In my first post on this blog, I talked about the power of gay and lesbian communications to effect social change. My point was that outreach to our community would lead to social change. We’ve seen many examples to prove my point in the 18 months since I wrote that post. In his post last week, Eddy made the point that the reverse is true as well. He blogged about how the legalization of marriage for gays and lesbians in California would likely lead to a gay and lesbian outreach boom designed to capitalize on the ruling.
In either case, one thing is clear: gay and lesbian communications has the power to positively impact the world we live in and helps increase understanding and acceptance of our community by the heterosexual majority.
In the wake of the California ruling and the ensuing coverage, openly lesbian talk show host Ellen Degeneres gave us perhaps the most dramatic social media example of this point. In a conversation with presidential candidate John McCain that aired on her show last week, Ellen pressed the presumptive Republican nominee on gay marriage. If you haven’t seen the video, check it out below: it’s one of the most awkward, uncomfortable conversations in recent television history.
By addressing the issue as one of basic fairness in a tone and style that was more common sense than confrontational, Ellen probably did more to “normalize” the marriage discussion among the “everyday” people who watch her show than any other single act. To me, it was a communications masterstroke and an excellent example of speaking truth to power.
We’ve had discussions on this blog before about whether or not Ellen has done enough to merit the high rankings she’s achieved in terms of her perceived “power” in our community. My point today is not to rehash those arguments or engage in a dialogue about what she should or shouldn’t have done in the past. I mean only to highlight an example of how to leverage one of our most powerful communications media (television) to have a real impact. I’ve been impressed by the way Ellen has so matter-of-factly woven the truth of her life into the conversations she has conducted recently on her show. It may seem simple, but there is power in simplicity and Ellen has begun to demonstrate that on her show.
According to Pam’s House Blend and others, Ellen followed her McCain conversation by asking First Lady Laura Bush and First Daughter Jenna Bush for permission to use the family’s Crawford, Texas ranch for Ellen’s upcoming wedding to actress Portia DeRossi. Jenna reportedly said “sure” and offered Ellen advice on how and where to hold a marriage ceremony (the interview will air on the show tomorrow). Well, how “normal” is that? And that’s the point, the more we talk about our lives honestly and openly, the more difficult we make it for anti-gay zealots to paint us as “others.” And for me, that’s reason enough to keep promoting the importance of gay and lesbian communications and outreach.
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It seems to me that Ellen may have come out again. I admire her for talking so openly and directly (and “normally”) about things in her life, including being gay, her relationships, etc. You’re absolutely on-point about her matter-of-fact tone doing so much for our movement. It makes it almost impossible for a reasonable person to disagree.
I saw clips from that show and was totally impressed. Her approach was genuine and direct, and she didn’t back down. She also announced her engagement with great fanfare on the show a while back, so it’s possible either I misjudged her or she has decided to be more upfront. Either way, it was masterful.