Ellen points the way for African-American celebrities
Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day, and I’m hoping more celebrities — especially African-American ones — will follow the example of Ellen DeGeneres.
Ellen has just become my idol. She has taken yet another step in her amazing career by becoming a judge on America’s top-rated television show.
Her ascendance on “American Idol,” as well as her popular daytime talk show, should destroy the myth, once and for all, that outing yourself to the American public will ruin your career.
In the mid-1990s, Ellen DeGeneres came out on her nationally syndicated television show “Ellen.” The controversy threatened to ruin her television and film career, but she held her ground and maintained her dignity. Since then, she has hosted the Academy Awards and the Emmys, as well as becoming the face of Cover Girl, in addition to other accomplishments.
But still many people in the entertainment industry feel that being open about their sexuality will kill their careers. This fear is especially pronounced among African-American actors and celebrities.
Only a few have taken the courageous step to come out: Basketball player Cheryl Swoops, Felicia “Snoop” Pearson from HBO’s “The Wire” and comedian Wanda Sykes are the only names that stand out to me.
We need more.
We need to combat the bigotry in our communities about people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
And our young people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender would feel so much better about themselves if they could recognize people in the entertainment industry who are just like them.
Ellen’s new position stands to widen her demographics and will cast a positive reflection on LGBT community.
As an “American Idol” viewer, I know that her presence on the show will be a positive reflection on the gay community.
And as an African-American community leader for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, I hope that just one African-American entertainer would use National Coming Out Day to help heal our youth with his or her coming out story.
It’s not as scary as you think. Just ask Ellen.
Kimberly R. Jones is a Detroit community activist and black pride organizer. She can be reached at pmproj [at] progressive [dot] org.
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