The Real Reason Ellen DeGener Decid To Come Out As Gay On TV

Contents:

• THE HIDN GAY LIV OF 'THE WALTONS' GRANDPARENTS ELLEN CORBY & WILL GEER SPE THEIR MARRIAG
• THE REAL REASON ELLEN DEGENER DECID TO COME OUT AS GAY ON TV
• READ THE 'YEP, I'M GAY' ELLEN DEGENER INTERVIEW FROM 1997
• 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’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 HIDN GAY LIV OF 'THE WALTONS' GRANDPARENTS ELLEN CORBY & WILL GEER SPE THEIR MARRIAG

| 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. Geer opted to marry 1938 after beg both a Party activist and actively gay for at least four years.

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

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.

" 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.

| Source: Getty Imag and Instagram/@portiarossiELLEN'S COMING OUT STORY DeGener ed her platform years ago to drop the bombshell she is gay, and sent shockwav through the entertament dtry.

READ THE 'YEP, I'M GAY' ELLEN DEGENER INTERVIEW FROM 1997

Her on-screen character, Ellen Man, who played the lead role on the show "Ellen, " me out as gay durg the fourth season on April 30, 1997, and that nsequently brought the seri to the foreont of harsh addn to her character g out, DeGener also publicly disclosed that she was gay.

She found peculiar to be gay at the time, maly bee she did not know any Hollywood A-Lister who had e out. Personally, Rossi had never met a gay person and believed they were strange and hated men and were very ser. Durg an terview wh Oprah Wey, Rossi admted that for her, was love at first sight: "I was closeted and very, very aaid that if I talked about beg gay, would be the end of my reer, so I wasn't about to date the most famo lbian the world.

It was on the April 14, 1997, ver of TIME magaze that Ellen DeGener, then the star of the s Ellen, nfirmed somethg she’d been buildg up to for s: “Yep, ” as the ver put , “I’m gay. Penney, ironilly, as that pany would later hire DeGener for an ad mpaign that would turn draw s own ntroversy — and the natn bated whether the show would “legimize” a facet of life that was still margalized, or if merely proved that homosexualy was already accepted by enough of the populatn that such a plot twist was possible. Although they were the apparently perfect old-aged uple who would brg a joyful tear to anyone’s ey, the onscreen uple was gay.

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

DeGener opened the last hour of “The Ellen DeGener Show” by discsg the progrs that had been ma sce the seri premiered 2003, notg that she “uldn’t say ‘gay’ on the show” when started or make a reference to her wife, Portia Rossi, bee gay marriage wasn’t legal. 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.

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

Nor has DeGener been livg a tormented life the closet; was well-known edy circl that she was gay, and she ma no effort to nceal . 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’ve dubbed ‘Come Out Wh Ellen’ day, ” says Alan Kle, natnal munitns director for the Gay & Lbian Alliance Agast Defamatn.

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

“As a media watchdog anizatn, we’re ncerned about the reprentatn of gays and lbians on TV, ” Kle says. We know gay and lbians as part of Ameri’s rich and diverse culture, and we want to see reflected on the TV screen.

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.