta take advantage of all the time we have. The inlaws are coming to visit, so we had to go to Costco’s while I talked to you. Right now my plate is full! So, I’m still doing the Oprah thing and I have the Wanda Sykes Show, and when those shows wrap in the summer, I’ll probably get back on stage and do some stand-up. But one project I am working on is the Jackie “Moms” Mabley [story]. She was a big inspiration to me, and I have the rights to her story. So hopefully we’ll get that out and do a feature on her story.

Thank you so much for taking time with me today. Take care, and have a good time buying all your bulk items at Costco’s [laugh]!
[Laugh]