Program Note

“I’m gay.” In April 1997 these words sparked national debate when Ellen DeGeneres uttered them on her primetime sitcom, Ellen, making hers the first lead character to come out on network television. The episode aired in a time of contradictions and controversy, when gay rights saw both advancements and setbacks. In 1993 the new Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy may have allowed gays to serve in the military, but only on the condition that they did not disclose their sexuality. In 1996 the Supreme Court affirmed that the Equal Protection Clause extended to gay people, but also in that year, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, allowing states to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states. At this time, Gallup found that less than thirty percent of Americans supported gay marriage. 

          For many, Ellen’s announcement was cause for celebration. Laura Dern and Oprah Winfrey signed on to guest star in the episode, and over 40 million households watched. The episode won two Emmys and a Peabody Award. 

          Backlash, however, was swift and began even before the show aired. Rumors that Ellen and her character would come out of the closet started to spread about eight months before the episode premiered. One of ABC’s affiliates in Alabama refused to broadcast the episode. Three major sponsors pulled their ads, and ABC placed a parental advisory warning before the title credits rolled. The series survived only one more season before the network canceled it. 

          Over time, more gay characters would follow Ellen onto network TV. Popular shows like Will & Grace, Modern Family,and Glee became household favorites. At the same time, tides seemed to be turning around the country. In 2011, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed, and by 2015 the Supreme Court would declare the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. That same year, Obergefell v. Hodges legally recognized same-sex marriage across the country. A 2021 Gallup poll showed seventy percent of Americans in favor of gay marriage.  

          Beneath these headlines and this legislation, however, lie a million more intimate stories. Ellen’s announcement appeared in homes across the country, opening the door for difficult dinner-table conversations, many of which have been lost to time. The Puppy Episode honors them.  

 

-The Dramaturgy Team