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(DAILY_WILDCAT)

By John Brown
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 30, 1997

'Ellen' episode prompts worldwide coming out parties


[photograph]

The Associated Press
Arizona Daily Wildcat

Actress Ellen DeGeneres (left) portrays Ellen Morgan, who senses a kindred spirit when she meets a lesbian (guest star Laura Dern), in a special, much-anticipated episode of "Ellen," titled "The Puppy Disguise." Stuffed with inside jokes and guest stars like k.d. lang and Melissa Etheridge, the hour-long show airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Channel 9.


UA students who watch ABC's "'Ellen' coming out episode" tonight will be part of a nationwide party celebrating the first lesbian character to hold a leading role on a primetime network show.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is sponsoring more than 1,500 "Come Out With Ellen" parties nationally and in five other countries.

Locally, gay bars throughout Tucson will have televisions set up for one of the most anticipated television events in recent history, while members of the University of Arizona's Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Association will gather at a friend's house.

Jason Cianciotto, co-director of BGALA, said he believes Ellen's "coming out" will help bring more reality to television.

"Television is one of the best ways the general public is exposed to homosexuality," he said. "The fact that she is a lesbian in real life will bring more realism to the character."

Ellen DeGeneres, the sitcom's star, announced herself as a lesbian on the April 14 cover of Time magazine.

Cianciotto said the recent interviews with DeGeneres are positive because they expose the public to the real person.

Serenity Cressler, a women's studies and creative writing junior, said she believes "Ellen" is a positive lesbian portrayal.

"Ellen's coming out will help break down stereotypes of what people think lesbians look and act like," she said.

Although many support the move by DeGeneres, Wendy's, one of the show's national sponsors, has permanently pulled its ads from the show, and Chrysler and J.C. Penney Co. Inc. are not airing commercials during Wednesday's episode, USA TODAY reported.

The reluctance of these corporations to be part of the controversial event seemed ridiculous to one UA student.

"I don't think the sexual orientation of a character on TV is really going to influence someone not to buy a Wendy's hamburger or Sony batteries," Ryan Bricker, a psychology junior, said.

Randy Fouldes of KGUN 9, ABC's Tucson affiliate, said slots for local sponsors during the episode filled up weeks ago. He said the station will air a commercial for a cruise line that caters to lesbians, which he said will be shown by most ABC stations across the nation.

Despite support for the episode in the gay and lesbian community, some were concerned that the show's comedy element may make the coming out a joke.

"A lot of people might make fun of coming out," Cianciotto said.

Tonight's hour-long episode has stirred plenty of talk, but a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll indicated most Amercans are not bothered by the character's announcement.

Half of the 1,003 adults surveyed said they were neither pleased nor bothered by ABC's decision to have Ellen come out of the closet. Thirty-seven percent were bothered and 7 percent said they were pleased.

According to the poll, 46 percent thought there were too many homosexual characters on television. There are 47 minor characters on television who are homosexual, Cianciotto said.

Overall, 59 percent of Americans believed being gay is morally wrong, according to the poll.

The results of a random survey of 20 students on the UA Mall yesterday were contrary to the national poll.

Of the students polled, 65 percent said they supported the coming out of DeGeneres' character.

Twenty percent, 26 percent less than the USA TODAY poll, said they believed there are too many gay roles on television.

Only three of the UA students surveyed said homosexuality is morally wrong.

"Ellen" airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Channel 9.


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