Wanda Sykes at 4th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala commemorating the life and music of Apollo Legend Smokey Robinson, Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York City, USA - 020608

Same-sex unions were legalised in the state in May (08), but the legislation was reversed when a majority of voters backed the bill to re-introduce the ban.

And Sykes took to the streets of Las Vegas on Saturday (15Nov08) alongside gay rights campaigners to speak out against the move - insisting the ban will make her more vocal about being "proud to be gay".

She told the rally, "You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn't feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life. Everybody that knows me personally, they know I'm gay. But that's the way people should be able to live their lives.

"Now, I gotta get in their face. I'm proud to be a woman. I'm proud to be a black woman, and I'm proud to be gay."

Source: WENN