The Three Phases of Ellen: From Queer to Gay to Postgay

Abstract

This chapter explores the representational politics of Ellen DeGeneres’ two sitcoms, Ellen (ABC 1993–98) and The Ellen Show (CBS, 2001). In particular, I look at her character’s evolution from a queer character as she flirted with coming out, to a lesbian after she famously came out, to a postgay character in her second sitcom. These three characterizations represent three distinct positions in queer, gay lesbian politics, and thus offer not only three perspectives on queer identity, but also the explicit example of the creation and re-creation of those identities.KeywordsSexual IdentityLiberal SocietyEllen DeGeneresLesbian IdentityCultural CitizenshipThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.