The Hidn Gay Liv of 'The Waltons' Grandparents Ellen Corby & Will Geer spe Their Marriag

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• 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 {LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;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;}}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;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-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} 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;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(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 REAL REASON ELLEN DEGENER DECID TO COME OUT AS GAY ON TV
• THE HIDN GAY LIV OF 'THE WALTONS' GRANDPARENTS ELLEN CORBY & WILL GEER SPE THEIR MARRIAG
• ELLEN’S GAY, BUT IS HER ANNOUNCEMENT WORTH THE WEIGHT?
• ELLEN N SAY "GAY" NOW: "THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW" ENDS BY TAKG A STAND ... FOR CELEBRY
• ELLEN DEGENER INFLUENCED GAY RIGHTS VIEWS MORE THAN ANY OTHER CELEBRY (STUDY)
• ELLEN’S DISAPPOTG TRANSFORMATN FROM LGBT HERO TO HOLLYWOOD VILLATHE DAILY BEAST’S OBSESSEDELLEN BUILT A FORTRS ON THE ARTIFICE OF CLIVY AND KDNS. FOR THOSE THE LGBT MUNY WHOSE EMOTNAL LABOR IS BAKED TO EACH BRICK, ’S PAFUL TO WATCH FALL. KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED AUG. 07, 2020 12:54PM EDT / PUBLISHED AUG. 07, 2020 12:49PM EDT NBCTHIS IS A PREVIEW OF OUR POP CULTURE NEWSLETTER, THE DAILY BEAST’S OBSSED, WRTEN BY SENR ENTERTAMENT REPORTER KEV FALLON. TO RECEIVE THE FULL NEWSLETTER YOUR BOX EACH WEEK, SIGN UP FOR HERE.  ELLEN IS DOG EVERYTHG WRONG IT’S ALMOST TRE TO SAY THAT, AS AN OUT GAY PERSON, ’S IMPOSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY THE IMPACT THAT ELLEN DEGENER AND HER PUBLIC-FACG BRAVERY HAD BUILDG THE WORLD THAT I'M ABLE TO LIVE TODAY, OR TO EXPLA WHAT MEANS THAT, SPE WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH AFTER G OUT, SHE STILL HAD THE URAGE AND TENACY TO RVE SPACE PEOPLE’S HEARTS FOR ACCEPTANCE. THE VERY FACT THAT I’M NOT SPECIAL FEELG THIS MAY BE THE MOST EXTREME PRAISE THAT N BE HEAPED ON HER.IT’S ALSO WHAT MAK THE WARDICE BEHD WHAT IS HAPPENG NOW SO DISAPPOTG. DPE THE FACT THAT, FOR AS LONG AS I’VE BEEN A PART OF THE ENTERTAMENT DTRY, ’S BEEN A WILY TALKED ABOUT OPEN SECRET THAT DEGENER’S TALK SHOW IS A HELLSPE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT, THE DOMO HAVE FALLY STARTED TO FALL RECENT WEEKS. WAS THE TALYST THE TWTER THREAD THAT OFFERED A $2 DONATN TO A FOOD BANK FOR EVERY STORY ABOUT DEGENER BEG “ONE OF THE MEANT PEOPLE ALIVE”? WAS THE INIC WAY THAT DAKOTA JOHNSON SHUT DOWN THE HOST’S FAVORE PARLOR GAME OF PASSIVE AGGRSIVELY EMBARRASSG HER FAMO GUTS?  WHATEVER IS THAT LOOSENED THE TAP MA WAY FOR A LUGE OF RECENT REPORTS AND VTIGATNS TO TOXICY ON THE SET, CLUDG SEXUAL MISNDUCT, RACIAL DISCRIMATN, AND CELTY OM THE HOST. WARNERMEDIA RECENTLY LNCHED AN VTIGATN TO THE DUMPSTER FIRE MASQUERADG AS A PLACE OF WORK. IN RPONSE TO ALL OF THIS, DEGENER MA AN EGREG NON-APOLOGY THAT SENTIALLY PLACED THE BLAME ON HER PRODUCERS AND HAS RELIED ON THE MSAG OF SUPPORT OM A HANDFUL OF A-LISTERS PLEDGG THAT SHE’S ALWAYS BEEN NICE TO THEM, RATHER THAN OWN UP TO HER WELL-KNOWN BAD BEHAVR. EACH TIME A KATY PERRY OR KEV HART TWEETS ABOUT HOW ELLEN IS “ONE OF THE DOPT PEOPLE ON THE FUCKG PLA,” ONLY UNRL THE FACT THAT DEGENER IS, AT BT, IGNORANT OF OR, AT WORST, ACTIVELY DISMISSG THE EXPERIENC OF PEOPLE WORKG UNR HER. WOULD SHOCK YOU TO LEARN THAT HORRIBLE RICH AND FAMO PEOPLE ARE NICE TO OTHER HORRIBLE RICH AND FAMO PEOPLE, YET NOT TO THE UN-RICH AND NON-FAMO THAT WORK FOR THEM?   AND EACH TIME MORE STAFFERS E FORWARD WH NIGHTMARE ACUNTS OF WORKG ON THE SHOW WHOUT DEGENER DISCSG HER ACTIVE ROLE CREATG THAT TOXIC SPACE, SHE’S DIGGG A EPER HOLE, ONE SO EP AT THIS POT ’S GETTG HARD TO IMAGE HER CLIMBG HER WAY OUT OF —NO MATTER WHAT DIANE KEATON SAYS. IT’S A NFG BYPRODUCT OF THE CELEBRY PR AND CRISIS-MANAGG MACHE THAT HAS ERECTED AROUND A-LISTERS THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH A REFAL TO TAKE RPONSIBILY HAS BEE A FLT STRATEGY. IT’S DISAPPOTG BEE EXC UNJT BEHAVR, BUT ALSO FAILS THE CLIENTS. I N’T UNRSTAND HOW CELEBRI SUATNS LIKE THE DON’T UNRSTAND THAT THE BT THG THEY N DO IS ACTUALLY ADM FLT. THEY ARE GOG TO BE PILLORIED BY CRICS AND “NCELED” IF THEY DON’T ADM THEY DID SOMETHG WRONG. AND, ANKLY, THEY ARE GOG TO BE PILLORIED AND “NCELED” IF THEY DO. THE SAVG GRACE OF THE LATTER OPTN IS AT LEAST BEG ON THE RIGHT SI OF HISTORY. I TLY BELIEVE THAT A LARGE SWATH OF HER DIENCE DON’T GIVE A STEAMG SH ABOUT ALL OF THE ALLEGATNS, AND MAYBE AREN’T EVEN AWARE OF THEM. THOSE PEOPLE WILL STILL BE THERE WHETHER OR NOT SHE OWNS UP TO HER BEHAVR. BUT THE CELEBRI WHO NO LONGER WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WH HER OR HER SHOW WON’T BE, AND CERTALY NEHER WILL THE PRS, CRICS, AND ONLE TROLLS WHO WILL HNT HER EVERY MOVE FOR THE RT OF HER REER AND, IF AND WHEN SHE DO RETIRE, WILL PISS OVER HER LEGACY BEE OF HOW UGLY THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN.IT’S SAD BEE THAT LEGACY IS TLY IMPORTANT. I SOMETIM FD MYSELF RANDOMLY WATCHG ELLEN RECEIVE HER MEDAL OF FREEDOM HONOR OM BARACK OBAMA. IT’S AN CREDIBLY EMOTNAL REMR OF WHAT SHE ENDURED AND WHAT MEANS THAT SHE OVERME , SOMETHG THAT N BE FOTTEN GIVEN HOW GOLN HER PERCH SEEMS TO BE NOW. SHE SERV EVERY ONE OF THOSE ACLAS. BUT SHE ALSO SERV TO BE LLED OUT ON WHAT SHE’S DONE WH HER SUCCS.SHE BUILT A FORTRS ON THE ARTIFICE OF CLIVY AND KDNS. WHAT SHE DIDN’T REALIZE IS, FOR THE RT OF WHOSE EMOTNAL LABOR IS BAKED TO EACH BRICK, HOW PAFUL IS TO WATCH FALL. WE’RE NOT THE BS OF PLITED LEGACI ANYMORE. OF SATS WHO ARE DIVAS. OF THE BRAVE WHO THEN CRAVENLY REAP THE SPOILS. OF HERO WHO APPARENTLY HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF SMELL AND SEND STAFF HOME IF THEY HAVEN’T SHOWERED AND ALSO DON’T LOOK HER THE EYE. “IT’S AN TERTG AND RARE, MAYBE EVEN REVOLUTNARY THG. FOR ONCE FOR AN LGBT TRAILBLAZER ENTERTAMENT, THERE IS DISCSN OF THEIR REER AND THEIR RPONSIBILY PENNT OF THEIR SEXUALY. ” NO ONE SHOULD BE A MONSTER. BUT IS WORTH QUTNG WHO GETS TO BE ONE: WHO IS LED A PRICKLY GENI, WHO IS A DIVA, AND WHO IS NCELED. PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD BEE OF HOW THEY INTIFY OR BEE THEY WERE PNEERS. BUT IS WORTH NOTG THAT, FOR ALL THE GROUND ELLEN BROKE, I N’T THK OF ANOTHER QUEER CELEBRY WHO OCCUPI THE SAME SPACE AND BLANKET ACCEPTANCE THE MASTREAM CULTURE THAT SHE ATTAED. OF ALL THE RPONSIBILI SHE’S SHOULRED AND BURNS SHE’S RRIED BEE OF THE BOUNDARI SHE BROKE, SHE’S SHIRKED WHAT MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT: WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE’S GONE? IT’S AN TERTG AND RARE, MAYBE EVEN REVOLUTNARY THG. FOR ONCE FOR AN LGBT TRAILBLAZER ENTERTAMENT, THERE IS DISCSN OF THEIR REER AND THEIR RPONSIBILY PENNT OF THEIR SEXUALY. IT’S ALWAYS “AS A GAY ACTOR...” “AS A GAY DIRECTOR...” “AS A GAY PERSON THE PUBLIC EYE...” THERE IS NO “AS A GAY MONSTER...” HERE. SHE’S JT BEG HELD TO A STANDARD THAT, SHOULD BE SAID, SHE SET FOR HERSELF WH ALL HER PREACHG ABOUT NICENS—AND THE MISLCULATN OF THE , FAILED TO LISTEN TO OR MEET. “YEP, I’M GAY” WAS ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL THGS TO HAPPEN TO HOLLYWOOD. NOW I WONR IF “YEP, I’M SORRY” ULD BE JT AS POWERFUL. NEWSLETTERSTHE DAILY BEAST’S OBSSEDEVERYTHG WE N’T STOP LOVG, HATG, AND THKG ABOUT THIS WEEK POP CULTURE.SUBSCRIBEBY CLICKG "SUBSCRIBE" YOU AGREE TO HAVE READ THE TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY KEV FALLON
• THE STORY BEHD ELLEN’S COMG OUT: ‘THE PUPPY EPISO’ TURNS 20‘SAN, I’M GAY’TWENTY YEARS AGO, DEGENER ME OUT ON HER ABC S, A MOVE THAT NEARLY ST HER REER. ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ‘THE PUPPY EPISO,’ S WRERS REMEMBER SCRIPTG HISTORY. KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED MAY 05, 2017 2:31PM EDT / PUBLISHED APR. 28, 2017 1:08AM EDT © TOUCHSTONE TELEVISN/ COURTY EVERETT COLLECTNON APRIL 30, WILL BE 20 YEARS SCE ELLEN DEGENER TOLD LRA DERN, THE PASSENGERS AT AN AIRPORT TERMAL, AND, WH THEM, THE WORLD THAT SHE IS GAY.IT WAS A WEEK AFTER HER FAMO “YEP, I’M GAY” TIME MAGAZE VER, AN HOUR-LONG SPECIAL EPISO OF HER S, ELLEN, LLED “THE PUPPY EPISO.” THE NOCUO TLE SERVED TWO PURPOS: TO KEEP THE ACTUAL MISSN OF THE EPISO A SECRET, AND TO FLIP A MIDDLE FGER AT A STUD EXECUTIVE WHOSE RPONSE TO DEGENER’ PCH FOR HER CHARACTER E OUT ON THE SHOW AND FALLY PURSUE A REAL LOVE WAS TO HAVE HER GET A DOG STEAD.THE EPISO, 20 YEARS LATER, IS STILL HILAR— WON THE EMMY AWARD FOR BT WRG A COMEDY SERI—AND CERTALY STILL POIGNANT, EVEN IF THE WEIGHT OF WHAT WAS HAPPENG SEEMS A LTLE B LIGHTER TODAY.THE FIRST HALF HOUR FDS DEGENER’ ELLEN MAN ON A DATE WH AN OLD IEND OF HERS, BUT FEELG AN UNSHAKABLE NNECTN TO HIS -WORKER, LRA DERN’S SAN, STEAD. SHE TALKS ABOUT WH HER THERAPIST, PLAYED BY NONE OTHER THAN OPRAH WEY. ELLEN LAMENTS THAT SHE’S ONLY TLY “CLICKED” WH ONE PERSON BEFORE. “AND WHAT WAS HIS NAME?” WEY’S THERAPIST ASKS. “SAN,” ELLEN SAYS.LATER, ELLEN CHAS SAN DOWN AT THE AIRPORT TO NFS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HER FEELGS. “SAN, I’M GAY,” SHE SAYS, ACCINTALLY LEANG TO THE AIRPORT’S P.A. MICROPHONE AND BLARG HER G-OUT ON THE SPEAKERS, A MOMENT AS PERFECTLY EDIC AS IS MOMENTO.IT’S EASY TO FET, GIVEN DEGENER’ STAT AS DAYTIME TALK SHOW QUEEN AND AMERI’S RINT BFF, HOW NTROVERSIAL, BRAVE, AND EVEN DAMAGG THE CISN TO E OUT ON AN ABC S WAS 1997, THE FIRST TIME A CHARACTER EVER DID SO. IT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE ’90S CULTURE WARS, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT WAS SIGNED TO LAW, THAT “THE PUPPY EPISO” WENT TO PRODUCTN. ADVERTISERS PULLED OUT OF THE SHOW. A VIEWER DISCRETN WARNG RAN BEFORE EACH HALF HOUR.MORE THAN 42 LN PEOPLE WATCHED THE EPISO, WHICH WON A PEABODY AND AN EMMY. YET FOR YEARS, DEGENER’ REER SUFFERED FOR . THE PRICE OF LIBERATN WAS HAVG HER REER NEARLY STROYED.IN A SPECIAL ABOUT THE EPISO THAT WILL AIR FRIDAY AFTERNOON ON HER TALK SHOW, DEGENER EXPLAS THE NEED TO REMD PEOPLE OF JT HOW BIG A MOVE THIS WAS: THIS WAS BEFORE WILL & GRACE, BEFORE MCH AND CAM ON MORN FAY, BEFORE NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, WHICH “IS WHY I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY AND TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS LIKE BACK THEN AND TO APPRECIATE HOW FAR WE’VE E.” THE EPISO’S FIRST HALF HOUR WAS WRTEN BY WRG PARTNERS TRACY NEWMAN AND JONATHAN STARK, WHO SHARED AN EMMY FOR THE EPISO WH DAVA SAVEL AND MARK DRISLL, WHO WROTE THE SEND HALF HOUR, AND DEGENER, WHO IS CREDED WH THE STORY.TO FD OUT WHAT WAS LIKE TO WRE THE MONUMENTAL “I’M GAY” MOMENT, A MOMENT THAT CHANGED NOT ONLY TELEVISN, BUT CULTURE AS WE LIVE TODAY, WE SPOKE TO NEWMAN AND STARK. HERE’S WHAT WE LEARNED.BEFORE SEASON 4 OF ELLEN STARTED PRODUCTN, DEGENER HAD THE SHOW’S WRERS AND OTHER KEY MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OVER TO HER HOE FOR A PARTY. IT WAS THERE SHE ANNOUNCED THAT, AFTER TOUGH NVERSATNS WH THE WORK AND STUD, HER CHARACTER WOULD E OUT AS GAY THAT SEASON.NEWMAN: EVERYBODY WAS EXCED ABOUT , PRETTY MUCH.STARK: I DO REMEMBER THKG, “OH THANK GOD…” BEE THERE WAS NO WAY WE ULD WRE ANOTHER HETEROSEXUAL LOVE TERT. I THOUGHT, OH, THIS IS GREAT. IT GIV AN ARC FOR THE SEASON THAT WE N PLAY TO AND WORK UP TO. NEWMAN: MY PARTNER [STARK] ACTUALLY WAS NERVO ABOUT . NOT BEE OF WHAT WAS DOG, BUT BEE MEANT THAT WE WOULD BE UNR A GREAT AL OF SCTY. WHICH WAS TE! WE WERE.STARK: I SAID I JT DON’T THK WE SHOULD, BEE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T REMEMBER THAT THE SHOW WASN’T A DARLG WH THE CRICS. I THOUGHT THIS IS JT GOG TO GIVE THEM MORE FODR TO CCIFY , AND I DON’T KNOW THAT I WANT TO DO THAT. TRACY SAID, “NO, I THK WE SHOULD DO .” I ALWAYS LISTENED TO TRACY AND FIGURED SHE WAS THE OLT HEAD OF THE TWO OF . BUT I WAS SRED THE WHOLE TIME BEE, IF WE WERE UNR THE MICROSPE BEFORE, GOD, WE’RE GOG TO BE PUT ON THE PETRI DISH AND EVERYONE IS GOG TO WATCH .THE EPISO BEGS WH A TONGUE--CHEEK WK TO THE MEDIA VERAGE AND CULTURAL ANTICIPATN FOR ELLEN’S G OUT. THE FIRST SCENE IS ELLEN GETTG READY FOR A DATE, AND HER IENDS, PLAYED BY JOELY FISHER, CLEA LEWIS, AND DAVID ANTHONY HIGGS, TEASG HER WHILE THEY WA: “ELLEN ARE YOU G OUT OR NOT?” “QU JERKG AROUND AND E OUT ALREADY!”STARK: THAT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT! WHAT WE ORIGALLY HAD WAS MELISSA ETHERIDGE PLAYG HER GUAR WH ELLEN AT THE BEGNG. AND I REMEMBER SAYG, “I DON’T THK WE SHOULD DO THIS AT THE BEGNG. WE SHOULDN’T BE PATTG OURSELV ON THE BACK BEFORE WE DO THE THG. THAT’S PATG A TARGET ON OUR BACK, YOU KNOW?” I WAS REALLY AGAST THAT.THE SCENE WH ETHERIDGE WAS MOVED TO KICK OFF THE SEND HALF HOUR.STARK: ELLEN FELT WE SHOULD DO , BUT I WAS LIKE, “I THK ’S GREAT. IT’S A WONRFUL THG. BUT N WE NOT DO AT THE BEGNG?” I WASN’T THE ROOM WHEN THEY WROTE THAT EVENTUAL OPENG. THE OTHER WRERS ME UP WH THAT AND I SAW AND THOUGHT, “OH MY GOSH, THIS IS FANTASTIC.”IT WAS DEGENER WHO “BROKE THE STORY,” AN DTRY TERM FOR VELOPG THE OUTLE AND MAJOR STORY POTS THAT THE WRG STAFF WOULD THEN FLH OUT WH DIALOGUE AND STCTURE. THE CISN TO HAVE THE BIG “I’M GAY” MOMENT BE ACCINTALLY SPOKEN TO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE ENTIRE AIRPORT TO HEAR—THAT WAS ALL DEGENER.STARK: WE SAT DOWN ONE DAY THE ROOM AND SHE KD OF SAID, “HERE ARE THE THGS I WANT TO H,” AND THEN KD OF LEFT UP TO . ALL THE THGS SHE HAD WERE GOOD. THEY WERE GREAT POTS. BUT THEN WE HAD TO PUT THE PUZZLE TOGETHER A STORY FORM THAT HAD A BEGNG, A MIDDLE, AND AN END. NEWMAN: THAT WAS ALL ELLEN. SOMEBODY SAID THAT HAD BEEN ON WGS. NOT THAT SOMEBODY HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GAY, BUT THEY ANNOUNCED SOMETHG PERSONAL OVER THE P.A. I HADN’T SEEN THAT EPISO, BUT THAT WAS GOG AROUND AT THE TIME THAT SHE HAD SEEN ON WGS.STARK: I DON’T THK I’VE FELT ANYTHG THAT AMAZG ON A STAGE BEFORE. AND I’VE BEEN ON A LOT OF S STAG AND WATCHED A LOT OF SHOWS BEG SHOT. THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THGS THAT JT WASHED OVER EVERYBODY: THE DIENCE, THE CREW, THE WRERS, THE ACTORS. THIS MOMENT, I JT FELT LIKE WE WERE ONE ENTY JT EXPERIENCG THIS TOGETHER. IT WAS SO POWERFUL AND SO MOVG.NEWMAN: THE CHARACTER IS SO REFUL AND SO NERVO ABOUT , AND TO ANNOUNCE TO THE WORLD, SENTIALLY, AND A BUNCH OF STRANGERS, WE THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IA. WHEN YOU’RE TAKG A BIG POLIL STEP LIKE THIS, THE FUNNIER YOU N MAKE AND THE LIGHTER YOU N MAKE THE BETTER. ELLEN WAS THE PERFECT PERSON TO DO THIS, BY THE WAY. EVERYBODY LOVED HER. SO WE WERE ABLE TO WRE VERY LIGHT, THIS SER SUBJECT. AND SHE WAS ABLE TO ACT THAT WAY. THE LIGHTNS DIDN’T REFLECT HOW ELLEN FELT AS A PERSON. SHE WAS VERY EMOTNAL THE WHOLE YEAR.THE APPLSE AFTER THE “I’M GAY” LE WAS RAPTURO, AND WENT ON LONGER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. IN THE MIDST OF ALL, DERN SPONTANEOLY EMBRAC A VISIBLY EMOTNAL AND SHAKEN DEGENER.STARK: I’M NOT EVEN SURE IF THAT WAS THE SCRIPT. SHE MAY HAVE JT DONE THAT BEE THE APPLSE WAS GOG ON SO LONG AND SHE WAS SO MOVED BY . WE EXPECTED SOMETHG BIG, BUT I DON’T THK WE EXPECTED ANYTHG LIKE THAT.IN THE WRERS’ ROOM, DEGENER HAD A REPUTATN FOR PROMISG BIG GUT STARS, BUT FAILG TO LIVER. “THE PUPPY EPISO,” HOWEVER, WAS AN EXCEPTN. EVERYONE DEGENER WANTED TO PARTICIPATE SAID Y. OTHERS WERE CLAMORG TO BE A PART OF THE MAJOR MOMENT. OPRAH WEY WAS ST AS THE THERAPIST, LRA DERN AS THE WOMAN ELLEN FALLS LOVE WH, AND MELISSA ETHERIDGE AND K.D. LANG SHOT MEOS.NEWMAN: WE WERE ED TO ELLEN SAYG SHE ULD GET ANYBODY. “I’LL GET BRAD PT FOR THAT SHOW.” THEN WE’LL START THE REALY OF TRYG TO GET THE PERSON AND ULD NEVER GET ANYBODY. BUT EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO THIS EPISO. WE WERE NOT ED TO THAT. SO WHEN SHE APPROACHED OPRAH, THE FACT THAT OPRAH SAID Y RIGHT AWAY IS AMAZG. WE KNEW THAT WE HAD SOMETHG DIFFERENT GOG ON HERE.STARK: WHEN YOU GET CELEBRI AND PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE KNOW VOLVED AN EPISO LIKE THAT, YOU THK, “WOW, THIS IS A BIG AL. AND WE’RE GOG TO HAVE TO REALLY MEASURE UP AND GIVE THEM EVERYTHG WE GOT.”ON FRIDAY’S EPISO OF DEGENER’ TALK SHOW, DERN LLS THE EPISO THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER REER: “[THERE IS] NO GREATER GIFT THAN BEG THE PERSON THAT WAS WH YOU AND LOOKG YOUR EY AS YOU SAID THOSE WORDS,” SHE SAID. SHE REMEMBERS THAT DEGENER BURST TO TEARS EVERY TIME SHE SAID “I’M GAY” DURG REHEARSALS, AND WHISPERED TO HER, “MAYBE I’M NOT GOG TO SAY , BEE I HAVEN’T SAID THAT OUT LOUD.”DERN SAYS THAT THE END, “WATCHG YOU HAVE THIS THARSIS AND THE DIENCE SUPPORT, LERALLY HOLDG EACH OTHER UP DURG THIS VERY EMOTNAL MOMENT, WAS SO PROFOUND.” BUT THE MOMENT DIDN’T E AT A PRICE. DERN FACED A REER BACKLASH BEE OF HER PARTICIPATN THE EPISO AND DIDN’T WORK FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.STARK: I HEARD THAT LRA DERN DIDN’T WORK AFTER THAT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. AND OPRAH GOT HORRIBLE HATE MAIL AFTERWARD. SO THEY PUT A LOT ON THE LE FOR THAT SHOW. I WILL ALWAYS RPECT THEM BOTH FOR THAT.WHEN BARACK OBAMA AWARD DEGENER THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM LAST YEAR, HE REMD EVERYONE HIS SPEECH OF THE TENSY OF THE HATE SHE RECEIVED AFTER THE EPISO AND HOW HARMFUL HAD BEEN FOR HER REER, UP UNTIL FDG NEMO AND HER TALK SHOW BUTED 2003. “IT’S EASY TO FET NOW, WHEN WE’VE E SO FAR, WHERE NOW MARRIAGE IS EQUAL UNR THE LAW, JT HOW MUCH URAGE WAS REQUIRED FOR ELLEN TO E OUT ON THE MOST PUBLIC OF STAG ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO,” OBAMA SAID. “JT HOW IMPORTANT WAS, NOT JT TO THE LGBT MUNY, BUT FOR ALL OF TO SEE SOMEBODY SO FULL OF KDNS AND LIGHT, SOMEBODY WE LIKED SO MUCH, SOMEBODY WHO ULD BE OUR NEIGHBOR, OR OUR LLEAGUE, OR OUR SISTER, CHALLENGE OUR OWN ASSUMPTNS. REMD THAT WE HAVE MORE MON THAT WE REALIZE. PH OUR UNTRY THE DIRECTN OF JTICE. WHAT AN CREDIBLE BURN THAT WAS TO BEAR, TO RISK YOUR REER LIKE THAT. PEOPLE DON’T DO THAT VERY OFTEN. AND THEN TO HAVE THE HOP OF LNS ON YOUR SHOULRS…”NEWMAN: IT WAS SO SAD TO SEE HER BE SO SUCCSFUL WH THIS EPISO AND SEE SO MUCH OF THE UNTRY, A WAY, TURNG S BACK ON HER. IT SEEMED THAT WAY, AT LEAST. I’M SURE THE UNTRY WASN’T ACTUALLY TURNG S BACK ON HER, BUT TELEVISN WAS. STUDS DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WH HER. IN FACT, I WAS AT A PARTY AT HER HOE. I WAS KIDDG AROUND. I SAID, “YOU SHOULD DO MURR SHE WROTE, OR SOMETHG LIKE THAT. NO ONE WILL RE WHO YOU’RE DATG BEE YOU’RE SOLVG CRIM.” SHE SAID, “WELL WHY DON’T YOU WRE ?” SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.THE SHOW SELF SUFFERED, FAILG TO LIVE UP TO THE MAJOR MOMENT CREATED WH “THE PUPPY EPISO,” AND UNSURE OF HOW TO NAVIGATE A S WHICH THE LEAD CHARACTER IS GAY, WHEN THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. AT THE END OF THE SEASON, NEWMAN AND STARK LEFT THE SERI.NEWMAN: WE DIDN’T STAY. SHE CLEANED HOE. SHE HAD ALWAYS THREATENED TO CLEAN HOE EVERY YEAR BUT MY PARTNER AND I HAD ALWAYS SURVIVED THE PURG. WE DIDN’T SURVIVE THIS PURGE, BUT ANYWAY JOHN AND I HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT LEAVG BEE WE FELT LIKE NOW THAT THERE’S THIS ELEPHANT THE ROOM, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU N’T JT HAVE A REGULAR DATG SHOW, N YOU? WE JT DIDN’T THK WE ULD, BEE SHE HAD TOO MUCH PERSONAL FEELGS VTED . I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT KD OF SHOW WOULD BE, BUT I DIDN’T THK I ULD WRE .STARK: I REMEMBER THKG, WHAT’S THE NEXT YEAR? I SAID, I THK THE NEXT YEAR, SOAP BOX ARE NOT GOG TO WORK. WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO WRE IS, OK, NOW SHE’S A RELATNSHIP, BUT RELATNSHIPS ARE HARD NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SEXUAL PREFERENCE. THEY’RE NEVER EASY. EVEN THOUGH SHE’S A RELATNSHIP WH A WOMAN, WE SHOULDN’T MAKE THE SHOW MUCH DIFFERENT. JT HAVE THE RELATNSHIP. WRE THAT. THAT WASN’T EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.TWENTY YEARS LATER, ’S FORTG TO KNOW THAT THE EPISO STILL HOLDS UP.STARK: IT STILL MAK ME LGH, AND I KNOW THE JOK THAT ARE G. MY DGHTER WATCHED THE EPISO AND WROTE THIS THG ON HER FACEBOOK, SAYG, “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF YOU DAD, BUT BEE YOU DID SO MUCH FOR THIS MOVEMENT I’M EVEN MORE PROUD OF YOU THAN I WAS.” SHE’S SO MUCH WISER THAN ME. I WENT TO THAT EPISO THKG, “OH THIS WILL BE FUN,” BUT BEE SHE WAS SO PROUD OF , I BEME PROUD OF MYSELF. I DID DO SOMETHG REALLY OL. KEV FALLON

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 {LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;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;}}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;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-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} 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;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(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

From that pot, the show evolved om s begngs as an ensemble effort to a showse for show faced strong cricism when, April 1997, DeGener' character beme the first lead s history to openly acknowledge her homosexualy on air. 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.

She is an avid animal rights and gay rights activist, as well as a November 2016 DeGener received the Printial Medal of Freedom om Print Barack Obama for her ntributn to the 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 January 2020 Goln Glob, DeGener was prented wh the honorary Carol Burt Award for excellence televisn.

THE REAL REASON ELLEN DEGENER DECID TO COME OUT AS GAY ON TV

Societal attu towards homosexualy seems to be changg steadily wh time, as more and more people have voiced their opns support of the members of the LGBTQ+ muny. " DeGener thought that there had been gay characters on TV before but there hadn't been a character who disvered their te sexual orientatn late life.

Speakg to PEOPLE at the premiere of Ltle Women on Saturday New York Cy, Dern, 52, opened up about starrg the trailblazg “Puppy Episo” of Ellen DeGener‘ ABC s, Ellen, which DeGener’ character out as gay.

But Dern said not everyone saw as such at the time, and that once she’d agreed to participate, “the lls started g ” — some om out gay men — advisg her agast .

THE HIDN GAY LIV OF 'THE WALTONS' GRANDPARENTS ELLEN CORBY & WILL GEER SPE THEIR MARRIAG

The year before that episo aired, 1996, Olympian Greg Louganis’ admissn that he had HIV at the time of his divg board cint was met wh media sensatnalism and gay panic; the year after, 1998, Matthew Shepard died a hospal Colorado after beg work TV’s natnal dience, Ellen had the opportuny to change how people thought about and related to gay people.

”She enavored — que succsfully — to humanize the gay muny through the logic of equaly and, specifilly, the language of nnot be overemphasized how much samens mattered September 2003, as then-Print Gee W. And neher is rpectabily, as Keatg observ: “[W]holome rpectabily, of universaly, of ‘gay people are jt like you’ — has fallen out of favor the days wh certa more radil groups wh the LGBT muny. | Source: Getty ImagWILL GEER'S GAY LIFE, ACTIVISM, AND MARRIAGE Meanwhile, she lived a siar life to her long-time -star Geer, "Will Geer, who got blacklisted durg the anti-munist wch hunts, had a male lover.

ELLEN’S GAY, BUT IS HER ANNOUNCEMENT WORTH THE WEIGHT?

It remas unclear whether his marriage to Ware signaled an end to his same-sex sexual activy or if the mician married bee he believed the Communist Party strictly prohibed homosexuals om jog. In a week when Ameri has reflected on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robson breakg the lor le major league baseball, somethg seems missg the Ellen matter, notwhstandg that she appeared on the ver of Time magaze wh the ptn, “Yep, I’m Gay. If Ameri has a problem wh eher Ellen, ’s Ameri’s problem, not, gay activists are elevatg the impendg episo of “Ellen” to historic, if not heroic, stat.

Although we already have a natnal “Comg Out Day” October, gay lears are hopg that other closeted gays and lbians also will clare themselv on April 30, the day the “Ellen” episo airs. We want to be normalized, so we n be sure the characters are accurate and realistic, and not stereotyp, and really do reprent the wi array of gay and lbian people the muny.

While dog a story once on a gay man who told me wh great poignancy how his parents reacted to his homosexualy, I cid to employ a ltle Strasberg School of Method Reportg to get a sense of what might be like. “This is the first lbian lead character an Amerin TV program, so there’s the celebry si of and also the ser si, that this may prompt or help gays and lbians, young and old, who stggle wh the closet to close the closet door behd them and e out once and for all. On April 30, 1997, a wily publicized episo of the ABC s Ellen, TV character Ellen Man (played by Ellen DeGener) announc that she is gay.

ELLEN N SAY "GAY" NOW: "THE ELLEN DEGENER SHOW" ENDS BY TAKG A STAND ... FOR CELEBRY

Like them, DeGener soon published a btsellg memoir, My Pot—And I Do Have One (1995) the fall of 1996, word leaked out that the character of Ellen Man, a bookstore manager, might acknowledge that she was a lbian, makg Ellen the first prime-time s to feature a gay leadg character. A week before the episo aired, DeGener ma a well-publicized “g out” of her own, appearg on the ver of TIME magaze unr the headle “Yep, I’m Gay.

When Ellen Man, the character Ellen DeGener played on her s Ellen, me out as gay on the show's April 30, 1997, episo, sent shockwav through the televisn dtry. The Tragedy Inspired DeGener' Career-Defg Stand-Up RouteAlmost a year of preparatn went to the episoPreparatns for the character of Ellen Man to e out as gay on the seri Ellen began May 1996, when DeGener, who played the role, discsed the potential storyle wh the show's wrers.

In addn to beg a step that would let DeGener be hont about her own sexualy, there was hope that addrsg the fictnal Ellen's sexual preferenc might provi directn for the TV seri, and expla why the character lacked chemistry wh male romantic orr to bee the first TV seri to have a lead character announce she was gay, the work need to be agreement. Reverend Jerry Falwell and televangelist Pat Robertson publicly mocked DeGener as "Ellen DeGenerate" and joed others signg a letter that cried the show as a "blatant attempt to promote homosexualy.

ELLEN DEGENER INFLUENCED GAY RIGHTS VIEWS MORE THAN ANY OTHER CELEBRY (STUDY)

Ellen returned the next year ready to tell stori about a gay woman — but the show was forced to add parental advisory warngs when Ellen Man had a same-sex kiss. Sce Ellen end, havg gay characters and actors on shows — like Six Feet Unr, Morn Fay, Pose and many more — has bee a regular part of the TV landspe.

The episo hilarly ends wh Melissa Etheridge nfirmg that Ellen is gay, havg her sign an atttatn to that fact, stampg the paperwork, and prentg a lighted San wh her toaster oven.

I’ve only watched clips when somethg particularly newsworthy happens, as when she ed her powers to absolve Kev Hart of his homophobic past on behalf of all the rt of gays. One of the most tertg thgs about Ellen’s posn Amerin culture is that she’s arguably the most famo and beloved gay, but not even close to universally idolized by gays.

ELLEN’S DISAPPOTG TRANSFORMATN FROM LGBT HERO TO HOLLYWOOD VILLATHE DAILY BEAST’S OBSESSEDELLEN BUILT A FORTRS ON THE ARTIFICE OF CLIVY AND KDNS. FOR THOSE THE LGBT MUNY WHOSE EMOTNAL LABOR IS BAKED TO EACH BRICK, ’S PAFUL TO WATCH FALL. KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED AUG. 07, 2020 12:54PM EDT / PUBLISHED AUG. 07, 2020 12:49PM EDT NBCTHIS IS A PREVIEW OF OUR POP CULTURE NEWSLETTER, THE DAILY BEAST’S OBSSED, WRTEN BY SENR ENTERTAMENT REPORTER KEV FALLON. TO RECEIVE THE FULL NEWSLETTER YOUR BOX EACH WEEK, SIGN UP FOR HERE.  ELLEN IS DOG EVERYTHG WRONG IT’S ALMOST TRE TO SAY THAT, AS AN OUT GAY PERSON, ’S IMPOSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY THE IMPACT THAT ELLEN DEGENER AND HER PUBLIC-FACG BRAVERY HAD BUILDG THE WORLD THAT I'M ABLE TO LIVE TODAY, OR TO EXPLA WHAT MEANS THAT, SPE WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH AFTER G OUT, SHE STILL HAD THE URAGE AND TENACY TO RVE SPACE PEOPLE’S HEARTS FOR ACCEPTANCE. THE VERY FACT THAT I’M NOT SPECIAL FEELG THIS MAY BE THE MOST EXTREME PRAISE THAT N BE HEAPED ON HER.IT’S ALSO WHAT MAK THE WARDICE BEHD WHAT IS HAPPENG NOW SO DISAPPOTG. DPE THE FACT THAT, FOR AS LONG AS I’VE BEEN A PART OF THE ENTERTAMENT DTRY, ’S BEEN A WILY TALKED ABOUT OPEN SECRET THAT DEGENER’S TALK SHOW IS A HELLSPE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT, THE DOMO HAVE FALLY STARTED TO FALL RECENT WEEKS. WAS THE TALYST THE TWTER THREAD THAT OFFERED A $2 DONATN TO A FOOD BANK FOR EVERY STORY ABOUT DEGENER BEG “ONE OF THE MEANT PEOPLE ALIVE”? WAS THE INIC WAY THAT DAKOTA JOHNSON SHUT DOWN THE HOST’S FAVORE PARLOR GAME OF PASSIVE AGGRSIVELY EMBARRASSG HER FAMO GUTS?  WHATEVER IS THAT LOOSENED THE TAP MA WAY FOR A LUGE OF RECENT REPORTS AND VTIGATNS TO TOXICY ON THE SET, CLUDG SEXUAL MISNDUCT, RACIAL DISCRIMATN, AND CELTY OM THE HOST. WARNERMEDIA RECENTLY LNCHED AN VTIGATN TO THE DUMPSTER FIRE MASQUERADG AS A PLACE OF WORK. IN RPONSE TO ALL OF THIS, DEGENER MA AN EGREG NON-APOLOGY THAT SENTIALLY PLACED THE BLAME ON HER PRODUCERS AND HAS RELIED ON THE MSAG OF SUPPORT OM A HANDFUL OF A-LISTERS PLEDGG THAT SHE’S ALWAYS BEEN NICE TO THEM, RATHER THAN OWN UP TO HER WELL-KNOWN BAD BEHAVR. EACH TIME A KATY PERRY OR KEV HART TWEETS ABOUT HOW ELLEN IS “ONE OF THE DOPT PEOPLE ON THE FUCKG PLA,” ONLY UNRL THE FACT THAT DEGENER IS, AT BT, IGNORANT OF OR, AT WORST, ACTIVELY DISMISSG THE EXPERIENC OF PEOPLE WORKG UNR HER. WOULD SHOCK YOU TO LEARN THAT HORRIBLE RICH AND FAMO PEOPLE ARE NICE TO OTHER HORRIBLE RICH AND FAMO PEOPLE, YET NOT TO THE UN-RICH AND NON-FAMO THAT WORK FOR THEM?   AND EACH TIME MORE STAFFERS E FORWARD WH NIGHTMARE ACUNTS OF WORKG ON THE SHOW WHOUT DEGENER DISCSG HER ACTIVE ROLE CREATG THAT TOXIC SPACE, SHE’S DIGGG A EPER HOLE, ONE SO EP AT THIS POT ’S GETTG HARD TO IMAGE HER CLIMBG HER WAY OUT OF —NO MATTER WHAT DIANE KEATON SAYS. IT’S A NFG BYPRODUCT OF THE CELEBRY PR AND CRISIS-MANAGG MACHE THAT HAS ERECTED AROUND A-LISTERS THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH A REFAL TO TAKE RPONSIBILY HAS BEE A FLT STRATEGY. IT’S DISAPPOTG BEE EXC UNJT BEHAVR, BUT ALSO FAILS THE CLIENTS. I N’T UNRSTAND HOW CELEBRI SUATNS LIKE THE DON’T UNRSTAND THAT THE BT THG THEY N DO IS ACTUALLY ADM FLT. THEY ARE GOG TO BE PILLORIED BY CRICS AND “NCELED” IF THEY DON’T ADM THEY DID SOMETHG WRONG. AND, ANKLY, THEY ARE GOG TO BE PILLORIED AND “NCELED” IF THEY DO. THE SAVG GRACE OF THE LATTER OPTN IS AT LEAST BEG ON THE RIGHT SI OF HISTORY. I TLY BELIEVE THAT A LARGE SWATH OF HER DIENCE DON’T GIVE A STEAMG SH ABOUT ALL OF THE ALLEGATNS, AND MAYBE AREN’T EVEN AWARE OF THEM. THOSE PEOPLE WILL STILL BE THERE WHETHER OR NOT SHE OWNS UP TO HER BEHAVR. BUT THE CELEBRI WHO NO LONGER WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WH HER OR HER SHOW WON’T BE, AND CERTALY NEHER WILL THE PRS, CRICS, AND ONLE TROLLS WHO WILL HNT HER EVERY MOVE FOR THE RT OF HER REER AND, IF AND WHEN SHE DO RETIRE, WILL PISS OVER HER LEGACY BEE OF HOW UGLY THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN.IT’S SAD BEE THAT LEGACY IS TLY IMPORTANT. I SOMETIM FD MYSELF RANDOMLY WATCHG ELLEN RECEIVE HER MEDAL OF FREEDOM HONOR OM BARACK OBAMA. IT’S AN CREDIBLY EMOTNAL REMR OF WHAT SHE ENDURED AND WHAT MEANS THAT SHE OVERME , SOMETHG THAT N BE FOTTEN GIVEN HOW GOLN HER PERCH SEEMS TO BE NOW. SHE SERV EVERY ONE OF THOSE ACLAS. BUT SHE ALSO SERV TO BE LLED OUT ON WHAT SHE’S DONE WH HER SUCCS.SHE BUILT A FORTRS ON THE ARTIFICE OF CLIVY AND KDNS. WHAT SHE DIDN’T REALIZE IS, FOR THE RT OF WHOSE EMOTNAL LABOR IS BAKED TO EACH BRICK, HOW PAFUL IS TO WATCH FALL. WE’RE NOT THE BS OF PLITED LEGACI ANYMORE. OF SATS WHO ARE DIVAS. OF THE BRAVE WHO THEN CRAVENLY REAP THE SPOILS. OF HERO WHO APPARENTLY HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF SMELL AND SEND STAFF HOME IF THEY HAVEN’T SHOWERED AND ALSO DON’T LOOK HER THE EYE. “IT’S AN TERTG AND RARE, MAYBE EVEN REVOLUTNARY THG. FOR ONCE FOR AN LGBT TRAILBLAZER ENTERTAMENT, THERE IS DISCSN OF THEIR REER AND THEIR RPONSIBILY PENNT OF THEIR SEXUALY. ” NO ONE SHOULD BE A MONSTER. BUT IS WORTH QUTNG WHO GETS TO BE ONE: WHO IS LED A PRICKLY GENI, WHO IS A DIVA, AND WHO IS NCELED. PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD BEE OF HOW THEY INTIFY OR BEE THEY WERE PNEERS. BUT IS WORTH NOTG THAT, FOR ALL THE GROUND ELLEN BROKE, I N’T THK OF ANOTHER QUEER CELEBRY WHO OCCUPI THE SAME SPACE AND BLANKET ACCEPTANCE THE MASTREAM CULTURE THAT SHE ATTAED. OF ALL THE RPONSIBILI SHE’S SHOULRED AND BURNS SHE’S RRIED BEE OF THE BOUNDARI SHE BROKE, SHE’S SHIRKED WHAT MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT: WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE’S GONE? IT’S AN TERTG AND RARE, MAYBE EVEN REVOLUTNARY THG. FOR ONCE FOR AN LGBT TRAILBLAZER ENTERTAMENT, THERE IS DISCSN OF THEIR REER AND THEIR RPONSIBILY PENNT OF THEIR SEXUALY. IT’S ALWAYS “AS A GAY ACTOR...” “AS A GAY DIRECTOR...” “AS A GAY PERSON THE PUBLIC EYE...” THERE IS NO “AS A GAY MONSTER...” HERE. SHE’S JT BEG HELD TO A STANDARD THAT, SHOULD BE SAID, SHE SET FOR HERSELF WH ALL HER PREACHG ABOUT NICENS—AND THE MISLCULATN OF THE , FAILED TO LISTEN TO OR MEET. “YEP, I’M GAY” WAS ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL THGS TO HAPPEN TO HOLLYWOOD. NOW I WONR IF “YEP, I’M SORRY” ULD BE JT AS POWERFUL. NEWSLETTERSTHE DAILY BEAST’S OBSSEDEVERYTHG WE N’T STOP LOVG, HATG, AND THKG ABOUT THIS WEEK POP CULTURE.SUBSCRIBEBY CLICKG "SUBSCRIBE" YOU AGREE TO HAVE READ THE TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY KEV FALLON

What is she dog, as the lbian whose life and livelihood is least threatened by homophobia, to advance and protect LGBTQ people Ameri when she tells her largely straight viewership that the gay people who were hurt by Kev Hart are more powerful and mean—”haters, ” she lled them—than Kev Hart? Also, that Obama statement, he touch on the persona that’s now beg broadly lled to qutn: the veneer of amiabily and offensive humor (and, implicly, I believe, fivens for people at var and sundry pots on their journeys away om homophobia) that was sential to Ellen’s reentry to the public grac after she was shunned for beg gay. If that image of a nonthreateng gay was the key to her acceptance by mastream Ameri, I wonr whether that’ll change light of the terrible allegatns of the workg environment on her show.

Ctecci: I noticed that Ellen voked her gay inty as a fense her apology to her staff: “As someone who was judged and nearly lost everythg for jt beg who I am, I tly unrstand and have ep passn for those beg looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or—worse—disregard.

To people like Deborah, an entertaer who built her fortune on playg to the middle, Ellen DeGener and her talk show reprent the solved problem of straight Ameri's tolerant view of gayns. A Black man and a whe gay woman, ebony and ivory perfect harmony, jt like Sir Pl McCartney and Stevie Wonr promised way back when, leadg to terviews wh Jennifer Aniston (markg a rnn wh DeGener' first-ever gut), Billie Eilish and Pk.

THE STORY BEHD ELLEN’S COMG OUT: ‘THE PUPPY EPISO’ TURNS 20‘SAN, I’M GAY’TWENTY YEARS AGO, DEGENER ME OUT ON HER ABC S, A MOVE THAT NEARLY ST HER REER. ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ‘THE PUPPY EPISO,’ S WRERS REMEMBER SCRIPTG HISTORY. KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED MAY 05, 2017 2:31PM EDT / PUBLISHED APR. 28, 2017 1:08AM EDT © TOUCHSTONE TELEVISN/ COURTY EVERETT COLLECTNON APRIL 30, WILL BE 20 YEARS SCE ELLEN DEGENER TOLD LRA DERN, THE PASSENGERS AT AN AIRPORT TERMAL, AND, WH THEM, THE WORLD THAT SHE IS GAY.IT WAS A WEEK AFTER HER FAMO “YEP, I’M GAY” TIME MAGAZE VER, AN HOUR-LONG SPECIAL EPISO OF HER S, ELLEN, LLED “THE PUPPY EPISO.” THE NOCUO TLE SERVED TWO PURPOS: TO KEEP THE ACTUAL MISSN OF THE EPISO A SECRET, AND TO FLIP A MIDDLE FGER AT A STUD EXECUTIVE WHOSE RPONSE TO DEGENER’ PCH FOR HER CHARACTER E OUT ON THE SHOW AND FALLY PURSUE A REAL LOVE WAS TO HAVE HER GET A DOG STEAD.THE EPISO, 20 YEARS LATER, IS STILL HILAR— WON THE EMMY AWARD FOR BT WRG A COMEDY SERI—AND CERTALY STILL POIGNANT, EVEN IF THE WEIGHT OF WHAT WAS HAPPENG SEEMS A LTLE B LIGHTER TODAY.THE FIRST HALF HOUR FDS DEGENER’ ELLEN MAN ON A DATE WH AN OLD IEND OF HERS, BUT FEELG AN UNSHAKABLE NNECTN TO HIS -WORKER, LRA DERN’S SAN, STEAD. SHE TALKS ABOUT WH HER THERAPIST, PLAYED BY NONE OTHER THAN OPRAH WEY. ELLEN LAMENTS THAT SHE’S ONLY TLY “CLICKED” WH ONE PERSON BEFORE. “AND WHAT WAS HIS NAME?” WEY’S THERAPIST ASKS. “SAN,” ELLEN SAYS.LATER, ELLEN CHAS SAN DOWN AT THE AIRPORT TO NFS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HER FEELGS. “SAN, I’M GAY,” SHE SAYS, ACCINTALLY LEANG TO THE AIRPORT’S P.A. MICROPHONE AND BLARG HER G-OUT ON THE SPEAKERS, A MOMENT AS PERFECTLY EDIC AS IS MOMENTO.IT’S EASY TO FET, GIVEN DEGENER’ STAT AS DAYTIME TALK SHOW QUEEN AND AMERI’S RINT BFF, HOW NTROVERSIAL, BRAVE, AND EVEN DAMAGG THE CISN TO E OUT ON AN ABC S WAS 1997, THE FIRST TIME A CHARACTER EVER DID SO. IT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE ’90S CULTURE WARS, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT WAS SIGNED TO LAW, THAT “THE PUPPY EPISO” WENT TO PRODUCTN. ADVERTISERS PULLED OUT OF THE SHOW. A VIEWER DISCRETN WARNG RAN BEFORE EACH HALF HOUR.MORE THAN 42 LN PEOPLE WATCHED THE EPISO, WHICH WON A PEABODY AND AN EMMY. YET FOR YEARS, DEGENER’ REER SUFFERED FOR . THE PRICE OF LIBERATN WAS HAVG HER REER NEARLY STROYED.IN A SPECIAL ABOUT THE EPISO THAT WILL AIR FRIDAY AFTERNOON ON HER TALK SHOW, DEGENER EXPLAS THE NEED TO REMD PEOPLE OF JT HOW BIG A MOVE THIS WAS: THIS WAS BEFORE WILL & GRACE, BEFORE MCH AND CAM ON MORN FAY, BEFORE NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, WHICH “IS WHY I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY AND TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS LIKE BACK THEN AND TO APPRECIATE HOW FAR WE’VE E.” THE EPISO’S FIRST HALF HOUR WAS WRTEN BY WRG PARTNERS TRACY NEWMAN AND JONATHAN STARK, WHO SHARED AN EMMY FOR THE EPISO WH DAVA SAVEL AND MARK DRISLL, WHO WROTE THE SEND HALF HOUR, AND DEGENER, WHO IS CREDED WH THE STORY.TO FD OUT WHAT WAS LIKE TO WRE THE MONUMENTAL “I’M GAY” MOMENT, A MOMENT THAT CHANGED NOT ONLY TELEVISN, BUT CULTURE AS WE LIVE TODAY, WE SPOKE TO NEWMAN AND STARK. HERE’S WHAT WE LEARNED.BEFORE SEASON 4 OF ELLEN STARTED PRODUCTN, DEGENER HAD THE SHOW’S WRERS AND OTHER KEY MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OVER TO HER HOE FOR A PARTY. IT WAS THERE SHE ANNOUNCED THAT, AFTER TOUGH NVERSATNS WH THE WORK AND STUD, HER CHARACTER WOULD E OUT AS GAY THAT SEASON.NEWMAN: EVERYBODY WAS EXCED ABOUT , PRETTY MUCH.STARK: I DO REMEMBER THKG, “OH THANK GOD…” BEE THERE WAS NO WAY WE ULD WRE ANOTHER HETEROSEXUAL LOVE TERT. I THOUGHT, OH, THIS IS GREAT. IT GIV AN ARC FOR THE SEASON THAT WE N PLAY TO AND WORK UP TO. NEWMAN: MY PARTNER [STARK] ACTUALLY WAS NERVO ABOUT . NOT BEE OF WHAT WAS DOG, BUT BEE MEANT THAT WE WOULD BE UNR A GREAT AL OF SCTY. WHICH WAS TE! WE WERE.STARK: I SAID I JT DON’T THK WE SHOULD, BEE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T REMEMBER THAT THE SHOW WASN’T A DARLG WH THE CRICS. I THOUGHT THIS IS JT GOG TO GIVE THEM MORE FODR TO CCIFY , AND I DON’T KNOW THAT I WANT TO DO THAT. TRACY SAID, “NO, I THK WE SHOULD DO .” I ALWAYS LISTENED TO TRACY AND FIGURED SHE WAS THE OLT HEAD OF THE TWO OF . BUT I WAS SRED THE WHOLE TIME BEE, IF WE WERE UNR THE MICROSPE BEFORE, GOD, WE’RE GOG TO BE PUT ON THE PETRI DISH AND EVERYONE IS GOG TO WATCH .THE EPISO BEGS WH A TONGUE--CHEEK WK TO THE MEDIA VERAGE AND CULTURAL ANTICIPATN FOR ELLEN’S G OUT. THE FIRST SCENE IS ELLEN GETTG READY FOR A DATE, AND HER IENDS, PLAYED BY JOELY FISHER, CLEA LEWIS, AND DAVID ANTHONY HIGGS, TEASG HER WHILE THEY WA: “ELLEN ARE YOU G OUT OR NOT?” “QU JERKG AROUND AND E OUT ALREADY!”STARK: THAT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT! WHAT WE ORIGALLY HAD WAS MELISSA ETHERIDGE PLAYG HER GUAR WH ELLEN AT THE BEGNG. AND I REMEMBER SAYG, “I DON’T THK WE SHOULD DO THIS AT THE BEGNG. WE SHOULDN’T BE PATTG OURSELV ON THE BACK BEFORE WE DO THE THG. THAT’S PATG A TARGET ON OUR BACK, YOU KNOW?” I WAS REALLY AGAST THAT.THE SCENE WH ETHERIDGE WAS MOVED TO KICK OFF THE SEND HALF HOUR.STARK: ELLEN FELT WE SHOULD DO , BUT I WAS LIKE, “I THK ’S GREAT. IT’S A WONRFUL THG. BUT N WE NOT DO AT THE BEGNG?” I WASN’T THE ROOM WHEN THEY WROTE THAT EVENTUAL OPENG. THE OTHER WRERS ME UP WH THAT AND I SAW AND THOUGHT, “OH MY GOSH, THIS IS FANTASTIC.”IT WAS DEGENER WHO “BROKE THE STORY,” AN DTRY TERM FOR VELOPG THE OUTLE AND MAJOR STORY POTS THAT THE WRG STAFF WOULD THEN FLH OUT WH DIALOGUE AND STCTURE. THE CISN TO HAVE THE BIG “I’M GAY” MOMENT BE ACCINTALLY SPOKEN TO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE ENTIRE AIRPORT TO HEAR—THAT WAS ALL DEGENER.STARK: WE SAT DOWN ONE DAY THE ROOM AND SHE KD OF SAID, “HERE ARE THE THGS I WANT TO H,” AND THEN KD OF LEFT UP TO . ALL THE THGS SHE HAD WERE GOOD. THEY WERE GREAT POTS. BUT THEN WE HAD TO PUT THE PUZZLE TOGETHER A STORY FORM THAT HAD A BEGNG, A MIDDLE, AND AN END. NEWMAN: THAT WAS ALL ELLEN. SOMEBODY SAID THAT HAD BEEN ON WGS. NOT THAT SOMEBODY HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GAY, BUT THEY ANNOUNCED SOMETHG PERSONAL OVER THE P.A. I HADN’T SEEN THAT EPISO, BUT THAT WAS GOG AROUND AT THE TIME THAT SHE HAD SEEN ON WGS.STARK: I DON’T THK I’VE FELT ANYTHG THAT AMAZG ON A STAGE BEFORE. AND I’VE BEEN ON A LOT OF S STAG AND WATCHED A LOT OF SHOWS BEG SHOT. THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THGS THAT JT WASHED OVER EVERYBODY: THE DIENCE, THE CREW, THE WRERS, THE ACTORS. THIS MOMENT, I JT FELT LIKE WE WERE ONE ENTY JT EXPERIENCG THIS TOGETHER. IT WAS SO POWERFUL AND SO MOVG.NEWMAN: THE CHARACTER IS SO REFUL AND SO NERVO ABOUT , AND TO ANNOUNCE TO THE WORLD, SENTIALLY, AND A BUNCH OF STRANGERS, WE THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IA. WHEN YOU’RE TAKG A BIG POLIL STEP LIKE THIS, THE FUNNIER YOU N MAKE AND THE LIGHTER YOU N MAKE THE BETTER. ELLEN WAS THE PERFECT PERSON TO DO THIS, BY THE WAY. EVERYBODY LOVED HER. SO WE WERE ABLE TO WRE VERY LIGHT, THIS SER SUBJECT. AND SHE WAS ABLE TO ACT THAT WAY. THE LIGHTNS DIDN’T REFLECT HOW ELLEN FELT AS A PERSON. SHE WAS VERY EMOTNAL THE WHOLE YEAR.THE APPLSE AFTER THE “I’M GAY” LE WAS RAPTURO, AND WENT ON LONGER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. IN THE MIDST OF ALL, DERN SPONTANEOLY EMBRAC A VISIBLY EMOTNAL AND SHAKEN DEGENER.STARK: I’M NOT EVEN SURE IF THAT WAS THE SCRIPT. SHE MAY HAVE JT DONE THAT BEE THE APPLSE WAS GOG ON SO LONG AND SHE WAS SO MOVED BY . WE EXPECTED SOMETHG BIG, BUT I DON’T THK WE EXPECTED ANYTHG LIKE THAT.IN THE WRERS’ ROOM, DEGENER HAD A REPUTATN FOR PROMISG BIG GUT STARS, BUT FAILG TO LIVER. “THE PUPPY EPISO,” HOWEVER, WAS AN EXCEPTN. EVERYONE DEGENER WANTED TO PARTICIPATE SAID Y. OTHERS WERE CLAMORG TO BE A PART OF THE MAJOR MOMENT. OPRAH WEY WAS ST AS THE THERAPIST, LRA DERN AS THE WOMAN ELLEN FALLS LOVE WH, AND MELISSA ETHERIDGE AND K.D. LANG SHOT MEOS.NEWMAN: WE WERE ED TO ELLEN SAYG SHE ULD GET ANYBODY. “I’LL GET BRAD PT FOR THAT SHOW.” THEN WE’LL START THE REALY OF TRYG TO GET THE PERSON AND ULD NEVER GET ANYBODY. BUT EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO THIS EPISO. WE WERE NOT ED TO THAT. SO WHEN SHE APPROACHED OPRAH, THE FACT THAT OPRAH SAID Y RIGHT AWAY IS AMAZG. WE KNEW THAT WE HAD SOMETHG DIFFERENT GOG ON HERE.STARK: WHEN YOU GET CELEBRI AND PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE KNOW VOLVED AN EPISO LIKE THAT, YOU THK, “WOW, THIS IS A BIG AL. AND WE’RE GOG TO HAVE TO REALLY MEASURE UP AND GIVE THEM EVERYTHG WE GOT.”ON FRIDAY’S EPISO OF DEGENER’ TALK SHOW, DERN LLS THE EPISO THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER REER: “[THERE IS] NO GREATER GIFT THAN BEG THE PERSON THAT WAS WH YOU AND LOOKG YOUR EY AS YOU SAID THOSE WORDS,” SHE SAID. SHE REMEMBERS THAT DEGENER BURST TO TEARS EVERY TIME SHE SAID “I’M GAY” DURG REHEARSALS, AND WHISPERED TO HER, “MAYBE I’M NOT GOG TO SAY , BEE I HAVEN’T SAID THAT OUT LOUD.”DERN SAYS THAT THE END, “WATCHG YOU HAVE THIS THARSIS AND THE DIENCE SUPPORT, LERALLY HOLDG EACH OTHER UP DURG THIS VERY EMOTNAL MOMENT, WAS SO PROFOUND.” BUT THE MOMENT DIDN’T E AT A PRICE. DERN FACED A REER BACKLASH BEE OF HER PARTICIPATN THE EPISO AND DIDN’T WORK FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.STARK: I HEARD THAT LRA DERN DIDN’T WORK AFTER THAT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. AND OPRAH GOT HORRIBLE HATE MAIL AFTERWARD. SO THEY PUT A LOT ON THE LE FOR THAT SHOW. I WILL ALWAYS RPECT THEM BOTH FOR THAT.WHEN BARACK OBAMA AWARD DEGENER THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM LAST YEAR, HE REMD EVERYONE HIS SPEECH OF THE TENSY OF THE HATE SHE RECEIVED AFTER THE EPISO AND HOW HARMFUL HAD BEEN FOR HER REER, UP UNTIL FDG NEMO AND HER TALK SHOW BUTED 2003. “IT’S EASY TO FET NOW, WHEN WE’VE E SO FAR, WHERE NOW MARRIAGE IS EQUAL UNR THE LAW, JT HOW MUCH URAGE WAS REQUIRED FOR ELLEN TO E OUT ON THE MOST PUBLIC OF STAG ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO,” OBAMA SAID. “JT HOW IMPORTANT WAS, NOT JT TO THE LGBT MUNY, BUT FOR ALL OF TO SEE SOMEBODY SO FULL OF KDNS AND LIGHT, SOMEBODY WE LIKED SO MUCH, SOMEBODY WHO ULD BE OUR NEIGHBOR, OR OUR LLEAGUE, OR OUR SISTER, CHALLENGE OUR OWN ASSUMPTNS. REMD THAT WE HAVE MORE MON THAT WE REALIZE. PH OUR UNTRY THE DIRECTN OF JTICE. WHAT AN CREDIBLE BURN THAT WAS TO BEAR, TO RISK YOUR REER LIKE THAT. PEOPLE DON’T DO THAT VERY OFTEN. AND THEN TO HAVE THE HOP OF LNS ON YOUR SHOULRS…”NEWMAN: IT WAS SO SAD TO SEE HER BE SO SUCCSFUL WH THIS EPISO AND SEE SO MUCH OF THE UNTRY, A WAY, TURNG S BACK ON HER. IT SEEMED THAT WAY, AT LEAST. I’M SURE THE UNTRY WASN’T ACTUALLY TURNG S BACK ON HER, BUT TELEVISN WAS. STUDS DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WH HER. IN FACT, I WAS AT A PARTY AT HER HOE. I WAS KIDDG AROUND. I SAID, “YOU SHOULD DO MURR SHE WROTE, OR SOMETHG LIKE THAT. NO ONE WILL RE WHO YOU’RE DATG BEE YOU’RE SOLVG CRIM.” SHE SAID, “WELL WHY DON’T YOU WRE ?” SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.THE SHOW SELF SUFFERED, FAILG TO LIVE UP TO THE MAJOR MOMENT CREATED WH “THE PUPPY EPISO,” AND UNSURE OF HOW TO NAVIGATE A S WHICH THE LEAD CHARACTER IS GAY, WHEN THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. AT THE END OF THE SEASON, NEWMAN AND STARK LEFT THE SERI.NEWMAN: WE DIDN’T STAY. SHE CLEANED HOE. SHE HAD ALWAYS THREATENED TO CLEAN HOE EVERY YEAR BUT MY PARTNER AND I HAD ALWAYS SURVIVED THE PURG. WE DIDN’T SURVIVE THIS PURGE, BUT ANYWAY JOHN AND I HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT LEAVG BEE WE FELT LIKE NOW THAT THERE’S THIS ELEPHANT THE ROOM, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU N’T JT HAVE A REGULAR DATG SHOW, N YOU? WE JT DIDN’T THK WE ULD, BEE SHE HAD TOO MUCH PERSONAL FEELGS VTED . I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT KD OF SHOW WOULD BE, BUT I DIDN’T THK I ULD WRE .STARK: I REMEMBER THKG, WHAT’S THE NEXT YEAR? I SAID, I THK THE NEXT YEAR, SOAP BOX ARE NOT GOG TO WORK. WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO WRE IS, OK, NOW SHE’S A RELATNSHIP, BUT RELATNSHIPS ARE HARD NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SEXUAL PREFERENCE. THEY’RE NEVER EASY. EVEN THOUGH SHE’S A RELATNSHIP WH A WOMAN, WE SHOULDN’T MAKE THE SHOW MUCH DIFFERENT. JT HAVE THE RELATNSHIP. WRE THAT. THAT WASN’T EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.TWENTY YEARS LATER, ’S FORTG TO KNOW THAT THE EPISO STILL HOLDS UP.STARK: IT STILL MAK ME LGH, AND I KNOW THE JOK THAT ARE G. MY DGHTER WATCHED THE EPISO AND WROTE THIS THG ON HER FACEBOOK, SAYG, “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF YOU DAD, BUT BEE YOU DID SO MUCH FOR THIS MOVEMENT I’M EVEN MORE PROUD OF YOU THAN I WAS.” SHE’S SO MUCH WISER THAN ME. I WENT TO THAT EPISO THKG, “OH THIS WILL BE FUN,” BUT BEE SHE WAS SO PROUD OF , I BEME PROUD OF MYSELF. I DID DO SOMETHG REALLY OL. KEV FALLON

This episo was rerd on April 28, a full month after Florida's ernor Ron DeSantis signed the "Parental Rights Edutn" bill, better known as "Don't Say Gay, " to law.

But DeGener' monologue don't specifilly mentn this or any other anti-gay, anti-transgenr legislatn slherg s way through state legislatur. One of the most famo was the posn she took on her show 2019 after Kev Hart pulled out of that year's Osrs hostg gig rather than apologize aga for a strg of homophobic tweets that rurfaced.