‘Yep, I’m gay’: Out and proud
It became more important to me than my career. I suddenly said, ‘Why am I being, you know, ashamed of who I am just to be successful and famous in society’s eyes?’ Ellen DeGeneres
With a headline of “Yep, I’m Gay” on the cover of Time magazine and the same declaration on her sitcom, Ellen DeGeneres made history 20 years ago as the first prime-time lead on network TV to come out, capturing the hearts of supporters gay and straight amid a swirl of hate mail, death threats and, ultimately, dark times on and off the screen. The code-named The Puppy
Episode of Ellen that aired April 30, 1997, was more than just a hit. It was one of those huge cultural “where were you” moments for anybody remotely interested in TV, or the advancement of LGBTQ people working in TV, or who were itching to come out of their closets at home at a stillperilous time.
The backlash was real. There was pulpit-pounding from conservatives, including full-page newspaper ads (the late Rev. Jerry Falwell called her Ellen DeGenerate). There was nasty mail all around, including some for guest star Oprah Winfrey suggesting that she “go back to Africa.”
After Puppy wrapped, cast, crew and live audience were hustled out of the Burbank, Calif., studio because of a bomb threat.
But the hype was also real, fed by DeGeneres’ personal desire to end her secret-keeping at age 38 and to bring her TV character along for the ride.
Why risk it all? Because DeGeneres was done with the lying and the hiding.
“It became more important to me than my career,” she said in a recent interview. “I suddenly said, ‘Why am I being, you know, ashamed of who I am just to be successful and famous in society’s eyes?’ ”
The episode was watched by an estimated 44 million viewers. It won an Emmy for writing, a Peabody as a landmark in broadcasting and numerous other accolades.
The attention coincided with a new and very public relationship for DeGeneres with her girlfriend at the time, actress Anne Heche, herself new to the out life.