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    News and Media: Current Events: TV's "Ellen" To Come Out: Latest News Stories: Archived Articles

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    News and Media: Current Events: TV's "Ellen" To Come Out: Latest News Stories

    News and Media: Current Events: TV's "Ellen" To Come Out

    News and Media: Current Events: TV's "Ellen" To Come Out: Press Releases

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    Birmingham Alert

    Alabama Ellen party is a go!

    April 30 - Boutwell Auditorium

    6 p.m. pre-party, 8 p.m. show, and 9 p.m.post-party

    $5 donation through Ticketlink at (800) 277-1700

    Birmingham, Alabama - After local ABC affiliate, ABC 33/40, said they will refuse to air the April 30 coming out episode of Ellen, claiming it is not appropriate for family viewing, GLAAD and Birmingham Pride Alabama (BPA) will be holding the city's Official Welcome Out Ellen Party, with the history-making episode being satellite-fed directly to a giant screen at the Boutwell Auditorium.

    According to BPA entertainment director Kevin Snow, thousands of attendees from all over the South will come together to make a stand for fair, accurate and inclusive representation of lesbians and gay men on television as well as the freedom for individuals to decide for themselves how they feel about the program. I want my remote control back, said Snow. This is my home...they canÕt take away our First Amendment rights.

    The question has been raised why ABC 33/40 decided not to air this episode when the station does not censor other shows with prominent gay and lesbian characters like Rosanne, Spin City and NYPD Blue. In addition to coordinating the media and public relations for the event, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) will have several representatives on site who will be working hand-in-hand with local lesbians and gay men to celebrate this groundbreaking moment in American cultural history. Please tell ABC 33/40 that their cowardice is denying quality and precedent-setting programming to local viewers-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or otherwise by attending this exciting event. Tickets are now on sale for a suggested $5 donation through Ticketlink at (800) 277-1700 or (205) 715-6000.

    Oprah Winfrey testifies Christian love for all people...

    One guest star on the coming out episode of Ellen, Oprah Winfrey, caught some heat for her participation. During her April 15 broadcast, talk-show diva Oprah Winfrey reported that she has received both positive and negative letters since she participated in the taping of the April 30 Ellen. On the negative side, two of three letters she read on camera attacked her for promoting lesbianism, and she said that members of her own staff had told her she would go to hell for her involvement in the history-making episode.

    An audience member on the verge of tears also challenged Winfrey's Christian faith because of her embracing of an openly lesbian title character and Ellen DeGeneres herself coming out of the closet. However, one letter she read of the bins of letters she received commended her for being so supportive of Ellen, and Winfrey said that her faith is about loving instead of judging, and many audience members applauded her and supported her. DeGeneres will appear on Oprah on April 30.

    Reflecting the values of many Americans, Oprah Winfrey's continual inclusiveness and appreciation for lesbians and gay men is a testament to the strength of her Christian faith and love.

    Married...With Children speaks for diversity in episode...

    Perhaps increased understanding can be found through repeated doses of open-minded comedy. Fox-TV's Married...With Children will spoof Ellenmania with an episode titled Lez Be Friends The April 28 Married...With Children, airing just two days before the big coming out episode of Ellen, gives its own slant on lesbian coming out when MarcyÕs (out actress Amanda Bearse) identical twin cousin Mandy comes to town. Both Al and Jefferson find themselves attracted to the more laid-back and sassy Mandy, while man-hungry Marcy stews with jealousy, because once again her cousin is getting all the boy attention. But Mandy, as it turns out, is a lesbian, and comes out to Al, who first tries to identify with her sexual orientation through his concept of lesbianÓ (i.e. the women he sees in porn movies). When Mandy asks him if he thinks there is anything wrong with two women being together, he replies, Not if theres a man watching! Eventually, though, he not only accepts Mandy for who she is, but helps Marcy come to terms with her cousin's sexual orientation. Even Peg takes a liking to sweet-talking Mandy. In addition, at the very end, another character on the show comes out as gay.

    In its own absurd and crude way, Married...With Children has created an excellent episode which shows how gay people help to make up our diverse society, our families and our friends.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION:
    Kevin Snow, 925-4935
    Mark Moore, 444-9179