How did Ellen's coming out affect you?

[Tamar]

So where were you when Ellen came out? How old were you? How (if at all) did that affect you?

Just to be fair, I'll start by saying that I was 17 when Ellen came out, but I didn't really follow, either because that wasn't such a huge thing in Isreal, or because I wasn't so interested in my own sexuality or whatever. I really don't remeber anything apart from hearing that some famous woman in USA came out as a lesbian.

[DegeneresDerossi2007]

i was in 7th Gread and i was 16 and I was happy for Ellen .She helped me come out when i was in High School i was 19, :cool:

[ellens_dancer]

well i was 10 ....... so very young, but she helped out alot, b/c i knew i was gay then, but everyone else had a boyfriend, so i felt like a alien compared to them....... lol...... so when she came out i was like thank god im not the only one....... she helped me deal with alot of confusion......

[Kristen101]

well i was 10 ....... so very young, but she helped out alot, b/c i knew i was gay then, but everyone else had a boyfriend, so i felt like a alien compared to them....... lol...... so when she came out i was like thank god im not the only one....... she helped me deal with alot of confusion......

ditto. i was 6 and a half when she came out and didn't hear about her til years later when she hosted the emmy's. my mom is a huge fan of hers, and she sorta got me more interested in her. i felt i was gay early on, but where i live, i thought you just couldnt be that way, so i sorta put those feelings aside for a few years. and then after i watched her ths and starting watching reruns of her sitcom, i just realized that it is ok and there's nothing wrong with me being gay.

[FreoGeek]

Ok feeling REALLY old now! :D I was 23 at the time

When Ellen came out in 1997, i was coming out myself so i really went thru (in part) what she went thru. Having people diss me cause they couldn't handle the fact i was gay. Having said that, i got strength from her saying that you need to be true to yourself cause it's harder to live a life that is a lie. And it's true. I found that i wasn't so twisted up inside after i came out than i was when i lived a life (with a guy) that was false and not me.

She really helped me to say the least...i hope to one day thank her in person :)

[loveisfluid]

I was 9 wen she came out and I always felt 'different' although i did date and had bf's until i was 16. But i heard bout her wen she hosted the emmy's and i thought and still think that she is strong and courageous not to mention drop dead georgous :D she's my hero wat more can i say.

[AussieGirl]

I'm with you FreoGeek, feeling a little on the old side...

I was 19 when Ellen came out. I always knew I was gay, well, different to the other girls, but couldn't put a name to it or pin point exacly what that difference was until I was 17.

I was only out to my best friend when Ellen came out. I remember watching the "Puppy Episode" with my friend and feeling like I was going to burst with so many emotions. When Ellen's character said into the Airport microphone that she was gay, I remember my friend hugging me as a way of reiterating that she was ok with my being gay. I had a smile on my face from ear to ear, and felt so proud of Ellen and kept thinking one day I'd like to be that strong and brave. I still have those thoughts/feeling when I watch the episode now or see Ellen talking freely and with pride about being a gay woman.

[FreoGeek]

I can relate to that...it's funny, now i can look back and think "...and i didn't know!?" :lol:
It's good to put a name to something you knew was apparently wrong according to everyone else but how could i not be when i just wanted to "get to know" more about Jennifer Beals in Flashdance (the first time it came out!) and Ellen when she was doing either stand up or her sitcom :cool:
Just wish i had figured it out earlier...but i never really did until Ellen's coming out episode when all the pieces just seem to fall into place...then i had a word for how i felt. If it wasn't for Ellen coming out, i wouldn't have figured out that i felt the same way that she did. Especially when she was talking to the counsellor (Oprah) :)

[zoel]

I was 7 when ellen came out, but i don't remember hearing anything about her. I saw the 'puppy episode' two years ago. I had already come out to my sister (thanks to a girl at school who was out and proud and I had a huge crush on her lol). Ellen gave me the strenght to come out to my dad.I remember watchging it and realising i was ready to tell him. I'm forever endebted to Ellen :)

[nowvoyager]

I was 19 at the time and can remember it being a huge deal to me that Ellen was coming out. I remember being scared that people might think I was gay if they saw me reading an article about Ellen while I was at uni or on the train but at the same time I sought out every story I could.

It was such an important milestone because she was a person I admired and it helped pave the way for me to be comfortable in my own skin and with my own sexuality.

I remember at the time being confused about my sexuality and harbouring thoughts that I might be gay but I didn't have anyone I was comfortable with to discuss it.

In 1996, I bought the soundtrack to the movie Boys on the Side and loved this song on it called Power of Two by the Indigo Girls. In Australia, the Indigo Girls aren't commercially famous and I had no idea who they were. I happened upon a cd of theirs, 4.5, in the bargain bin at a CD shop and loved it and started collecting all their cds. A few months later I was on the internet looking at this site about them and it said they were lesbians. It wasn't long after that that Ellen came out and I remember thinking,"Oh my god, I must be gay cos everything I like is gay."

It was a long, bumpy road for me to finally realise that being gay is natural and actually fabulous! I really appreciate and admire those brave women and men in the public eye who have the courage to be honest about who they are. They are helping change the world for the better.

So THANK YOU ELLEN!

[Shireykid]

I was really young when Ellen came out and my family had never watched her show...but I certainly remember the press surrounding the event, and the Time magazine cover. I think I had a vague idea of what "lesbian" meant, but was too afraid to ask anyone. :-P

Her coming out impacted me most when I was coming out a few years ago. Without someone like Ellen showing me that not all gay people were flamboyant/rainbow-wearing :), I realized that I could be gay and just be myself. I owe my easy adjustment to her, and I'm very grateful that she did what she did.

[divine12]

I was 10 when she came out, and after it happened my mom wouldn't let me watch the sitcom anymore. She told me "it's not on anymore" but I was totally in tune and new she was lying and I was like "Mom, why can't I watch Ellen? Just cause she's a lesbian? cause I got that." Now I'm 19 and haven't come out to my mom yet, but I watch the sitcom dvds quite often for support.

[edgeyoukated]

I was five.

HAH. Yeah, I knew I was "different" because in kindergarten I was always trying to kiss the girls under the desk, and when I couldn't I went under the desks and pulled my pants down(don't worry, I finally got over this last month, [;)

I didn't know what it was called, but I remember always hearing people talk about Ellen and how it was disgusting and stuff. I didn't even know who she really was, just that she was a bad woman. Then in like 2nd or 3rd grade I watched something with her on TV and I was like "oh, baby!". But my parents/friends didn't find out I loved her 'til a few years ago because I knew they didn't like her because she was a bad woman.

But it did help me, A LOT, because growing up when I felt angry because I would never date anyone because I didn't like boys I always felt better know that she is so cool, and famous, and lovable and she was gay.

OF COURSE. My family, alas, doesn't know this bit of information.

Only few, selected friends know the whole history of it all.

EDITED BECAUSE I CAN'T SPELL.

[Elise]

Euuuuuh i think i don't remember anything of it... in which year was it?

[Kristen101]

she came out in 1997

[Elise]

Oki 1997 woepz! :oops: i didn't read that part :P Well I was 5 or 6... Lol I even didn't knew who ellen was so... yeah nothing special... But my parents knew it.. (i guess) a few years ago they started talking about it and they always say ha lesbian! or (when it's a famous dutch lesbian) Heee look it's yasmine on tv LESBIAN!!! oh she hates man! Look she thinks she is a man!! and remarks like that..

[Alexema]

I was only like eleven when it happened and i dont remember knowing anything about it, i only found out about ellen a few years ago but since then her coming out and the coming out episode in 1997 has become so important to me. Before then i only ever felt shame when i thought about the feelings i had for women, i hated myself and used to think why is this happened to me, why did i have to be different, you know? Watching the puppy episode actually changed my life, suddenly i started to feel proud of who i was and couldn't believe that me and this wonderful women had something in common. Seeing her being so open, honest and proud of who she is ignited this swell of pride inside me that i cant even describe in words.

I think its amazing how the decision Ellen took in her life to be open and honest has affected so many people and even though its ten years on that decision continues to help and change peoples lives all over the world. I know that i will be forever greatful to her and even though im still not 'out of the coset' she has made me proud of who i am and when i do come out it will ultimately be because of the confidence and strength Ellen has given me. (*wipes away a tear. Is it just me or does this sound cheesy! :D ) So anyway, cheers for that el!

[annak84]

i loved ellen right away when i saw her sitcom for the first time. i felt she was such a sweet person. when she came out a few years later, i was 13 then, it didn't change anything for me. i didn't understand why people were so indignant because i thought she was still the same ellen who we all loved. only years later when i started to question my own sexuality i started to realize how important her coming out was and still is.

[swan]

when the "puppy episode" aired i was about 18 and i still knew that i was gay. It was a great plesure to see Ellen in tv. It gave me hope that everything would be o.k.

now, 10 years later i know that it was a hard way for for both of us :cool: . Not as easy as i belived. But know i´m happy with my love and my life and i´m happy for Ellen, that she´s found her true love, as i did.

[EllenD4ever]

In 1997 when she came out I really didn't know anything about it but about 5 years later its because of ellen's courage I am able to live the life I meant to live. Go Ellen!!

[studentforlife]

I was 12, and I remember watching it with my brother, I wasn't entirely certain what a lesbian was at the time (the episode cleared up some questions and started some more) I was fairly innocent for my age I guess. But yes I remember thinking whats the big deal if she likes girls? I truly didn't care, I had been watching the show for years and I continued to do so, its only recently though that it has new meaning.

[debby]

girls,

first of all, i want to say that i had more than one tear in my eye while i read this thread. it´s really beautiful how many people she touched and changed with her courage!

i was 14 and now about lesbians and it wasn´t a big deal for me. i didn´t saw the puppie episode than but i saw the importend scene and read a lot in the papers about it. i didn´t understood why it was such a big deal back than but i liked her right away!

because it wasn´t a big deal for me i just moved on and wasn´t a fan cause i didn´t know enough. i always though something is wrong and i was very angry if somebody asked me if i was a boy! i just didn´t want to be diffrent and just dinied it. i wish i would have let those thoughts come through a little earlier cause i always had crushes on girls but i never act on them...

than last year my interest in ellen was waken up again, cause a friend of mine showed me some clips of Lauren Graham at TEDS and i just though "wow what a funny beautiful woman" i fell in love and was addiccted! i started to question myself and my own sexuellity again and for the first time was true to myself and from there on i just knew that i was gay. because of ellen i wasn´t afraid at all to live it, i was just very concerned about to talk about it for the first time and just didn´t know how to handle it. my closed friends weren´t very surprised and sort of knew it anyway, that really makes it easier to deal with.

now i´m pride and open and my biggest dream to see ellen live came true! i´m fully satisfied and happy, only the love of my live still keeps me waiting :P

i´m a very proud member of this side cause Ellen Fans are a very special sort of fans! we are truely connected to her and 100% loyal, respectfull and greatfull for all she did!

thank you ellen we love you!

[Shady]

i was like 6 or 7

i didnt even really understand differences in sexuality then

i was still a fan of ellen from teh moment i saw her i cant remember what the very first thing i saw her in was but i know i would see her every once in a while like "the love letter" and "edtv" and for some reason something drew me towards her i LOVED her personality

and i remember i had a soccer coach who i thought looked like ellen and i told her you look like that lady from that one movie... and they all laughed i didnt understand why at all it was funny cause i didnt know lol

so the truth is i dont even remember when i first found out she was
but it makes me feel good about it now because so many ppl love her and shes gay so it makes me feel like not all ppl would hate me for being gay
she definitly my role model... if im ever feeling hurt then i honestly turn ellen on b/c it makes me SO happy i could be crying and i just watch her for a minute and she makes me laugh


its weird to me now that when i was a kid and had no idea that i was gay and i liked her so much cause there was just something about her :)

[zoel]

OK, so here's a link and I hope it's the one I'm looking for. (my computer's too slow to load videos this long :lol: ) You may or may not have seen this but I think the woman at the end of the clip prety much sums it up :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL3jxU3l25k

[Mushanga]

ellen's coming out didn't effect me at all. i was already out. and living with my girlfriend. i don't remember when the puppy episodes were on dutch tv. but i saw ellen on tv in canada in september of 1997. it must have been an rerun because she wasn't out at the time i saw some episodes. but i just had a feeling that ellen was/is gay. it was the first time i ever heard of ellen. maybe if i hadn't seen her on canadian tv i wouldn't have become a fan of hers. when i was a teenager i had a crush on angie dickinson.

[debby]

OK, so here's a link and I hope it's the one I'm looking for. (my computer's too slow to load videos this long :lol: ) You may or may not have seen this but I think the woman at the end of the clip prety much sums it up :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL3jxU3l25k

thanks for the clip,

i was cring when i saw this the first time, cause that was in the time when i wasn´t out and she really touched me. this is also the best example for ellens talent to even be funny in sad situations. when she lies down and said "my princess, talk to me" i loved that. and all the wedding planning :lol:

debby

[Shady]

i started to cry also because you see her eyes get all watered up and it was real for her! and the biggest smile on her face as everyone in the audience cheers :D

[Numbr1Ellenfan]

I was 10 when Ellen came out and for some reason i didn't see it as a big deal. Now that i am older i see how big of a deal it was to the whole world! My parents are quite liberal and let me make my mind up about what i see as acceptable (with a little guidance of course!) So i have grown up with the idea that people should be allowed to love who they want to love as long as they are both consenting! I now decide to define my sexuality by who my heart falls in love with and i think Ellen has shown me to embrace love and not worry about what others think or believe is right or wrong!
Love to all,
Numbr1