August 11, 2008 | Celeb Watch

Kanye West challenges fans to accept gays

Hip hop has often been accused of being sexist and homophobic, with certain rappers relying heavily on bigoted comments to push their music. However, nine-time Grammy Award-winner, Kanye West, took a stand for gay men and women at the end of his recent concert in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

"Open your fucking minds. Open your minds. Be accepting of different people and let people be who they are," West said.

"You know how many people came to me calling me gay cause I wear my jeans the fresh way? Or because I said 'hey, dude, how you gonna say ‘fag’ right in front of a gay dude’s face and act like that’s ok?' That shit is disrespectful.

"Coming from Chicago, where if you saw somebody that was gay you were supposed to stay ten feet away," West continued. "It took me time to break out of the mental prisons I was in. The stereotypes of the fear of the backlash that I would get if you don’t believe what I believe in, accepting people for who they are."

Word!