In 1997, DeGener chose a very public fom — her televisn s — to announce, "I'm gay." The entertaer's reer has tracked the seismic shift public opn on gays and same-sex marriage.
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 DEGENER ON COMG OUT AS GAY: “I DIDN’T THK I WAS GOG TO COME OUT, PERD”
- HOW ELLEN DEGENER HELPED CHANGE THE CONVERSATN ABOUT GAYS
THE HIDN GAY LIV OF 'THE WALTONS' GRANDPARENTS ELLEN CORBY & WILL GEER SPE THEIR MARRIAG
Ellen revealed that the shownners were "livid" when they found out about her plan to e out as gay. * ellen being gay *
However, they were gay real life and were volved homosexual relatnships.
| 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.
THE REAL REASON ELLEN DEGENER DECID TO COME OUT AS GAY ON TV
The April 14, 1997, issue of TIME featured a s-down wh the edian, who nfirmed that her s character was gay—and so was she. * ellen being gay *
" His partner was Harry Hay, a gay rights activist, but their relatnship later end.
READ THE 'YEP, I'M GAY' ELLEN DEGENER INTERVIEW FROM 1997
Geer opted to marry 1938 after beg both a Party activist and actively gay for at least four years. 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.
ELLEN DEGENER ON COMG OUT AS GAY: “I DIDN’T THK I WAS GOG TO COME OUT, PERD”
Hay was the founr of gay liberatn and created the first morn gay-rights anizatn 1950. At first, no one wanted to jo him formg a polil anizatn for homosexuals.
He spent two years searchg among the gay men he knew Los Angel.
HOW ELLEN DEGENER HELPED CHANGE THE CONVERSATN ABOUT GAYS
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. 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.
She would be playg the first gay lead character on Amerin work televisn.