The Greatt Gay Comedians of All Time

Contents:

• THE GREATT GAY COMEDIANS OF ALL TIME
• JERROD CARMICHAEL OUT AS GAY HIS NEW EDY SPECIAL
• THE TOP 5 GAY COMEDIANS YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTN TO
• LGH YOUR FEARS AWAY WH 7 OF THE FUNNIT GAY COMEDIANS EVER
• ELLEN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}WH HER OWN TALK SHOW, ELLEN DEGENER IS ONE OF AMERI'S MOST WELL-KNOWN EDIANS. SHE'S ALSO AN ADVOTE FOR LGBTQ {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 12, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: ANDREW CH/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1958-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS ELLEN DEGENER?ELLEN DEGENER H BIG AS A STAND-UP EDIAN BEFORE STARRG ON HER OWN S, ELLEN. IN 1997, SHE ME OUT AS GAY, AND BEME A STNCH ADVOTE OF LGBTQ RIGHTS. SHE HAS BEEN THE HOST OF HER OWN AWARD-WNG TALK SHOW, {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW, SCE 2003, AND MARRIED GIRLIEND PORTIA ROSSI 2008.EARLY LIFEDEGENER WAS BORN JANUARY 26, 1958, METAIRIE, LOUISIANA, TO AN SURANCE SALMAN AND A WORKG MOTHER WHO DIVORCED WHEN DEGENER WAS A TEENAGER. WHEN SHE WAS GROWG UP, DEGENER DREAMED OF BEG A VETERARIAN, BUT SHE GAVE UP THE IA BEE SHE WAS "NOT BOOK SMART." INSTEAD, SHE WAED TABL, SOLD VACUUM CLEANERS, PATED HO AND WORKED AS A LEGAL SECRETARY.DEGENER'S OLR BROTHER, VANCE, AN ACTOR/EDIAN AND FORMER RRPONNT FOR THE DAILY SHOW, WAS LONG NSIRED THE HUMORO MEMBER OF THE FAY. THEN ONCE, DURG A PUBLIC SPEAKG EVENT, DEGENER FOUND HERSELF IGHTENED BY THE CROWD AND ED HUMOR TO GET THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE. SHE WAS A H, AND RECEIVED OFFERS TO DO STAND-UP EDY. SHE BEGAN PERFORMG 1981, BOLSTERED BY HER MOTHER'S MORAL AND FANCIAL SUPPORT.STAND-UP COMEDYAT THE AGE OF 23, DEGENER BEGAN PERFORMG AT A LOL FFEEHOE. SHE GOT HER BIG BUT 1986 WHEN, ACTG ON A TIP OM JAY LENO, THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRG JOHNNY CARSON SENT A BOOKG AGENT TO TCH HER ACT AT THE IMPROV HOLLYWOOD. AS A RULT OF THAT ENGAGEMENT, DEGENER APPEARED ON THE TONIGHT SHOW AND EARNED THE DISTCTN OF BEG THE ONLY FEMALE IC TO BE VED BY JOHNNY CARSON TO S ON THE FAMED "UCH" DURG HER FIRST VIS. DEGENER THEN BEGAN MAKG REGULAR APPEARANC ON THE TALK SHOW CIRCU, CLUDG PERFORMANC ON THE LATE SHOW WH DAVID LETTERMAN, THE TONIGHT SHOW WH JAY LENO, THE OPRAH WEY SHOW, LATER WH GREG KNEAR, LARRY KG LIVE, AND GOOD MORNG, AMERI. SHE WAS ALSO PROFILED TAIL ON ABC'S PRIMETIME LIVE.COMG OUT ON THE 'ELLEN' TV SHOWHER W WON OVER DIENC, AND DEGENER FALLY FOUND SUCCS AS AN ACTRS WH HER OWN PRIME-TIME S — THE SELF-TLED TELEVISN SERI, ELLEN. THE SERI WAS ORIGALLY TLED THE FRIENDS OF ME, BUT WAS RENAMED 1994. FROM THAT POT, THE SHOW EVOLVED OM S BEGNGS AS AN ENSEMBLE EFFORT TO A SHOWSE FOR DEGENER.THE SHOW FACED STRONG CRICISM WHEN, APRIL 1997, DEGENER' CHARACTER BEME THE FIRST LEAD S HISTORY TO OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE HER HOMOSEXUALY ON AIR. AN ABC AFFILIATE BIRMGHAM, ALABAMA, REFED TO AIR THE LANDMARK EPISO. FEARG NTROVERSY, SOME OF THE SHOW'S SPONSORS, DAIMLER CHRYSLER AMONG THEM, WHDREW ADVERTISEMENTS.SEVERAL EPISOS FOLLOWG HER REVEAL HAD GAY THEM AND, THROUGHOUT THE REMAR OF THE SEASON, DEGENER AND ABC EXECUTIV FACED A STORM OF CRICISM. BUT THE SHOW ALSO RECEIVED ROUNDS OF APPLSE OM GAY-IENDLY ACTIVISTS — CLUDG DEGENER'S MOTHER, BETTY DEGENER, WHO APPEARED ON NUMERO TALK SHOWS SUPPORT OF HER DGHTER. DPE A SUPPORTIVE DIENCE, AN EMMY AWARD FOR THE G-OUT EPISO AND THE SHOW'S GROUNDBREAKG PLACE TELEVISN HISTORY, ELLEN WAS NCELED 1998.DEGENER LATER REVEALED THE DIFFICULTI SHE FACED G OUT — OM THE ELLEN EXECUTIV WHO ADVISED HER AGAST DOG SO, TO THE BACKLASH SHE FACED FOR MAKG HER PERSONAL LIFE PUBLIC. APPEARG ON DAX SHEPARD'S ARMCHAIR EXPERT PODST 2018, SHE RELLED THE HUIATG FEELG OF BEG THE SUBJECT OF LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOW JOK, WHILE REJECTG THE PREMISE THAT SHE WAS AN LGBTQ "LEAR" SIMPLY BEE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP THE SECRET ANYMORE.'THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW'IN 2003, ELLEN DEGENER BEME A BIG H WH DAYTIME VIEWERS WH HER SELF-TLED TALK SHOW, ELLEN. SCE S CEPTN, THE SHOW HAS WON A SLEW OF AWARDS, CLUDG 64 DAYTIME EMMYS FOR A DAYTIME TALK SHOW.IN MAY 2021, DEGENER ANNOUNCED SHE'LL BE ENDG HER TALK SHOW 2022.MOVIBY THE TIME HER SHOW WAS NCELED, DEGENER HAD ALREADY MA THE MOVE TO THE BIG SCREEN, STARRG THE DARK EDY MR. WRONG (1996) AS A WOMAN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT MAN. SHE ALSO APPEARED THE EDY EDTV (1999), STARRG MATTHEW MCCONGHEY, AND THE TELEVISN PRODUCTN OF IF THE WALLS COULD TALK 2 (2000), WHICH SHE SHARED A MUCH-PUBLICIZED LOVE SCENE WH SHARON STONE.'FDG NEMO' AND AWARDS SHOW HOSTALSO 2003, DEGENER LENT HER VOICE TO THE ANIMATED BOX OFFICE SMASH FDG NEMO, WHICH SHE PLAYS A IENDLY YET FETFUL LTLE BLUE FISH NAMED DORY. THE NEXT YEAR SHE RECEIVED TWO EMMY AWARD NOMATNS FOR HER STAND-UP EDY SPECIAL ELLEN DEGENER: HERE AND NOW. DEGENER LATER RETURNED TO THE NEMO ANCHISE WH THE 2016 SEQUEL, FDG DORY.A UNIQUE BATN OF KD AND FUNNY, ELLEN DEGENER BEME A POPULAR CHOICE TO HOST MAJOR AWARDS TELESTS. SHE WAS TAPPED TO HOST THE GRAMMYS 1996 AND 1997; THE PRIMETIME EMMYS 2001 AND 2005; AND THE AMY AWARDS 2007 AND 2014. UNRSRG HER POPULARY, DEGENER 2009 WAS CHOSEN TO FILL THE VETED FOURTH SLOT AS A JUDGE ON AMERIN IDOL, REPLACG PLA ABDUL. BOOKS AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCERDEGENER IS ALSO THE THOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS, CLUDG MY POT ... AND I DO HAVE ONE (1995), SERLY ... I'M KIDDG (2011) AND HOME (2015). HER FILM WORK SLOWED AFTER HER TALK SHOW TOOK OFF, BUT SHE'S NTUED TO WORK MOSTLY BEHD THE SCEN AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF SEVERAL TELEVISN SHOWS CLUDG BETHENNY (2012-2014), REPEAT AFTER ME (2015), ONE BIG HAPPY (2015), LTLE BIG SHOTS (2015) AND HER HGTV REALY PETN SHOW, ELLEN'S DIGN CHALLENGE.OTHER PROJECTS AND HONORSJUGGLG MANY ROL HOLLYWOOD, DEGENER HAS NTUED BUILDG HER EMPIRE. SHE OWNS HER OWN RERD LABEL LLED "ELEVENELEVEN," AS WELL AS A LIFTYLE BRAND LLED ED BY ELLEN (LNCHED 2015) WHICH SELLS SHO, HOME AND BABY EMS, ACCSORI AND A PET LE. SHE IS AN AVID ANIMAL RIGHTS AND GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AS WELL AS A VEGAN.IN NOVEMBER 2016 DEGENER RECEIVED THE PRINTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM OM PRINT BARACK OBAMA FOR HER NTRIBUTN TO THE ARTS.IN EARLY 2018, AS PART OF A 60TH BIRTHDAY GIFT OM ROSSI, THE TV PERSONALY LEARNED OF PLANS TO CREATE THE ELLEN DEGENER CAMP OF THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND RWANDA, THE FIRST IATIVE OF THE NEW ELLEN DEGENER WILDLIFE FUND.AT JANUARY 2020 GOLN GLOB, DEGENER WAS PRENTED WH THE HONORARY CAROL BURT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE TELEVISN. SHE BEME THE SEND RECIPIENT OF THE HONOR, FOLLOWG S NAMAKE 2019.PERSONAL LIFE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DEGENER DATED ACTRS ANNE HECHE AND, 1999, THE UPLE BOUGHT A HOME LOS ANGEL. ALTHOUGH AT ONE POT THEY PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THEIR SIRE TO BE MARRIED, THE UPLE BROKE UP AUGT 2000. MARRIAGE TO PORTIA ROSSIDEGENER THEN DATED ALEXANDRA HEDISON FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE BEG VOLVED WH ACTRS PORTIA ROSSI DECEMBER 2004. DEGENER MARRIED ROSSI ON AUGT 16, 2008, WHAT WAS PERHAPS THE HIGHT-PROFILE GAY MARRIAGE AFTER CALIFORNIA LEGALIZED THE UNNS. IN 2010 ROSSI WAS GRANTED PERMISSN TO LEGALLY CHANGE HER NAME TO PORTIA LEE JAM DEGENER.SEXUAL ABE REVELATNSDEGENER FIRST ALLEGED THAT SHE HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABED BY HER STEPFATHER A 2005 TERVIEW WH ALLURE MAGAZE. SHE ELABORATED ON THE TOPIC DURG AN APPEARANCE ON DAVID LETTERMAN'S NETFLIX SHOW 2019, RELLG HOW HER STEPFATHER SISTED ON "EXAMG" HER BREASTS FOR LUMPS AFTER HER MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WH BREAST NCER THE {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

THE GREATT GAY COMEDIANS OF ALL TIME

Risg to fame followg her special "Nate, " Gadsby has phed edy to new levels by weavg together personal stori, art history lsons, and sthg monologu — routely takg hs at men and the chronicl her childhood growg up as a lbian Tasmania, where homosexualy was illegal until 1997. Yang beme the first Che-Amerin and third openly gay st member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" edian, who hosts a pop culture podst lled "Las Culturistas, " has proven his range on the "SNL, " masterfully portrayg characters om a Che tra reprentative ed as "Tra Daddy" to former Democratic printial ndidate Andrew Yang. Amstell, who beme known for appearanc on "Pop World" and "Never Md The Buzzcks, " stand-up edy as a nfsnal, workg through issu like his parents' divorce, eatg meat, and timacy the Brish ic speaks openly about his sexualy durg sets, Amstell said he was "terrified" of beg gay before g out durg his Netflix special "Set Free.

Cho, who grew up San Francis and had parents that owned a gay bookstore, has squashed the stereotypil tras placed on Asian-Amerin gaed populary by wrg and starrg a s lled "All Amerin Girl" and has bee a celebrated stand-up ic. He often jok that he knew he was gay before he knew he was 's sce lnched a succsful stand-up reer — appearg on "The Late Late Show Wh Jam Corn, " "Late Night Wh Seth Meyers, " "CONAN, " and more. “I remember Googlg gay ics and nothg g up, pecially gay Black ics, ” says Perks, whose blazgly funny stand-up work rang om sweet to goofy to rnchy.

Havg a moment, the late ’90s and early ghts, meant that, sudnly, a gay performer or character would appear a space that had been prevly domated by straight people — say, at the center of a TV s like “Will & Grace” or a stand-up special, or as the voice of reason to the leadg lady a romantic edy like “My Bt Friend’s Weddg” — and everyone uld appld and say, “We solved !

JERROD CARMICHAEL OUT AS GAY HIS NEW EDY SPECIAL

Gay edy isn’t niche ’s all changed so fast that at one pot, while he’s discsg a sketch about rporate sponsorship of gay pri paras that he did wh Lil Nas X last May, Yang, 31, tch himself and says, lghg, “Why am I talkg about this the past tense, like ’s another era?

(The podst format, which gay obssns n be discsed and nstcted at length, or which the hetero world n be filtered through gay sensibili, as is on Sam Taggart and Gee Civeris’s “StraightLab, ” has bee fertile turf for emergg edy stars.

” says Rogers, who, like all of his lleagu, has many ncurrent projects; he spent an early month of the panmic hostg (hilarly) a pet-groomg realy show lled “Hte Dog” for HBO Max; he -created a short-form seri lled “Gayme Show” (“for Quibi, rt peace”), whose wrg room was “entirely stocked wh queer people”; and he will have a regular role on a new Showtime edy lled “I Love That for You, ” tentatively schled for this sprg, wh the “S. ” Lyn’s style of humor — bchy, suatg, spiked wh alhol, rancid wh self-mockery — was rarely overtly queer; was what would now be scribed as “queer-d” — other words, legibly gay to anybody, gay or straight, who knew what signifiers to look for but to the obliv, merely droll.

THE TOP 5 GAY COMEDIANS YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTN TO

Lyn (who was self-protectively disparagg about gay men terviews) and ntemporari like Charl Nelson Reilly on “Match Game” (another game show) the 1970s were gay entertaers before that was a tegory; they are the first DNA strand ntemporary gay male edy’s triple send strand was the first generatn of out male edians — guys like the performance artist Frank Maya, who beme the first out gay man to get a spot on the early ’90s MTV seri “Half Hour Comedy Hour, ” and Bob Smh, the first to crack “The Tonight Show” durg the Jay Leno era, and Stt Thompson, the gay member of the Canadian edy qutet the Kids the Hall. They were pneers who had to walk a plited le, at once makg stand-up safe for gay performers and makg gay edy palatable for straight dienc that, 30 years ago, were still far more fortable lghg at queer people than wh them. And the third strand was drag — there all along, olr than pop culture self, the subject of angry ntentn the gay muny between those who embraced as an act of transgrsive fiance and genr subversn and those who nounced as mstrelsy or, worse, bad for the e; pop culture, was a s-long journey om “La Cage x Foll” on Broadway the 1980s to “RuPl’s Drag Race” the 2000s, at which pot the naysayers fally had to adm feat.

LGH YOUR FEARS AWAY WH 7 OF THE FUNNIT GAY COMEDIANS EVER

Source photos: Alex SchaeferOne thg that distguish the new wave of gay edy is that n draw om all the tradns and rebe them to somethg new — at once polil and mpy; cheerful and subversive; stumed and nfsnal; explic and mastream. It’s an approach that nnects gay edy to a long Amerin tradn of outsir humor — the humor of the opprsed — and an equally long tradn which those outsirs bee sirs.

In the scene, Styl plays a distracted, gay, sexually (hyper)active social media brand manager who’s ught advertently postg his own horny Instagram msag unr the pany acunt — cludg one to Shawn Mens, to whom he sends what he sheepishly adms to his boss ( a le that drew screams of lighted shock om the stud dience) was “a picture of my open throat. ”The sketch was an stant h, which was surprisg not jt bee Styl gamely threw himself to the role but bee the language ed — “still on a poppers high, ” “feelg really prsed after threome, ” “wreck me, daddy” — was for-, by- gay talk of a kd that was unprecented on “S. L., ” which had only the last , wh the rise of Kate McKnon and the stallatn of the gay -head wrer Chris Kelly, started to journey out of a long, vexed history of homophobia.

Sce Ellen DeGener me out 1997, lbians and gay men have had, and ntue to have, separate and plited trajectori through edy, and one major and persistent difference is that the ia of sex between men still triggers a more vol, openly disgted type of homophobia om some dienc than do the ia of sex between women.

ELLEN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}WH HER OWN TALK SHOW, ELLEN DEGENER IS ONE OF AMERI'S MOST WELL-KNOWN EDIANS. SHE'S ALSO AN ADVOTE FOR LGBTQ {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 12, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: ANDREW CH/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1958-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS ELLEN DEGENER?ELLEN DEGENER H BIG AS A STAND-UP EDIAN BEFORE STARRG ON HER OWN S, ELLEN. IN 1997, SHE ME OUT AS GAY, AND BEME A STNCH ADVOTE OF LGBTQ RIGHTS. SHE HAS BEEN THE HOST OF HER OWN AWARD-WNG TALK SHOW, {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW, SCE 2003, AND MARRIED GIRLIEND PORTIA ROSSI 2008.EARLY LIFEDEGENER WAS BORN JANUARY 26, 1958, METAIRIE, LOUISIANA, TO AN SURANCE SALMAN AND A WORKG MOTHER WHO DIVORCED WHEN DEGENER WAS A TEENAGER. WHEN SHE WAS GROWG UP, DEGENER DREAMED OF BEG A VETERARIAN, BUT SHE GAVE UP THE IA BEE SHE WAS "NOT BOOK SMART." INSTEAD, SHE WAED TABL, SOLD VACUUM CLEANERS, PATED HO AND WORKED AS A LEGAL SECRETARY.DEGENER'S OLR BROTHER, VANCE, AN ACTOR/EDIAN AND FORMER RRPONNT FOR THE DAILY SHOW, WAS LONG NSIRED THE HUMORO MEMBER OF THE FAY. THEN ONCE, DURG A PUBLIC SPEAKG EVENT, DEGENER FOUND HERSELF IGHTENED BY THE CROWD AND ED HUMOR TO GET THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE. SHE WAS A H, AND RECEIVED OFFERS TO DO STAND-UP EDY. SHE BEGAN PERFORMG 1981, BOLSTERED BY HER MOTHER'S MORAL AND FANCIAL SUPPORT.STAND-UP COMEDYAT THE AGE OF 23, DEGENER BEGAN PERFORMG AT A LOL FFEEHOE. SHE GOT HER BIG BUT 1986 WHEN, ACTG ON A TIP OM JAY LENO, THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRG JOHNNY CARSON SENT A BOOKG AGENT TO TCH HER ACT AT THE IMPROV HOLLYWOOD. AS A RULT OF THAT ENGAGEMENT, DEGENER APPEARED ON THE TONIGHT SHOW AND EARNED THE DISTCTN OF BEG THE ONLY FEMALE IC TO BE VED BY JOHNNY CARSON TO S ON THE FAMED "UCH" DURG HER FIRST VIS. DEGENER THEN BEGAN MAKG REGULAR APPEARANC ON THE TALK SHOW CIRCU, CLUDG PERFORMANC ON THE LATE SHOW WH DAVID LETTERMAN, THE TONIGHT SHOW WH JAY LENO, THE OPRAH WEY SHOW, LATER WH GREG KNEAR, LARRY KG LIVE, AND GOOD MORNG, AMERI. SHE WAS ALSO PROFILED TAIL ON ABC'S PRIMETIME LIVE.COMG OUT ON THE 'ELLEN' TV SHOWHER W WON OVER DIENC, AND DEGENER FALLY FOUND SUCCS AS AN ACTRS WH HER OWN PRIME-TIME S — THE SELF-TLED TELEVISN SERI, ELLEN. THE SERI WAS ORIGALLY TLED THE FRIENDS OF ME, BUT WAS RENAMED 1994. FROM THAT POT, THE SHOW EVOLVED OM S BEGNGS AS AN ENSEMBLE EFFORT TO A SHOWSE FOR DEGENER.THE SHOW FACED STRONG CRICISM WHEN, APRIL 1997, DEGENER' CHARACTER BEME THE FIRST LEAD S HISTORY TO OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE HER HOMOSEXUALY ON AIR. AN ABC AFFILIATE BIRMGHAM, ALABAMA, REFED TO AIR THE LANDMARK EPISO. FEARG NTROVERSY, SOME OF THE SHOW'S SPONSORS, DAIMLER CHRYSLER AMONG THEM, WHDREW ADVERTISEMENTS.SEVERAL EPISOS FOLLOWG HER REVEAL HAD GAY THEM AND, THROUGHOUT THE REMAR OF THE SEASON, DEGENER AND ABC EXECUTIV FACED A STORM OF CRICISM. BUT THE SHOW ALSO RECEIVED ROUNDS OF APPLSE OM GAY-IENDLY ACTIVISTS — CLUDG DEGENER'S MOTHER, BETTY DEGENER, WHO APPEARED ON NUMERO TALK SHOWS SUPPORT OF HER DGHTER. DPE A SUPPORTIVE DIENCE, AN EMMY AWARD FOR THE G-OUT EPISO AND THE SHOW'S GROUNDBREAKG PLACE TELEVISN HISTORY, ELLEN WAS NCELED 1998.DEGENER LATER REVEALED THE DIFFICULTI SHE FACED G OUT — OM THE ELLEN EXECUTIV WHO ADVISED HER AGAST DOG SO, TO THE BACKLASH SHE FACED FOR MAKG HER PERSONAL LIFE PUBLIC. APPEARG ON DAX SHEPARD'S ARMCHAIR EXPERT PODST 2018, SHE RELLED THE HUIATG FEELG OF BEG THE SUBJECT OF LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOW JOK, WHILE REJECTG THE PREMISE THAT SHE WAS AN LGBTQ "LEAR" SIMPLY BEE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP THE SECRET ANYMORE.'THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW'IN 2003, ELLEN DEGENER BEME A BIG H WH DAYTIME VIEWERS WH HER SELF-TLED TALK SHOW, ELLEN. SCE S CEPTN, THE SHOW HAS WON A SLEW OF AWARDS, CLUDG 64 DAYTIME EMMYS FOR A DAYTIME TALK SHOW.IN MAY 2021, DEGENER ANNOUNCED SHE'LL BE ENDG HER TALK SHOW 2022.MOVIBY THE TIME HER SHOW WAS NCELED, DEGENER HAD ALREADY MA THE MOVE TO THE BIG SCREEN, STARRG THE DARK EDY MR. WRONG (1996) AS A WOMAN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT MAN. SHE ALSO APPEARED THE EDY EDTV (1999), STARRG MATTHEW MCCONGHEY, AND THE TELEVISN PRODUCTN OF IF THE WALLS COULD TALK 2 (2000), WHICH SHE SHARED A MUCH-PUBLICIZED LOVE SCENE WH SHARON STONE.'FDG NEMO' AND AWARDS SHOW HOSTALSO 2003, DEGENER LENT HER VOICE TO THE ANIMATED BOX OFFICE SMASH FDG NEMO, WHICH SHE PLAYS A IENDLY YET FETFUL LTLE BLUE FISH NAMED DORY. THE NEXT YEAR SHE RECEIVED TWO EMMY AWARD NOMATNS FOR HER STAND-UP EDY SPECIAL ELLEN DEGENER: HERE AND NOW. DEGENER LATER RETURNED TO THE NEMO ANCHISE WH THE 2016 SEQUEL, FDG DORY.A UNIQUE BATN OF KD AND FUNNY, ELLEN DEGENER BEME A POPULAR CHOICE TO HOST MAJOR AWARDS TELESTS. SHE WAS TAPPED TO HOST THE GRAMMYS 1996 AND 1997; THE PRIMETIME EMMYS 2001 AND 2005; AND THE AMY AWARDS 2007 AND 2014. UNRSRG HER POPULARY, DEGENER 2009 WAS CHOSEN TO FILL THE VETED FOURTH SLOT AS A JUDGE ON AMERIN IDOL, REPLACG PLA ABDUL. BOOKS AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCERDEGENER IS ALSO THE THOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS, CLUDG MY POT ... AND I DO HAVE ONE (1995), SERLY ... I'M KIDDG (2011) AND HOME (2015). HER FILM WORK SLOWED AFTER HER TALK SHOW TOOK OFF, BUT SHE'S NTUED TO WORK MOSTLY BEHD THE SCEN AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF SEVERAL TELEVISN SHOWS CLUDG BETHENNY (2012-2014), REPEAT AFTER ME (2015), ONE BIG HAPPY (2015), LTLE BIG SHOTS (2015) AND HER HGTV REALY PETN SHOW, ELLEN'S DIGN CHALLENGE.OTHER PROJECTS AND HONORSJUGGLG MANY ROL HOLLYWOOD, DEGENER HAS NTUED BUILDG HER EMPIRE. SHE OWNS HER OWN RERD LABEL LLED "ELEVENELEVEN," AS WELL AS A LIFTYLE BRAND LLED ED BY ELLEN (LNCHED 2015) WHICH SELLS SHO, HOME AND BABY EMS, ACCSORI AND A PET LE. SHE IS AN AVID ANIMAL RIGHTS AND GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AS WELL AS A VEGAN.IN NOVEMBER 2016 DEGENER RECEIVED THE PRINTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM OM PRINT BARACK OBAMA FOR HER NTRIBUTN TO THE ARTS.IN EARLY 2018, AS PART OF A 60TH BIRTHDAY GIFT OM ROSSI, THE TV PERSONALY LEARNED OF PLANS TO CREATE THE ELLEN DEGENER CAMP OF THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND RWANDA, THE FIRST IATIVE OF THE NEW ELLEN DEGENER WILDLIFE FUND.AT JANUARY 2020 GOLN GLOB, DEGENER WAS PRENTED WH THE HONORARY CAROL BURT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE TELEVISN. SHE BEME THE SEND RECIPIENT OF THE HONOR, FOLLOWG S NAMAKE 2019.PERSONAL LIFE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DEGENER DATED ACTRS ANNE HECHE AND, 1999, THE UPLE BOUGHT A HOME LOS ANGEL. ALTHOUGH AT ONE POT THEY PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THEIR SIRE TO BE MARRIED, THE UPLE BROKE UP AUGT 2000. MARRIAGE TO PORTIA ROSSIDEGENER THEN DATED ALEXANDRA HEDISON FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE BEG VOLVED WH ACTRS PORTIA ROSSI DECEMBER 2004. DEGENER MARRIED ROSSI ON AUGT 16, 2008, WHAT WAS PERHAPS THE HIGHT-PROFILE GAY MARRIAGE AFTER CALIFORNIA LEGALIZED THE UNNS. IN 2010 ROSSI WAS GRANTED PERMISSN TO LEGALLY CHANGE HER NAME TO PORTIA LEE JAM DEGENER.SEXUAL ABE REVELATNSDEGENER FIRST ALLEGED THAT SHE HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABED BY HER STEPFATHER A 2005 TERVIEW WH ALLURE MAGAZE. SHE ELABORATED ON THE TOPIC DURG AN APPEARANCE ON DAVID LETTERMAN'S NETFLIX SHOW 2019, RELLG HOW HER STEPFATHER SISTED ON "EXAMG" HER BREASTS FOR LUMPS AFTER HER MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WH BREAST NCER THE {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

“Sara Lee” didn’t seem the least alarmed by that; wasn’t a sketch aimed at heterosexual drive-by gawkers but one unmistakably wrten straight-outta-Grdr language by gay men who weren’t pecially terted translatg their work for a wir dience. VioThe edian shar an anecdote about g out to his LeeIn one way, that sensibily was nsistent wh Yang and Rogers’s unforced gay-bti vibe on “Las Culturistas, ” which is not gay as “We’re here, we’re queer, ” but gay as “We’re two adult men havg an extremely long and impassned discsn about Glenn Close — don’t expect to make fortable for you. The character, makg a tense and hghty appearance on “Weekend Update, ” exemplifi the ways which gay edy is now, so to speak, genre-fluid: It’s performed and -wrten by an out gay man; ’s not overtly gay but is, Yang’s words, “very much queer-d”; and ’s also drag.

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