How Ellen DeGener Helped Change The Conversatn About Gays : NPR

Contents:

• MAKINGGAYHISTORY—THE PODCAST
• ELLEN DEGENER QUOT ABOUT BEG GAY
• ELLEN DEGENER - GAY QUOT
• ELLEN DEGENER LD FOR GAY RIGHTS FLUENCE
• HOW ELLEN DEGENER HELPED CHANGE THE CONVERSATN ABOUT GAYS
• ELLEN DEGENER QUOT ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE
• KATE MCKNON OPENS UP ABOUT BEG GAY DURG GOLN GLOB
• THE REAL REASON ELLEN DEGENER DECID TO COME OUT AS GAY ON TV
• 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
• ELLEN DEGENER DEPARTS DAYTIME TV: “WHEN WE STARTED THIS SHOW, I COULDN’T SAY ‘GAY’”JENNIFER ANISTON, BILLIE EILISH, AND PK STOPPED BY FOR THE FAL EPISO OF ELLEN AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS. BY SAVANNAH WALSHMAY 26, 2022BROOKS KRAFT/GETTY IMAGSAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEAFTER 19 YEARS WORTH OF GIVEAWAYS, GAM, AND Y, GROOVG, ELLEN DEGENER END HER LONG-NNG TALK SHOW ON THURSDAY. SHE BEGAN HER FAL STALLMENT BY ENSURG VIEWERS THAT THEIR RELATNSHIP WOULDN’T BE OVER FELY. “IT’S MORE OF A LTLE BREAK,” DEGENER SAID. “YOU N SEE OTHER TALK SHOWS NOW, AND I MAY SEE ANOTHER DIENCE ONCE A WHILE.”X NTENTTHIS NTENT N ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE SE ORIGAT OM.DEGENER VOTED HER FAL MONOLOGUE TO TALKG ABOUT THE SOCIETAL PROGRS WE’VE SEEN SCE ELLEN LNCHED SEPTEMBER 2003. “TWENTY YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE TRYG TO SELL THE SHOW, NO ONE THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD WORK. NOT BEE WAS A DIFFERENT KD OF SHOW, BUT BEE I WAS DIFFERENT,” DEGENER SAID. “WHEN WE STARTED THE SHOW, I ULDN’T SAY ‘GAY.’ I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SAY ‘GAY.’ I SAY AT HOME A LOT—YOU KNOW, ‘WHAT ARE WE HAVG FOR OUR GAY BREAKFAST?’ OR ‘PASS THE GAY SALT,’ ‘HAS ANYONE SEEN THE GAY REMOTE?’—BUT WE ULDN’T SAY ‘GAY.’ I ULDN’T SAY ‘WE,’ BEE THAT WOULD IMPLY THAT I WAS WH SOMEONE. SURE ULDN’T SAY ‘WIFE,’ AND THAT’S BEE WASN’T LEGAL FOR GAY PEOPLE TO GET MARRIED.” “NOW I SAY ‘WIFE’ ALL THE TIME,” SHE NTUED, AS THE MERA SHOWED HER SPOE OF NEARLY 15 YEARS, PORTIA ROSSI.“TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO THEY NCELED MY S BEE THEY DIDN’T WANT A LBIAN TO BE PRIME TIME ONCE A WEEK,” DEGENER RELLED. “SO I SAID ‘OKAY, I’LL BE DAYTIME EVERY DAY. HOW ’BOUT THAT?’” SHE THEN JOED HER LONGTIME DJ, TWCH, A.K.A. STEPHEN BOSS, FOR ONE LAST DANCE TO “BT OF MY LOVE.”A TR OF PERFORMERS JOED DEGENER FOR HER FAL EPISO, WHICH WAS FILMED LATE APRIL. JENNIFER ANISTON, THE FIRST-EVER ELLEN GUT, DROPPED BY TO GIVE DEGENER ADVICE ABOUT NCLUDG AN INIC SERI. “I GOT A DIVORCE AND WENT TO THERAPY,” ANISTON SAID OF ENDG FRIENDS AFTER 10 SEASONS. “I DID A MOVIE LLED THE BREAK-UP. I JT KD OF LEANED TO THE END.” BILLIE EILISH ACKNOWLEDGED THE SHOW WAS A REGULAR PRENCE HER HOEHOLD. “YOU STARTED THIS SHOW THE YEAR AFTER I WAS BORN,” SHE SAID. “THIS WAS MY HOE NSTANTLY. EVERY DAY. I WOULD WALK TO THE KCHEN, AND MY MOM WOULD BE WATCHG YOU.” THEN PK, WHO WROTE ELLEN’S THEME SONG, PERFORMED HER 2017 H “WHAT ABOUT US” AFTER CHATTG WH THE HOST. THE END OF ELLEN WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR, ABOUT 10 MONTHS AFTER A BUZZFEED NEWS PIECE WHICH FORMER SHOW EMPLOYE ACCED THE SHOW OF ALLEGEDLY HAVG A “TOXIC WORK CULTURE.” DEGENER ACKNOWLEDGED THE ALLEGATNS AS “VASTATG,” BUT SAID SHE FELT THE TIMG WAS “ORCHTRATED” AND “DID FEEL VERY MISOGYNISTIC.” FOLLOWG THE PUBLITN OF THE ARTICLE, DEGENER ANNOUNCED THE PARTURE OF THREE OF THE SHOW’S PRODUCERS, THOUGH AN ATTORNEY FOR ONE OF THEM LLED THE BUZZFEED ARTICLE “EPLY FLAWED” AND ASSERTED THAT HIS CLIENT WAS “BEG SPEGOATED.”AT THE END OF HER FAL HOUR ON DAYTIME TV, DEGENER REFLECTED ON HER SHOW’S OUTWARD PHILOSOPHY OF KDNS. “IF I’VE DONE ANYTHG THE PAST 19 YEARS, I HOPE I’VE SPIRED YOU TO BE YOURSELF—YOUR TE THENTIC SELF,” SHE SAID. “AND IF SOMEONE IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE, BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEM, EVEN IF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND. THEY’RE SHOWG YOU WHO THEY ARE, AND THAT’S THE BIGGT GIFT ANYBODY N EVER GIVE YOU. BY OPENG YOUR HEART AND YOUR MD, YOU’RE GOG TO BE THAT MUCH MORE PASSNATE, AND PASSN IS WHAT MAK THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEG ON THIS JOURNEY WH ME. I FEEL THE LOVE, AND I SEND BACK TO YOU.”MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIRHOW FOUR BILLNAIRE TECHNO-OLIGARCHS ARE CREATG AN ALTERNATE REALYEXCLIVE NEW DETAILS ABOUT MEGHAN MARKLE’S WEDDG DRSA BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF EVERYTHG HAPPENG AT THIS FALL’S FILM FTIVALS—WHOUT THE STARSA SER SETBACK FOR TMP’S PLAN TO GET REELECTED AND PARDON HIMSELFMEET KYLE DCHANEL, THE PRETEND PLAYBOY WHO SEEMS TO HAVE FOOLED HALF OF MANHATTANTHE ULTIMATE GUI TO FALL MOVIFROM THE ARCHIVE: A FATHER’S ACUNT OF THE TRIAL OF HIS DGHTER’S KILLEREND-OF-SUMMER SALE! TAKE 25% OFF AT THE VF SHOPMOST POPULARADAM SANDLER FDS LOW-KEY TRIUMPH YOU ARE SO NOT INVED TO MY BAT MZVAHBY SAVANNAH WALSHNETFLIX’S MURDGH MURRS IS OFFICIALLY RETURNG FOR SEASON 2: EXCLIVEBY SAVANNAH WALSHAND JT LIKE THAT: MICHAEL PATRICK KG KNOWS WHEN THE AUDIENCE TURNED ON CHE DIAZBY CHRIS MURPHYSAVANNAH WALSH

MAKINGGAYHISTORY—THE PODCAST

When she featured two bt iends on her show -- one gay, the other straight -- who attend prom together. When she spoke out agast hate and advoted for tolerance after the murr of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay man who was btally killed Wyomg.

ELLEN DEGENER QUOT ABOUT BEG GAY

Two s ago, she ma history by beg the first openly gay actrs to play an openly gay character on televisn -- sparkg a natnal nversatn by puttg LGBTQ issu ont and center. The popular edian, actrs and now Emmy Award-wng TV host beme the first openly gay actrs to play a lbian character on televisn, and an spiratnal figure to untls LGBT teens and adults who were stgglg to accept themselv for who they were.

At the time of her Makg Gay History terview 2001, there was no guarantee that Ellen’s star would rise aga—and far higher than had the 1990s—and that the honors showered on her would clu the Printial Medal of learn more about Ellen and to view an excerpt of the famo 1997 g out episo of her show, have a look at the lks DeGener at a tapg of “The Ellen Degener Show, ” 2008. Stunts om the Universy of Nebraska’s Gay, Lbian, Bisexual and Transgenr Rource Center watchg the g out episo of “Ellen” Lln, Nebraska, Wednday, April 30, 1997.

ELLEN DEGENER - GAY QUOT

A 2013 AV/TV Club roundtable discsed the signifince of Ellen’s g-out episo and s her Makg Gay History terview, Ellen DeGener talks about her memori ncerng Matthew Shepard, who was murred 1998. Watch her monologue n fd Ellen DeGener’s 2001 oral history Eric Marc’s book Makg Gay years after the g out episo, Lra Dern (a gut star who played Ellen Man’s love tert) was quoted on the impact the episo had on her reer the 20th anniversary of the g out episo of “Ellen” April 2017, Ellen DeGener shared her thoughts about the experience wh her daytime talk show dience. ”For further readg on the topic of gay and lbian people on televisn om the 1950s through the 1990s, we remend The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lbians on TV by Stephen Tropiano.

———Episo TranscriptEric Marc Narratn: I’m Eric Marc and this is Makg Gay History! Take my word for , Ellen DeGener on the ver wh the headle, “Yep, I’m Gay” was a huge al. The other one’s more like So I’m gog to jump right When did you first learn about gay people?

ED: Umm, I really didn’t get volved at all any kd of polics or any any awarens of gay stggl, gay movement, anythg at all until I me out. Until you fd out about the teenagers and the stggl that most kids go through high schools and the statistics and the gay… the bashg.

ELLEN DEGENER LD FOR GAY RIGHTS FLUENCE

And I knew that that was gog to be an uphill battle if they thought I was gay.

And they’re gog to see that gay people are not what they… You know, everybody has a certa thg they clg onto and ci that’s what everybody is. And you uldn’t… So for me on the show to be able to say “I’m gay” was, like… I mean, I cried every take we did. Even though I’d fotten that for a while to say, “I’m gay and I’m gog to say and I don’t re what anybody thks, I don’t re if I lose everythg.

A special thank-you to Ellen’s mother, Betty DeGener, an LGBTQ civil rights activist her own right, who troduced me to Ellen back Makg Gay History podst is a -productn of Peapple Street Media, wh assistance om the New York Public Library’s Mancripts and Archiv Divisn and ONE Archiv at the USC three of this podst is ma possible wh fundg om the Ford Foundatn, which is on the ont l of social change long!

HOW ELLEN DEGENER HELPED CHANGE THE CONVERSATN ABOUT GAYS

Media ptn, Barack Obama awards the Printial Medal of Freedom to Ellen DeGenerComedian Ellen DeGener was praised by the US print for her fluence on the gay rights movement as she received the untry's hight civilian honour. Celebri cludg Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Michael Jordan were also among the 21 recipients of the Printial Medal of Obama said was easy to fet the risk Ellen DeGener took to e out as gay said her bravery helped "ph our untry the directn of jtice". The AIDS epimic was at s height, and while there was already a burgeong gay-rights movement, a lot of homosexuals were not ready to e out of the closet.

"What's wonrful about her, as a cultural figure, is that worked so wonrfully alongsi polil activism, " says Jsi Halem, a edian and gay-rights activist. " Halem says is no accint that was a edian who took the nversatn about homosexualy to a new level.

ELLEN DEGENER QUOT ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE

As she stggl to adm she is gay to a woman she is attracted to, she accintally leans over an open mike and announc to the whole wag room.

KATE MCKNON OPENS UP ABOUT BEG GAY DURG GOLN GLOB

"That scene is jt so betiful, bee there's nothg like tellg someone you're gay and then go silent, " Halem says.

"But for her to say, 'I'm gay' and 's a lgh le, and you know lets lgh, lets release some of the anxiety. "Ellen DeGener’ ‘Supreme Court Brief’ On Prop 8, California’s Gay Marriage Ban",. Televisn|Kate McKnon Opens Up About Beg Gay Durg Goln Glob ADVERTISEMENTIn an emotnal speech, the edian says the only thg that ma beg a lbian ls sry when she was younger was seeg Ellen DeGener on TV.

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

In her speech, McKnon, seemgly holdg back tears, spoke ndidly and wh humor about beg gay and the role DeGener played her unrstandg of herself, and what means for L. I have to expla that one more: In 1997, when Ellen’s s was the height of s populary, I was my mother’s basement liftg weights ont of the mirror and thkg, “Am I gay?

Ellen revealed that the shownners were "livid" when they found out about her plan to e out as gay. " 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. " — Amandla Stenberg"I am not gay, but if I were, I would be the first one nng out of the closet.

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

" — River Phoenix"I thk beg gay is a blsg, and ’s somethg I am thankful for every sgle day. " — Sylvia Rivera"You don't have to be gay to be a supporter, you jt have to be human. " — Ellen DeGener"After a long ternal journey, you now embrace beg gay, regnizg as a wonrful and tegrally important ponent part of the totaly that is you.

" — Senator Tammy Baldw "As anyone who is gay will nfirm, beg that way is not somethg you bee, is a set of emotnal and physil rpons that jt are.

ELLEN DEGENER DEPARTS DAYTIME TV: “WHEN WE STARTED THIS SHOW, I COULDN’T SAY ‘GAY’”JENNIFER ANISTON, BILLIE EILISH, AND PK STOPPED BY FOR THE FAL EPISO OF ELLEN AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS. BY SAVANNAH WALSHMAY 26, 2022BROOKS KRAFT/GETTY IMAGSAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEAFTER 19 YEARS WORTH OF GIVEAWAYS, GAM, AND Y, GROOVG, ELLEN DEGENER END HER LONG-NNG TALK SHOW ON THURSDAY. SHE BEGAN HER FAL STALLMENT BY ENSURG VIEWERS THAT THEIR RELATNSHIP WOULDN’T BE OVER FELY. “IT’S MORE OF A LTLE BREAK,” DEGENER SAID. “YOU N SEE OTHER TALK SHOWS NOW, AND I MAY SEE ANOTHER DIENCE ONCE A WHILE.”X NTENTTHIS NTENT N ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE SE ORIGAT OM.DEGENER VOTED HER FAL MONOLOGUE TO TALKG ABOUT THE SOCIETAL PROGRS WE’VE SEEN SCE ELLEN LNCHED SEPTEMBER 2003. “TWENTY YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE TRYG TO SELL THE SHOW, NO ONE THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD WORK. NOT BEE WAS A DIFFERENT KD OF SHOW, BUT BEE I WAS DIFFERENT,” DEGENER SAID. “WHEN WE STARTED THE SHOW, I ULDN’T SAY ‘GAY.’ I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SAY ‘GAY.’ I SAY AT HOME A LOT—YOU KNOW, ‘WHAT ARE WE HAVG FOR OUR GAY BREAKFAST?’ OR ‘PASS THE GAY SALT,’ ‘HAS ANYONE SEEN THE GAY REMOTE?’—BUT WE ULDN’T SAY ‘GAY.’ I ULDN’T SAY ‘WE,’ BEE THAT WOULD IMPLY THAT I WAS WH SOMEONE. SURE ULDN’T SAY ‘WIFE,’ AND THAT’S BEE WASN’T LEGAL FOR GAY PEOPLE TO GET MARRIED.” “NOW I SAY ‘WIFE’ ALL THE TIME,” SHE NTUED, AS THE MERA SHOWED HER SPOE OF NEARLY 15 YEARS, PORTIA ROSSI.“TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO THEY NCELED MY S BEE THEY DIDN’T WANT A LBIAN TO BE PRIME TIME ONCE A WEEK,” DEGENER RELLED. “SO I SAID ‘OKAY, I’LL BE DAYTIME EVERY DAY. HOW ’BOUT THAT?’” SHE THEN JOED HER LONGTIME DJ, TWCH, A.K.A. STEPHEN BOSS, FOR ONE LAST DANCE TO “BT OF MY LOVE.”A TR OF PERFORMERS JOED DEGENER FOR HER FAL EPISO, WHICH WAS FILMED LATE APRIL. JENNIFER ANISTON, THE FIRST-EVER ELLEN GUT, DROPPED BY TO GIVE DEGENER ADVICE ABOUT NCLUDG AN INIC SERI. “I GOT A DIVORCE AND WENT TO THERAPY,” ANISTON SAID OF ENDG FRIENDS AFTER 10 SEASONS. “I DID A MOVIE LLED THE BREAK-UP. I JT KD OF LEANED TO THE END.” BILLIE EILISH ACKNOWLEDGED THE SHOW WAS A REGULAR PRENCE HER HOEHOLD. “YOU STARTED THIS SHOW THE YEAR AFTER I WAS BORN,” SHE SAID. “THIS WAS MY HOE NSTANTLY. EVERY DAY. I WOULD WALK TO THE KCHEN, AND MY MOM WOULD BE WATCHG YOU.” THEN PK, WHO WROTE ELLEN’S THEME SONG, PERFORMED HER 2017 H “WHAT ABOUT US” AFTER CHATTG WH THE HOST. THE END OF ELLEN WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR, ABOUT 10 MONTHS AFTER A BUZZFEED NEWS PIECE WHICH FORMER SHOW EMPLOYE ACCED THE SHOW OF ALLEGEDLY HAVG A “TOXIC WORK CULTURE.” DEGENER ACKNOWLEDGED THE ALLEGATNS AS “VASTATG,” BUT SAID SHE FELT THE TIMG WAS “ORCHTRATED” AND “DID FEEL VERY MISOGYNISTIC.” FOLLOWG THE PUBLITN OF THE ARTICLE, DEGENER ANNOUNCED THE PARTURE OF THREE OF THE SHOW’S PRODUCERS, THOUGH AN ATTORNEY FOR ONE OF THEM LLED THE BUZZFEED ARTICLE “EPLY FLAWED” AND ASSERTED THAT HIS CLIENT WAS “BEG SPEGOATED.”AT THE END OF HER FAL HOUR ON DAYTIME TV, DEGENER REFLECTED ON HER SHOW’S OUTWARD PHILOSOPHY OF KDNS. “IF I’VE DONE ANYTHG THE PAST 19 YEARS, I HOPE I’VE SPIRED YOU TO BE YOURSELF—YOUR TE THENTIC SELF,” SHE SAID. “AND IF SOMEONE IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE, BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEM, EVEN IF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND. THEY’RE SHOWG YOU WHO THEY ARE, AND THAT’S THE BIGGT GIFT ANYBODY N EVER GIVE YOU. BY OPENG YOUR HEART AND YOUR MD, YOU’RE GOG TO BE THAT MUCH MORE PASSNATE, AND PASSN IS WHAT MAK THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEG ON THIS JOURNEY WH ME. I FEEL THE LOVE, AND I SEND BACK TO YOU.”MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIRHOW FOUR BILLNAIRE TECHNO-OLIGARCHS ARE CREATG AN ALTERNATE REALYEXCLIVE NEW DETAILS ABOUT MEGHAN MARKLE’S WEDDG DRSA BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF EVERYTHG HAPPENG AT THIS FALL’S FILM FTIVALS—WHOUT THE STARSA SER SETBACK FOR TMP’S PLAN TO GET REELECTED AND PARDON HIMSELFMEET KYLE DCHANEL, THE PRETEND PLAYBOY WHO SEEMS TO HAVE FOOLED HALF OF MANHATTANTHE ULTIMATE GUI TO FALL MOVIFROM THE ARCHIVE: A FATHER’S ACUNT OF THE TRIAL OF HIS DGHTER’S KILLEREND-OF-SUMMER SALE! TAKE 25% OFF AT THE VF SHOPMOST POPULARADAM SANDLER FDS LOW-KEY TRIUMPH YOU ARE SO NOT INVED TO MY BAT MZVAHBY SAVANNAH WALSHNETFLIX’S MURDGH MURRS IS OFFICIALLY RETURNG FOR SEASON 2: EXCLIVEBY SAVANNAH WALSHAND JT LIKE THAT: MICHAEL PATRICK KG KNOWS WHEN THE AUDIENCE TURNED ON CHE DIAZBY CHRIS MURPHYSAVANNAH WALSH

” Obama, visibly emotnal, was referrg to the era of Ellen’s inic “Yep, I’m Gay” Time ver 1997, published the same year her character on her eponymo s me out of the closet.