Los Angeles
“My Journey With Ellen” - April 20th, 2011 / 7:30 p.m.
— Betty Degeneres, an inspiring example of parental love.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
The mother of the world’s most famous lesbian, talks about her personal journey from an ordinary mom to a spokesperson for acceptance, tolerance and LGBT rights.
Initially many parents go into the closet after their child comes out. Betty DeGeneres didn’t have that luxury. In 1997 when Ellen came out on the television program that bore her name, Betty was thrust into the spotlight, supporting Ellen through the cheers and attacks her honesty occasioned. Although her own process had begun in 1978, when Ellen told her mother about her sexual orientation during a walk on the beach, Betty had to deal with intense public scrutiny.
She has worn her notoriety well. In 1997 Betty was named the first non-gay spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s National Coming-out Project. Since that time, Betty has spoken at universities and corporations throughout America on the subject of acceptance of diversity and equal rights for our gay family members.
She has written two books: “Love, Ellen – A Mother/Daughter Journey” and “Just a Mom.” Her columns, Ask Betty, on Planetout.com, and a monthly interview column on HRC.org/familynet, were website favorites until her recent retirement.
Betty was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she met and married Elliott DeGeneres. Following a divorce and remarriage, she moved to East Texas where she studied to become a licensed speech pathologist, ultimately working at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in the Rehabilitation Department.
A long-time friend of PFLAG, Betty shares her journey with her famous daughter with the wit, kindness and courage that both of them are famous for.
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