Queen Latifah on Gay Community, Talks New Role in HBO's 'Bessie' & Spotted with New Girlfriend!

Queen Latifah is not shy about sounding off on the gay community, and has even played roles as a lesbian woman. In the new issue of Uptown magazine the Queen talked about the LGBT community and her upcoming bisexual role as HBO's Bessie.

Set to premiere on the TV network on May 16, Bessie is a story about the legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, who was a bisexual singer in the 1920s and '30s.

Latifah's own sexuality has been questioned for years, but the entertainer has remained evasive on her own status, so don't expect her to come out in the new film just because she plays the role of a bisexual performer.

"I'm not really sure how people will feel about [Bessie's bisexuality]," Latifah said in the interview. "It's not like it's a secret with her story. She was just free."

Despite Bessie Smith's challenges she faced in the years of her life, Latifah admits that decades haven't removed the scars of homophobia. "People's ideas in general are antiquated when it comes to who you love," The Single Ladies producer explained. "We haven't moved as quickly as we probably should. And the reality is that there's always been gay people in the black community, so it's not foreign to us. And not just as a black community but just a society as a whole."

Latifah also took revealed that she supports marriage equality.

"Who you choose to marry is really up to you and it's not something you should be judged on," the actress said. "I don't find being gay or lesbian to be a character flaw. Couples should be protected under the laws of this country, period. It actually angers me."

Though Latifah remains silent on her personal life, she was spotted with new partner Eboni Nichols in NYC earlier this week.

 #QueenLatifah and her boo #EboniNichols spotted out together!

A photo posted by The Shade Room (@theshaderoominc) on May 12, 2015 at 1:08pm PDT

FOR MORE OF THE INTERVIEW, CLICK HERE!