My Ellen Visit, Deferred

I am a big Ellen fan. I have been one for quite a long time now. I used to do the local news talk shows with her in San Francisco, when we were both still kids. I also opened for her at the Other Café when she would work special weekend shows, and she would bring the house down every night. She was miraculous to me, and continues to be. We both had sitcoms at the same time, filmed on the same lot, right next to each other. My show got canceled but hers went on, making history when she came out as a lesbian on national television. That episode completely changed my life and the lives of so many of us, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered folks and all around queers like me. Seeing someone proudly say they were gay, a star, someone we all knew and loved and respected, someone with the power to make us laugh and cry, was suddenly given another power -- she made us feel real. It was like -- "oh my God, we're real. We exist."

The power of visibility can never be underestimated. For this, she will always be my hero. She gave us the ultimate gift, herself, her true self, and with that gift, she made us all proud to be who we are. That is why when she asked me to do her show I was absolutely thrilled. I love her show! Especially the dancing!!! But with the writers on strike, I am unable to do it. This was a very difficult decision to make. I absolutely love Ellen, for a million reasons and for a very long time, but because of the way that I was raised, because my political views are they way they are, because I believe that workers should have the power and the ability to make their lives better, because many of my close friends are the ones picketing, I cannot cross the picket line. This was hard for me because I had to question what was more important to me -- my queer allegiance to Ellen, or my dedication to the writers and their families and all the people who have been sacrificing so much to the strike. The reason Ellen hasn't stopped production is because she refuses to put the 135 people who are employed on her show out of work, which is completely admirable and frankly heroic, considering all the flak she has gotten from the media. I apologize to Ellen and I hope that she understands my decision, and that when the strike is over, I will be able to do the show again. It has been a dream of mine for quite a while now, and I hope someday it will come true.

Comments

[Steamboater]

Ellen may not want to put the 135 people working for her out of work but that's just a decietful excuse. What about the writers who are out of work? The fact is Ellen, like all the other TV talk show host scabs think of more of themselves than those out of work. If the 135 people, including Ellen and other TV hosts who have flaunted the unions, had refused to go back to work, this strike might have been over but they don't give a shit.

[Liberalfrombirth]

I posted on this earlier, but I have to comment on the number of people who still think writers are millionares and are being "greedy" in asking for 8 cents per DVD rather than 4 cents!!! Where do you get your information? The greed is all on the side of the AMPTP. These are the corporate bullies who make millions in golden parachutes even if they get fired for doing a shitty job running a studio. Writers, put together, make a fraction of what the AMPTP members make. Please read Deadline Hollywood and some of the bloggers here on Huffpo to get facts before slagging regular workers who are only trying to get fair compensation and fair benefits. Again, good for you, Margaret.

[We]

I've seen about 10 minutes of Ellen since the strike began. She seems haunted and enervated. It's not pleasant to watch.

[dusty59]

Very cool. the AMPTP has put a lot of people (Ellen included) into a very shitty situation because of its greed.
I'm sure Execs know that with increasing bandwidth, more programing will go directly to web only- what a great deal to have writers doing it for free!

[lawguy]

Thank you for not crossing the picket line! Ellen could learn a thing or two from you.

[Misanthrope0]

Margret,
Why did Ellen give the devils daughter a platform?

How is your mom?
Love her!
You too!

[weavermiami]

Margaret, you could selfishly plugged your Beautiful tour by crossing the picket line and appearing on national television to an audience of millions. But you didn't. You have once again shown that you are not a sell out. P.S. I saw your show in Miami a while back and will never forget it. You rock!

[Boobaloo]

Im a big fan of yours Margaret ... you're fantastic, funny & such a relevant artist.

Im not queer since everyone is making declarations about sexual orientation but, I do love the gays.

[desnotes]

Margaret,

I am a big fan of both you and Ellen and respect you both. While I admire Ellen for keeping her show going for the good of workers, I think you made the ethical decision. It wasn't an easy decision for you but I think it was the right one also.

Take Care,

Michael

[AdamWykle]

Hey High-Class-Cho! Margaret I love you and I have this Beaver Fever for you and I can't wait for your new tour!

Keep gracing HuffPo with your posts!

[wildflowermaven]

Agree w you 100% Margaret, think you made the right decision, and hope your friendship w Ellen is not affected (don't think it will be). And RE jackjett, here's someone between NYC and LA who does understand and support the WGA. Sure its a small union compared to some, but it affects us all due to the business they're in. People who don't appreciate unions should read some Studs Terkel, who has noted that we all owe unions things like the 40 hour work week, health bene's and others. Now for many working conditions are in decline, but we wouldn't have had them improved in the first place wo unions.

[luckysun]

I love you Margaret, but I dont agree that keeping her show on air for the sake of 135 people makes Ellen "heroic". If other guests followed your lead and didnt go on Ellen, the show couldnt continue. This would move strike negotiations forward instead of stalling them, as Ellen is doing, and those 135 people could stop following her across picket lines.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Hi, Margaret!

[ParacleteofKavorka]

Margaret. I wanted to like your TV sitcom but if I remember there was too much 'relationship angst' going on. The same with Joan Cusack's cancelled show. I wish you both would try again with a different premise. I love you both.

[bbbbmer]

I'm as queer and 'out' as Ellen, and Ellen did some great things for the queer community.

But, rather than casting aside the strike, it might have been more in keeping with the strike's unity efforts for her production company to arrange a special interim agreement with the WGA, as did Letterman's WorldWide Pants firm. I, for one, would have had more respect for her then.

I must also say that her meltdown over the puppy issue was absurdly ridiculous, and smacked of disingenuous crocodile tears... To quote Bette Davis in ALL ABOUT EVE, "I detest cheap sentiment."