The Gay Rights Movement has many iconic faces throughout its history. These faces include both gay and straight celebrities such as Melissa Etheridge, Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, and Kathy Griffin. When celebrities acknowledge they support gays, they are aiding the cause of gay rights (such as in the case of Gaga and Kathy). However, one interesting face in particular is Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen came out on April 14, 1997 on a very public cover of Time magazine with the headline “Yep, I’m Gay,” soon to be followed, two weeks later, by an episode of her own sitcom titled Ellen where her character also came out as gay (Romine). Ellen’s actions gave all people who celebrated an alternative lifestyle hope they would soon achieve everything they were fighting for, as well as helping others like her in their coming out experience. Ellen’s efforts didn’t end their either. She went on to begin her own daytime talk show, where she often helps people in need, somewhat like Oprah. The show has been hosted by CBS for about 8 seasons now with more than 15 Daytime Emmy Awards.
As a side note on Ellen, I’m a fan of her show and I also follow her on Twitter, she always talks about her wife Portia De Rossi. I think all that Ellen has done for her viewers is great and a lot of it has to do with her being openly gay.
Romine, Damon. "Ellen: 10 Years Out." GLAAD News Pop 10 April 2007: n. pag. Web. 4 Jan 2011. <http://archive.glaad.org/media/newspops_detail.php?id=3999>.
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ReplyDeleteI was trying to find it on the internet, but didn't Ellen lose her show when she first came out as being gay on her show? I remember it being a long uphill battle for her; now look at her. She is a success and it has nothing to do with her sexual preference. I think America is slowly coming around.
ReplyDeleteLynlea,
ReplyDeleteI too thought of Ellen but you beat me to it so I had to go with my second choice. I fell that Ellen brings a lot of credibilty to the role of leader. She is a smart, charasmatic woman who understand the pressure of society. She is also very open to ideas and doesn't follow anyone political party. She is going to do what she feels is right for the movement and not bow those those in power. Excellent choice. To Immigration, they cancelled her first show do to "low ratings", which just happen to concide with her coming out on the show.