Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ icons. Upon coming out as a lesbian in 1997, Ellen is now a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance.

On April 14, 1997, DeGeneres appeared on the cover of TIME magazine, wither her instantly famous words, "Yep, I'm gay." Two weeks later, in a new episode of her sitcom, Ellen, aired, in which her character Ellen Morgan also came out.

With that, Ellen became the first television show with a gay lead character, and DeGeneres herself became one of the few openly gay celebrities. The episode, called "The Puppy Episode," reached over 44 million views, three times the normal rating of the show. In the weeks leading up to the coming out episode, the actors and studio started receiving threats from angry viewers. "Before every taping during season four," says Joely Fisher, Ellen's co-star, in an interview, "The cast and crew would have to clear the set for bomb sweeps." A year after the episode's release, Ellen was cancelled.

In one interview, Ellen admits that she was "angry at first" about the death threats to her and her cast and crew, but she also said the experience made her stronger. "It taught me compassion. It taught me that I was strong enough to start all over again," she said. "It was the greatest thing to ever happen to me."

Along with the negative feedback to her coming out, Ellen and the cast also received many heartwarming messages. The studio received piles of thank-you cards and messages from viewers who were inspired by Ellen's coming out. In an interview with Oprah, Ellen revealed that she received many letter from LGBTQ+ individuals who wanted to thank her for her influence, and some even thanked her for preventing them from committing suicide. These were the letters, said Fisher and executive producer Dava Savel, that the cast and crew remember best.

Twenty years later, DeGeneres hosts a successful talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen has hosted multiple award shows, including the Grammys, Primetime Emmys, and Academy Awards. She has won many awards and nominations for her works, including her Medal of Freedom from President Obama for her contributions to the arts. She started dating Portia de Rossi in 2004, and they eventually married in 2008. She continues her work as an animal rights activist and strong advocate for LGBTQ+.