Friday, October 12, 2001

Parents must tolerate children’s sexuality, Betty DeGeneres says
Sam Eaton
Staff Reporter

Betty DeGeneres, mother of homosexual comedian Ellen DeGeneres, encouraged homosexuals to come out with their sexuality in her National Coming Out Day address to TCU students and community members Thursday at an audience-filed PepsiCo Recital Hall.

Caleb Williams/SKIFF STAFF Betty DeGeneres signs books after her lecture on human rights Thursday night in PepsiCo Recital Hall.

DeGeneres said if more homosexuals would come out and be open about their sexuality, then the public would become more tolerant of them. She said people would see how many homosexuals they know, how many are out there and then they would eventually be more accepting.

DeGeneres said homosexuals should come out as early as high school, because that would create a better environment in high schools, which are typically a tough place homosexuals.

DeGeneres said she strongly recommends that young homosexuals at least come out to their parents.

“Ellen came out face to face, and that’s what I recommend all the time,” DeGeneres said. “Some people say they have to do it on the telephone or in a letter, but I think face to face is better.”

DeGeneres said homosexuals and their parents needed to work together and time would allow them to fully understand each other.

“The best thing that our kids have done for us is given us the time we need to cope with this,” DeGeneres said. “They give us the time to keep talking about it.”

DeGeneres said that gays should not only come out, but celebrate the fact that they are homosexual.

DeGeneres said all people, gay or not, should live as they please.

“We are who we are, it’s not limited to sexual activity,” DeGeneres said.

DeGeneres, the first heterosexual spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, expressed the emotions she felt when her daughter first told her she was a lesbian.

She admitted that it was disappointing at first, but said it didn’t take long for her to fully accept Ellen.

DeGeneres said had no choice in Ellen’s decision to come out publicly on her television show, she said.

“I don’t give her professional advise,” Degeneres said. “She didn’t ask my opinion at all. She decided that’s what she’s going to do.”

DeGeneres received a standing ovation upon being introduced by eQ Alliance President Rob Darnell. She also received numerous laughs throughout the program, including when she recounted the story of the entire DeGeneres family being interviewed by ABC’s Diane Sawyer.

DeGeneres said Christians, or people who use religion as a reason for not affirming homosexuals, are radical similar to the Taliban people.

“Fundamentalism is taken to an extreme with the Taliban,” DeGeneres said. “Some people want to interpret the Bible word for word, and that’s their right to do.”

Darnell said he was thrilled with the outcome of the event.

“I am beyond pleased with the feedback and the reception,” Darnell said. “It exceeded any of our expectations.”

Darnell said he thought the speech might encourage students to come out or check out an eQ Alliance meeting. After previous eQ events, meeting attendance has increased, Darnell said.

“We just hope that more people will be comfortable about where they are and where they go to school,” Darnell said.

Sophomore graphic design major Allison Russell said she was pleased with how DeGeneres was received at TCU.

“We were not expecting a crowd of this size,” said Russell. “Even today at the panel at the Student Center it was incredible the understanding and the support we received.”

Russell said she hoped people who were thinking about coming out would do so after hearing the speech.

“I think more people will come out, at least with their parents,” Russell said. “It’s inspired me to go home and talk to my parents about accepting my brother, who is gay.”

Sam Eaton
s.m.eaton@student.tcu.edu