I feel like I hear the same conversation whenever certain names come up….like Latifah…and Ricky Martin…and Kevin Spacey…and Jaheim…and Missy Elliott…and all the male contestants of “I Love New York”…and Anderson Cooper (well, that was actually a new one for me but apparently everyone says its true)….and Da Brat.

Its always like, “Why dont they just come out the closet already?” We’ve seen photos of Queen Latifah with her pretty personal trainer homegirl. And we’ve seen Ricky Martin’s arched eyebrows. And Chance’s weak-wrist hand gestures. And Missy Elliot and Trina’s photos together……but I guess its still too taboo for a hip hop artist to be publicly gay or lesbian. I keep thinking that if Latifah came out the closet (if she prefers the ladies, of course, wink wink) would anyone really shun her or change their opinion of her? Wouldnt it be just like with Ellen Degeneres? People still think Ellen is funny and nice and marketable…..would Latifah lose her Covergirl account? Would she not get gigs like Hairspray or The Cookout? Its not like Latifah needs street cred anymore….

Anyways, Da Brat had a big birthday party down in Atlanta, and my boy LT from Sohh’s ATL blog had the amazing coverage of the whole thing. LT noticed that Da Brat was accompanied by a very pretty, “exotic” looking ladyfriend. Maybe spanish or brazilian? Well, either way….they seemed a bit cozy…and in LT’s video, watch very closely, because Da Brat even makes a sly comment about the mystery ladyfriend, saying “I know where her lips have been…hahaha!”

(One correction…LT mentions that Da Brat was romantically linked with Pam from the group Total back in the day. But it was actually the pretty one, Keisha, who was dating Da Brat in the 90’s. They were adorable together, fyi ; ) But now Keisha is married to actor Omar Epps, hee hee)

Check out the video and tell me if you think we’re witnessing new love at its best : )