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| Ellen with her wife, the talented Portia de Rossi (left), and her supportive mother, Betty (right) (S) |
Just this week, Ellen DeGeneres received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I'm not usually the kind of person who cares about celebrities or celebrity news, at least not beyond the work they produce. I mean, I don't need to know all the details of someone's personal life to enjoy their music or acting. But when I heard about Ellen getting a star, I couldn't help feeling happy for her. Many of us have our own personal QUILTBAG heroes, and Ellen happens to be one of mine. There is something - well, a number of things really - about her talk show that just allow me to connect with her on such a personal level.
(I'm talking about The Ellen DeGeneres Show, sometimes referred to as Ellen, but which should not be confused with the 1994-1998 sitcom she starred in called Ellen, originally called These Friends of Mine, or her 2001-2002 sitcom The Ellen Show. I'll say it right now, Mrs. DeGeneres, coming up with original names might not be your strong suit.)
She's real
I don't really see much of Ellen outside of the work she produces (namely, her talk show), but I would still say I'm a fan of hers. Because when you watch her show, you really are watching her. There is no facade, no persona. Everything she does and says on the air is just completely her. There's an openness and honesty about it that draws viewers in, and this includes being open about her sexual orientation.
I was but a wee lad, only four years old when it happened, but on April 30, 1997, Ellen DeGeneres (and her fictional sitcom counterpart, Ellen Morgan) came out as a lesbian. And as I understand it, this was one of the biggest coming outs in American TV history. There was major celebration from LGB folks across the country, but there was also a lot of media fallout. It drastically affected how people saw her, and after the show ended in the following season, her professional career went downhill.
But Ellen picked herself back up and put herself out there again. She got back into doing stand-up, and eventually, after some more TV gigs (including hosting the 2001 Emmys, and her short-lived sitcom The Ellen Show), she managed to land her daytime talk show. She showed people that she was still the hilarious, fun-loving woman they'd always known, and they loved her for it.
She's kind
I can't really think of any reason anyone could possibly be offended while watching The Ellen DeGeneres Show. It's just so... wholesome, I guess is the word I would use, and I mean it the best possible way. She is consistently entertaining, but without resorting to putting people down or intentionally drawing out conflict. Ellen always shows respect for her guests and her audience, and I think there's a couple of reasons for this. For one, she's just that cool a person. But she also knows what it's like to be at the mercy of the media, having them belittle and mock you. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of crap she received when she, and her character, came out in 1997. Not only did it hurt her career, but it hurt her personally. And I think, having gone through what she did, she wouldn't wish that sort of thing on anyone else. If there's something her guest doesn't want to discuss, she's willing to avoid the topic entirely. She's respectful, but not cold; she manages to be both personal and personable at all times. She even had John McCain on her show, talking about marriage equality, while still maintaining her composure and upbeat sense of humour, which I imagine to be no easy feat.
She's fun
This seems to be the driving force behind the production of her show. It's not about an agenda, or drama, just fun. Ellen's main goal is to spread happiness. Everything from her interviews to the music to the audience-participated games are enjoyable to watch. Yes, sometimes she does use her show to draw attention to serious things like LGBT acceptance, suicide, and other important issues, but it's always done with compassion and hope. I watch her show because every single time that I do, my day is just that much better for it. The dancing, the laughter, the games - it's hard not to feel at least a little bit happier after watching it. After watching her.
It happened before I knew I was gay, heck, before I even knew what being gay was, but Ellen's coming out was a milestone. Most of us are worried enough just having to come out to our family, or our friends. But Ellen came out in front of an entire country, and that took courage. And the impact it had was huge. One of the USA's biggest websites about lesbian and bi women in the media is named AfterEllen.com, in honour of the major influence her coming out had. According to Wanda Sykes, another lesbian comic and actress who came out more recently, "Ellen took the bullet for everyone else." Now The Ellen DeGeneres Show is entering its 10th season as one of the most watched daily talk shows in America. She's a cultural icon, and I couldn't be happier for her. I'd like to congratulate Ellen DeGeneres for being such an amazing role model, not just for lesbians and gays, but for human beings in general. So do as the lady says: be kind to one another. And let's have a little fun today.
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