24 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

MARCH 21, 1997

ON THE AIR OFF THE PRESS

long last, Ellen comes out-over an airport PA system

At long

by John Graves

Now, here's some really good news for lesbian and gay Ellen fans. A few weeks ago, ABC announced that Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) definitely will come out as a lesbian. The coming out episode is set to air during the first week of the May sweeps on Wednesday, April 30 at 9:30 pm when Ellen returns to its regular time slot.

Advertisers were made aware months ago that the coming out episode would be produced, and ABC has said it expects the show to be fully sponsored. It is not known at this time whether the special hour-long coming

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out episode will air in one part or two. A spokesperson for Disney Touchstone Television, the show's owner and producer, said that in the episode, Ellen Morgan will realize she is a lesbian when she finds herself attracted to another lesbian played by Laura Dern. Although Dern's character helps Ellen realize her true nature, the two characters do not get romantically involved. The two discuss the issue in an airport, and their conversation is accidentally heard over the public address system.

Ellen turns to her therapist, played by Oprah Winfrey, to help her understand her new feelings. Melissa Etheridge will do the show's opening song, and k. d. lang puts in an appearance as well.

In the meantime, follow the coming out story of Ellen Morgan at the show's temporary time Tuesdays at 8:30 pm.

Ellen DeGeneres made news herself when USA Today ran a photo of her and lesbian singing star k.d. lang in a passionate kiss. The kiss came after DeGeneres presented lang with the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's Creative Integrity Award during the center's annual Women's Night festivities.

Openly bisexual actress Drew Barrymore discussed her bisexuality in a feature article in the March edition of Us magazine. Barrymore talked about being called the "new lesbian on the block" in the article

"Me? Oh, I've always been bisexual," Barrymore told the magazine. "The new lesbian on the block! It's no news flash. There's something androgynous and ambidextrous about my sexuality. But I haven't been with a woman in a long time. About two years. But I was with women much more regularly before that."

Asked if she had been with a woman before she was ever with a man Barrymore replied, "I think so. I've always liked making out. I think you'd be surprised by this, but I'm actually sensual-but I'm not as sexual. I'm much more into the romanticism of things than actually going out there and carrying it out. I want to kiss for 10 hours rather than have sex any day of the week."

The March 7 issue of Entertainment Weekly ran a special report on Xena: Warrior Princess which took a special look at the program's emergence as a lesbian cult classic with the full knowledge of the show's producers. Commenting on the special relationship between the title character and Gabrielle, Xena supervising producer Steve Sears said, "They have love for each other, it's up to the audience to determine what that love is."

"I don't have any interest in saying they're heterosexuals," said lesbian Xena producer Liz Friedman. “That's just bullshit, and no fun, either."

According to the report, the Meow Mix, a New York City lesbian nightclub, holds a monthly Xena night where patrons view three taped episodes and stage toy sword fights in honor of the lesbian hero.

A few weeks ago, Xena and her loving companion Gabrielle had a busy day saving two villages in an episode which dealt with the day-to-day problems of the heroic lesbian couple. In the episode, Xena and Gabrielle took a bath together in a tiny tub where they had to be sitting on each other. The episode ended with Gabrielle kissing Xena on the cheek in a romantic scene under the stars.

African-American actor Michael Boatman, who portrays Carter, Spin City's gay mayoral

aide, was profiled in the March 8 edition of TV Guide. Carter, a non-stereotypical gay man, is a regular character on Spin City airing on ABC Tuesdays at 10:30 pm.

"The best way to slide these controversial issues under America's doorstep, into their living rooms, is to have them start laughing first," Boatman told TV Guide. "Suddenly they find themselves, if not accepting new ideas, certainly more willing to discuss them."

Hope you saw the episode of Roseanne where Leon and his husband Scott partied with Roseanne's newly-out mother Bev and her lover Joyce. At one point, Joyce asks for a drink and says she "likes her women like she likes her bourbon. Smooth and aged to perfection." Bev seems relaxed and happy since she came out as a lesbian, perhaps the happiest she's been since the character was introduced to the show several years ago.

Unfortunately, ABC has decided not to renew Roseanne for a tenth season. Let's hope that Bev, Joyce, Leon and Scott are important characters in this final season. Keep up with these lesbian and gay couples on new episodes of Roseanne airing on ABC Tuesdays at 8 pm.

A lesbian doctor has joined HIV-positive physician's assistant Jeanie Boulet on the medical drama ER. The name of the new lesbian character is Dr. Maggie Doyle, a new first-year resident played by Jorja Fox. ER is on NBC Thursdays at 10 pm. ✓

John Graves is the producer and host of Gaywaves, heard on Cleveland's WRUW 91.1 FM Fridays from 7 to 7:30 pm. Dave Haskell and Jim McGrattan also contributed to this column.

An Evening OUT

for

What the Butler Saw

Thursday, March 27

Ohio Theatre

Playhouse Square Center

5:30-6:30 p.m.

by JOE ORTON directed by MICHAEL BREAULT

Reception and hors d'oeuvres

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Pre-performance Talk

Staging a Revolution: Joe Orton and the Beginnings of Gay

Liberation by national Joe Orton scholar Francesca Coppa

Mastroianni

Mimi Wyche and Kennedy Brown in Great Lakes Theater Festival's production of What

the Butler Saw, Photo: Roger