Source: Out, eCanadaNow.com, AfterElton.com
Los Angeles -- Ellen DeGeneres has been named the most ‘Influential Gay Woman in America’ by Out magazine.
The talk show host topped the magazine’s list of the most ‘Influential Gay Men and Women in America’ in their Power 50 issue.
Former talk-show host and current cruise-ship impresario, Rosie O'Donnell rates spot #31 on the list.
The magazine's editor's explain, "[W]hile Ellen's puppy palaver didn't even dent her popularity, Rosie's score dropped significantly when she stepped down as The View's lightning rod."
Denver philanthropist Tim Gill is given spot #5. The founder of Quark software, who has encouraged other wealthy donors to focus their giving on local political races, was the main focus of the the anti-gay screed by an Oklahoma lawmaker that was recently posted to YouTube. [More on the anti-gay lawmaker, background on Gill from blog.ttca.org]. Jon Stryker, founder of the Michigan-based charity Arcus Foundation, is given spot #39 on the list.
In a feature on the "Checkwriters", the late Ric Weiland is also highlighted:
Weiland gave millions to groups in his home state of Washington and nationally for years, often preferring to remain anonymous. But it was only after his death in 2007 that the tap was really turned on: A $65 million bequest from his estate to LGBT and AIDS organizations in February was the largest collective gift of its kind ever. The sheer size and scope of grants to 10 national LGBT groups -- $46 million total -- guarantees an immediate and long-term impact on their work. The balance of the money goes to the Seattle-based Pride Foundation, with $3 million earmarked for scholarships to queer students.
[more on the Weiland bequest]
Greg Berlanti, creator of the ABC series Brothers & Sisters, makes the list and rates a feature on the queer-inclusive shows he's gotten on the air.
Out magazine’s varied list also includes HRC's executive director Joe Solmonese at #8 but does not include the now-former executive director of "The Task Force", Matt Foreman, whose group engaged in an extended feud with HRC over a gay-rights bill in Congress.
The Silence of the Lambs actress Jodie Foster and bloggers Perez Hilton and Andrew Sullivan also make the list.
Before finding success as an interviewer, Ellen starred in two TV sitcoms The Ellen Show and Ellen.
She has hosted the Oscars and Emmys, while The Ellen DeGeneres Show has won 15 Emmy Awards.
Ellen, who is dating former Ally McBeal star Portia de Rossi, publicly came out as a lesbian in 1997 in an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show and has always been outspoken about her sexuality.
The 50-year-old star recently set aside the usual lighthearted tone of her program to give an emotional tribute to 15-year-old Lawrence King, who was shot and killed in his junior-high classroom because he was gay. [summary and video clip]
Out magazine's "Power 50" list:
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Barney Frank
- Anderson Cooper
- David Geffen
- Tim Gill
- Andrew Tobias
- Jann Wenner
- Joe Solmonese
- Marc Jacobs
- Peter Thiel
- Scott Rudin
- The New York Times Gay Mafia
- Jodie Foster
- Rich Ross
- Brian Graden
- Perez Hilton
- Martha Nelson
- Christine Quinn
- Greg Berlanti
- Andrew Sullivan
- Nate Berkus
- Nick Denton
- Anthony Romero
- Suze Orman
- Tom Ford
- Fred Hochberg
- Jasper Johns
- Tim Gunn
- Adam Moss
- Sheila Kueh
- Rosie O'Donnell
- Jeremy Bernard & Rufus Gifford
- Jim Nelson
- Craig Zadan & Neil Meron
- Randy Lovely
- Annie Leibovitz
- Simon Halls & Stephen Huvane
- Lorri L. Jean
- Jon Stryker
- Christine Vachon
- Carolyn Strauss
- Bryan Lourd
- Adam Rose
- Bob Greenblatt
- Jonathan Burnham
- Martina Navratilova
- Susan Arnold
- Brian Swardstrom
- Benny Medina
- Kelly Bush
Full article: The Annual Power 50 | Out.com
Ellen DeGeneres Voted Most Influential Gay Woman | eCanadaNow.com
"Out" reeeeeeeally wants Anderson Cooper to come out, don't they? | AfterElton.com