Ellen DeGeneres resorted to using humour in addressing accusations that she is one of those in Hollywood advocating homosexuality.
She commented on her show in response to Pastor Larry Tomczak's article in The Christian Post asserting that "Ellen DeGeneres celebrates her lesbianism and 'marriage' in between appearances of guests like Taylor Swift to attract young girls".
The popular comedian and talk show host objected to his use of marriage in inverted commas and said in a monologue during Wednesday's Ellen DeGeneres Show that she does not have a gay agenda.
"My only agenda, Larry, the only way I'm trying to influence people, is to be more kind and compassionate with one another," DeGeneres told the audience. "That is the message I'm sending out. I don't have an agenda, I'm not here to brainwash anyone."
"I don't even know what it means to celebrate my lesbianism. I mean—well, I guess I do, it's like that!" she added, pulling a party popper from her pocket and popping it. "I'm gay!"
Tomczak's piece posted on the website The Christian Post on January 8 argues that Hollywood is "bombarding" viewers with shows and stories meant to portray homosexuality—which he said God calls "abominable"— in order to present "an alternative way of living that is beautiful, natural and acceptable."
Among the programmes he listed, aside from DeGeneres' show, are Glee, Dancing with the Stars, and Survivor, all of which have gay characters or cast and all of which he recommends be replaced with "wholesome" alternatives like The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, and I Love Lucy.
The conservative pastor also referred to what he called a "tsunami" of "gay programming assaulting [American] homes": "What's going on? A lifestyle that Romans 1:24-27 labels as 'immoral', 'indecent,' 'shameful,' 'unnatural' and a 'perversion' bringing a 'due penalty' is conveyed to tens of millions of unsuspecting children, teens and parents as normal, acceptable behaviour."
Near the end of her monologue, DeGeneres continued to joke, holding up a spinning vortex to the camera and saying, "Listen to the sound of my voice. Attention youth of the world: I want you to live your lives being exactly who you are. Be true to yourself. The most important thing is to be true to yourself."
"The second most important thing," she continued, "is that you wear Ellen underwear and only Ellen underwear. And now, audience, look into my vortex and dance with me."
