Remember actress, Marsha Warfield, from back in the day? She starred in several roles throughout the 80’s and 90’s, including the sitcom, Night Court, as “Roz,” as well as in many other films and TV shows, such as D.C. Cab, Living Single, The Marsha Warfield Show, and more. Ms. Warfield is also a standup comedian. Many of us haven’t seen Marsha in a while, but a topic that is near and dear to her heart has just caused the 64 year old legend to resurface. That is, the topic of her sexuality and the revelation Patti LaBelle made about her good friend, Luther Vandross.
If you know anything about Ms. Warfield, then it may not necessarily be a surprise to learn that she is a proud lesbian. Before she came out publicly, many had assumed she was for years anyways. But it took her a minute to publicly come out because of a very personal matter, which she’s now revealed in an online post. Before we get into what Marsha had to say about herself, let us do a quick recap for those who may not have seen why Ms. Warfield is speaking out now…
Patti LaBelle’s Prior Comments About Luther’s Sexuality
You may recall when Patti LaBelle revealed, in an interview with Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, her opinion of why she thinks her late friend, Luther Vandross, hid his sexuality, as an alleged gay man, from the public:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAN5n1R3foE
Although Patti’s intentions didn’t seem to be coming from a harmful place, after her public remarks about Vandross, some took issue with her revealing what Luther, himself, had not- at least not publicly. One of those people, was TV talk show host, Wendy Williams, who had a LOT to say about Patti’s reveal. And now, Ms. Warfield has some things to get off her chest…
Marsha Warfield Reveals What her Mother Told Her About Coming Out
Marsha Warfield has now stepped forward to explain that she not only empathizes with Luther’s position, but that she also defends Patti’s decision to reveal it. Speaking from personal experience, Marsha revealed that she had a rough time coming out publicly, because of her mother’s request that she not speak on the matter until after she was dead…WOW. Marsha also doesn’t think Patti is wrong for speaking her mind regarding Vandross:
“When I told my mother I was gay, she said she knew, and had known all my life. Then, she asked me not to come out publicly while she was alive. I agreed, even though the request and her admission were hurtful in ways I couldn’t put my finger on then, and probably haven’t completely worked through now. But, everybody who knew me, knew I was gay.
The people I didn’t tell knew anyway, and tacitly agreed to pretend that the unacknowledged had been acknowledged and accepted. Like I’m sure is true for millions of other glass door closeted people. When I went to bars, which was frequently, I never tried to hide who I was. So, it was an open secret.
Had I never come out publicly, many, many people would have known. It would not then have ever really been a betrayal of trust to “spill the beans.”Because it wasn’t a secret, it was an uncomfortably kept promise to my mother. But, it was also not the only reason I didn’t come out swinging when she passed. The fear of the judgment of strangers and their holier-than-thou “shoulds” was at least as big of a burden to bear. But the “shoulds” that “should” matter don’t.
Nobody should have to hide their sexuality. No parent should ask their child to. There should be no shame in being gay. And, I ain’t mad at Patti LaBelle. I’m mad at the people who are.” -Marsha Warfield
Thoughts ILOSM fam?’
