Happy Birthday to...

...the great Patti LaBelle! The beautiful, ageless diva turns 64 years old today. We love Patti for so many reasons. But the biggest reason: she loves her gay fans and understands them. Here are some excerpts from an Advocate interview she did a few years back:

Q. Why do you think you appeal so much to the gay community?
Patti: I guess because they see no prejudice in me and no judgment. I don't judge you because you love who you love. I don't judge because of the color that you are. I don't judge anything. I'm very honest with gay people. I'm very honest with calling you out and saying come up to the front of the stage and let the audience know that you're gay. You're breathing and you're just like them. The only thing that you have is a different sexual orientation. I'm honest, and most gay people appreciate that.

Q. At what point in your career did you know you had a gay following?
Patti: I've been in this business for 45 years--I've known for 43 years that I've had a strong gay following and loved every minute of it.

Q. What's your take on transgender people?
Patti: That's the way they were born -- people put them through hell! This is the body that they were born in. They want to get changed into a woman because that's who they feel they are. If they can afford it -- do you think I'm going to read them? Get on their case? My God, people put too much worry and emphasis on things that they should not be. Try to worry and figure out world peace, not the piece that the person has on them! I'm sick of people! I am, you can say that too...judging. Everybody's got to judge.

Love, love, love ya Patti. Here are some clips of the Grammy winning legend singing "Forever Young" which she most certainly is:

Not to be missed is Patti's version of "You'll Never Walk Alone": (below)