Tag Archives: Portia de Rossi

Ellen DeGeneres Moved To Tears By Wife Portia De Rossi’s Birthday Gift

Ellen DeGeneres has just celebrated her 60th birthday in a special episode of her hit television show and was moved to tears by a special gift from wife Portia de Rossi.

Talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, turned 60 last Friday, and received plenty of birthday wishes.

But it was a thoughtful present from wife Portia de Rossi that moved DeGeneres to tears.

In a surprise appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that aired Thursday, de Rossi presented her wife with the gift to end all gifts.

“It’s your 60th birthday, and this gift had to be really special and it had to represent who you are and what you really care about. So, I combined that with the fact that literally guys, for like the last two years, Ellen has said to me, ‘I feel like I’m not doing enough.’ Every day, almost. So, I put all that together and I got you this gift.”

De Rossi then played a recorded birthday message that highlighted DeGeneres’ hero, Dian Fossey, an American scientist who studied gorillas in Africa. Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda to observe and protect mountain gorillas.    

Though she was murdered in 1985, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund continues her work. And now, thanks to de Rossi, the fund will have an Ellen DeGeneres Campus.

“So, for your birthday, Ellen, I am bringing you and your hero Dian together by building the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Ellen, you will carry on Dian’s legacy by giving them a permanent home in Rwanda. Now, you will join Dian as a protector and champion of these amazing animals, the mountain gorillas,” de Rossi added. “Happy birthday.”

Is anyone else getting misty-eyed, or is that just us?

Ellen DeGeneres Says Goodbye To Obama And Recruits Hollywood’s Biggest LGBTQ Stars To Pay Tribute Too

To pay a final tribute to the president who helped make her marriage to now-wife Portia de Rossi legal, Ellen DeGeneres dedicated her show to Obama this week with a look back at the time she spent with him and first lady Michelle Obama over the past eight years.

She also enlisted several celebrity friends to help pay tribute too.

Wife Portia, Neil Patrick Harris, Laverne Cox, Jonathan Groff and Evan Rachel Wood are just a few of the LGBTQ stars to thank the former president for his administration’s acknowledgement of the queer community .

You presided over a period of time that turned out to be, in many ways, one of the most positive periods of time ever in the lives of gay Americans,”

Wood, who is bisexual, echoed those sentiments, thanking Obama for.

… changing the way that people thought about us, and honestly, the way I thought about myself.”

 

Ellen DeGeneres Talks Love And Marriage

Talking to PEOPLE in this week’s cover story, Ellen DeGeneres admits that her life has been blessed by any standards.

I’m grateful for everything. I’m grateful for my health, and I’m so grateful for the love in my life. Because not everybody finds that. Not everybody finds that best friend.”

1f8205f339cb75a3e75a92b8e32a981b

DeGeneres, who tied the knot with Portia de Rossi in 2008, insists she has learned to never take their relationship for granted.

Portia and I constantly say to each other, ‘We are so lucky.’ Sometimes it’s lying in bed at night before I go to sleep, and I just say thank you to whatever, whoever is out there. I’ve gotten to a place where I really am just settled. Really. I know that I’m not going anywhere. She’s not going anywhere. I’m not saying the relationship took a while; I’m saying in my life, it took a while to find this.”

When it comes to love, DeGeneres adds.

You get what you give. I think you can’t expect someone to treat you a certain way. Whatever it is, if you’re getting a lot of negative energy or anger, you have to say, ‘Why am I getting this? Am I doing something to create it?’ And if the answer is honestly no, then get out of that situation.”

Pictures-Taylor-Swift-Lauren-Conrad-Drew-Barrymore-Ellen-DeGeneres-Cover-Girl-Party-2011-01-06-062826

DeGeneres also says they strive to put their marriage first, despite their busy careers.

Our priorities are each other too. If we had kids, then I’m sure they would be, but we are. And that’s important.

I think the word ‘love’ is thrown around, like, ‘I love you’ is great to hear, but you want to feel it. You want to feel that you’re understood, and they know exactly who you are, and they know how to take care of you. That, to me, is family. I don’t think it has anything to do with blood relation. Family for everyone is different.”

So what’s the best part about being married? DeGeneres adds.

There’s no best part. It’s everything. I can’t imagine not being married. I have my best friend, the person I want to spend time with more than anybody else in the world.”

Ellen DeGeneres Reveals How Her Father Struggled With Her Decision to Come Out As Gay

The actress-and-talk show host, , who is married to actress Portia de Rossi, announced to the world she was a lesbian in 1997.

Ellen, whose parents divorced when she was young, has revealed how her ‘overprotective’ dad, Elliott Everett DeGeneres, was worried for her when she went public with her sexuality because he wanted her to have a quiet life and was the opposite of her “sassy” mother Betty DeGeneres.

Speaking to HELLO! magazine, she said:

My parents divorced when I was young – they were very different personalities. My mother is a strong woman, sarcastic and sassy, and I learnt how to be a tough woman from her. My dad is a wonderful man but he has a lot of fear and he was overprotective of me.

He didn’t want me to hurt myself so he wanted me to be nice and quiet all the time and not really argue or speak my opinion. So imagine his challenge of having an openly gay child … When you’re growing up, whatever your environment is, if you don’t know any different, that is what it is.

I didn’t know anything was wrong until I got older and I started doing some soul-searching and read some books. I learnt a lot of lessons the hard way, which is a beautiful way to learn them.”

Ellen married Portia, in August 2008 after the ban on same-sex marriages was overturned in California.

Now I have Portia in my life, I’ve been forced to grow a great deal, because I’ve learnt that you can’t really get anything from anyone unless you have something to give to them.

So I come to this relationship as a whole person, which I wasn’t ever before. She and I both support each other and we both believe in each other and it’s great.”


[interaction id=”56d059c0fe5d459225d49467″]

Portia de Rossi’s Mocked With Hateful Comments For Being Too Thin

This week, Scandal actress Portia De Rossi and hit the red carpet for a PaleyFest panel with the rest of the show’s cast at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The next day, celeb websites and gossip mags were buzzing about apperance — but they weren’t talking about her role on the show.

De Rossi’s became the subject of a major mean girl attack when photos surfaced showing her looking what critics deemed as “too skinny.”

OK! Magazine published a slideshow of photos of the actress with the headline, “Portia De Rossi Is Skin And Bones Amid Relationship Trouble Rumors With Ellen DeGeneres,” and called her “frightening frail.”

Radar put up a similar slideshow and claimed, “Portia de Rossi recently created alarm when her midriff-baring top showed her too-skinny frame.”

Beyond the inherent wrongness of body-shaming any woman, the comments take on a whole new low when one remembers that de Rossi has discussed her lifelong struggles with an eating disorder many times.

rsz_portia-de-rossi-and-robin-roberts-02

She told the documentary series It Got Better in 2015.

I felt tremendous responsibility when I was 12 years old and I was put on a catwalk. My modeling agents had told me to go on a diet. So I didn’t eat for 10 days before then.”

De Rossi told Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts in a 2010 interview, reported ABC News.

From that age I learned that what I looked like was more important than what I thought, what I did and who I was.”

De Rossi has since seemingly managed to maintain a healthy weight, but even if she has lost weight recently, shaming her for being “too skinny” is a particularly hateful thing to do.

Eating disorders are serious diseases, and one wouldn’t shame someone for having cancer, so someone who suffers from an eating disorder shouldn’t be shamed for it, either.

 

 

 

Ellen DeGeneres To Oprah: “I Didn’t Ever Think I Was Going To Come Out”

Oprah’s Master Class returned this Sunday, with Ellen DeGeneres sharing what she’s learned on her path to becoming a beloved daytime talk show host.

ellen-master-class-02

In 1997, Ellen became an unintentional activist when she announced she was gay around the same time that her television character came out on the show.

This decision, Ellen admits, was one she never thought she’d make. Talking to Oprah Winfrey, the comedian said she feared that coming out would end her career.

I certainly didn’t ever that I was going to come out. Period. And I didn’t think I’d be coming out on a show, ever.”

DeGeneres said she changed her mind after a friend gave her a ‘hippie retreat’ at the Esalen Institute called Changing the Inner Dialogue as a gift.

I wanted to know what the inner dialogue of my subconscious mind was, and it was scary and crazy. What came out of listening to what I had been saying to myself is. “Would I still be famous? Would they still love me if they knew I was gay?” And my fear was, “No, they wouldn’t.”

But DeGeneres said she felt shame that she was hiding her sexuality.

I just didn’t want to pretend to be somebody else anymore so that people would like.”

Watch a clip from the interview below:

 

 

Forget The Seven-Year-Itch, Ellen DeGeneres And Portia De Rossi Are As Happy As Ever.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has dismissed rumours that she is to divorce her wife Portia de Rossi, saying:

There’s not one ounce of truth to any of it.”

Ellen-and-Stern-02

Speaking on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM radio show, DeGeneres said:

We really don’t almost break up, we don’t fight, we’re madly in love, and I guess it’s boring. It’s so ridiculous to me,’ she continued. ‘There’s not one ounce of truth to any of it. I’m very happily married. In fact, the only thing we ever argue about is who loves who more. That is all. It’s really true.”

Explaining that she doesn’t pay attention to showbiz gossip, she said:

We don’t know anything about it until somebody tells us. I don’t read the tabloids, I don’t have a publicist. I don’t know why they do this. We’re kind of flattered because for a while no one cared about us and we thought “Oh, lesbians aren’t worthy of tabloid stories” so now we’re kind of flattered that they care about us.”

Having celebrated their seventh anniversary last month, the grinning pair walked hand-in-hand through New York on Thursday.
ellen-portia-01

DeGeneres and de Rossi first started dating in 2004, and married in August 2008.

Ellen DeGeneres & Gap New Clothing Line for Girls Challenges Gender Stereotypes

Ellen DeGeneres has launched a new collection for Gap Kids that is for every girl no matter…

… whether they skateboard or dance, wear dresses or jeans, build forts or paint rainbows, or everything in between.”

ellen-gap-01

ellen-gapkids-03

Featuring more gender-neutral colours, the line features uplifting slogans like “Be your own hero.”

We focus so much on our differences and that is creating a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world. And I think that if we focus on what we all have in common which is ‘we all just want to be happy’ that would be a lot better.”

The children’s clothing line is a direct descendant of ED by Ellen, a collection of women’s apparel, accessories and decorative home products.

Gap says $250,000 from the sales of GapKids x ED will be donated to Girls Inc., a not-for-profit focused on giving girls confidence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2rrLOtKSFE

12 Great Lesbian Books Every One Should Read

What’s the last book that moved you? That made you laugh or cry or completely reconsider your thoughts on life or love?

Those are always the books that stick with me. When I come across a book that truly impacted me I can often remember the intricate details of where I bought it or who gave it to me.

Sometimes when I’m in a certain mood, reading a favourite book can help heighten the depth of emotion.

Here are a few great books and the perfect kind of mood to read them in.


1. The Price Of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

Take Manhattan in the 1950’s, add a budding friendship between two lonely women and a cross-country road trip, finally sprinkle in a game of cat-and-mouse involving a private investigator (hired by Carol’s husband – GASP!) – and you end up with The Price Of Salt. This 1952 romance novel was very popular among lesbians of the time period. Not all that surprising due to the unconventional characters that defied stereotypes about being gay.

The Price Of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

Get your copy here.


2. Inferno (A Poet’s Novel) by Eileen Myles

“My English professor’s ass was so beautiful,” is the first line you’ll read in this story of a young female poet attempting to understand her sexuality in the crazed environment that is New York City.

Inferno (A Poet’s Novel) by Eileen Myles

Get a copy here.


3. Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi

“Shame weighs a lot more than flesh and bone.” It’s lines like that from actress Portia De Rossi’s honest memoir that make this a must-read for anyone struggling to accept themselves. The pages cover her struggles with anorexia, her experiences being a gay woman within the Hollywood realm, and – of course – how she meets and later falls in love with Ellen DeGeneres.

Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi

Get a copy here.


4. Ash by Malinda Lo

In this retelling of Cinderella, Ash is young girl left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother after her father’s death. Just like Cinderella, Ash waits for the day her fair prince – or in this case, a fairy named Sidhean – will come and whisk her away. The only problem? She meets the King’s Huntress, Kaisa, and suddenly her “happily ever after” is a bit more complicated. All fairy-tales should get a makeover like this.

Ash by Malinda Lo

Get a copy here. Also be sure to take a peek at the prequel Huntress.


5. Her Name in the Sky, Kelly Quindlen

Falling for your best friend is confusing. Falling for your best friend is difficult. And, perhaps most of all, falling for your best friend is unbelievably scary. In Her Name In The Sky, 17-year-old Hannah falls for her best friend Baker – really the last thing she ever wanted to do during her senior year – and we are reminded just how true all those sentiments are. While this book focuses on a young gay teenager, it’s completely relatable to anyone at all who went through (survived) high school.

Her Name in the Sky, Kelly Quindlen

Get a copy here.


6. Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch

Sometimes it’s nice to read something that simply makes you laugh. Jane Lynch’s memoir will make you laugh. One chapter begins with with this confession: “Like any good, closeted young lesbian of the seventies, I developed a raging crush on Ron Howard.”

But don’t expect to be in stitches the entire time, as Lynch also delves into her personal fight against alcoholism and her struggle to become comfortable with her sexuality. Even through the serious topics, Lynch constantly adds her touch of wry humour that seems to come so naturally.

Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch

Get a copy here.


7. Empress Of The World by Sara Ryan

Nicola Lancaster has her world turned upside down when she meets a charming blonde dancer named Battle at a summer institute for “gifted youth”. After all – she has always liked boys! AH, those famous last words. An Oregon Book Award winner, Empress Of The World was re-issused recently and now includes three graphic novel stories about the characters.

Empress Of The World by Sara Ryan

Get a copy here.


8. The World Unseen By Shamim Sarif

Sarif’s novel immerses you in 1950s South Africa, where apartheid is only just beginning. The laws won’t stop Amina from running a cafe with her business partner, who happens to be a black man, in a conventional Indian community. Miriam on the other hand is a traditional housewife that wouldn’t even dream of breaking, let alone bending, any rules. When the two women are thrown together you can imagine what happens… so, I’ll just let you read it. Two of Sharif’s novels are now feature length films that are also worth seeing after you’ve done your reading.

The World Unseen By Shamim Sarif

Get a copy here.


9. Valencia by Michelle Tea

Valencia is a drama-filled account of the narrator’s own personal experiences in San Francisco’s queer neighbourhoods. Tea takes you through a string of experiences – and ex-girlfriends – as she rebels against her tight-laced southern upbringing in the city by the bay.

Valencia by Michelle Tea

Get your copy here.


10. Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden

Published in 1982, Garden’s novel tells the story of two teenage girls whose friendship turns into a lot more than just friendship, if you catch my drift. What makes this story different [Spoiler Alert] is that despite the pressures from family and school, they actually get a happy ending.

Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden

Get a copy here.


11. Fall On Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald

There is a good reason Ann-Marie MacDonald’s novel has been translated into over seventeen different languages. The story begins in Nova Scotia in the midst of World War I and ends in New York City. What happens in-between? Terrible family secrets, attempted murder, and forbidden love. Enough said.

Fall On Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald

Get a copy here.


12. Zami: A New Spelling Of My Name by Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde’s stunning autobiography begins with childhood memories in Harlem and spans through her early-adulthood in the 1950s. She creates a “biomythography” by flawlessly blending together her own poetry, popular songs, journal entries, and personal memories.

Zami- A New Spelling Of My Name by Audre Lorde

New Study Confirms Ellen DeGeneres As Top Role Model for Millennial Women

According to a new study by Meredith Corp, marketers wanting to reach out to millennial women in their upcoming campaigns need to think about tie-ins with J.K. Rowling, Jennifer Lawrence, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Angelina Jolie and Ellen DeGeneres.

These women headed the list of celebrities who either best represent the values of millennial females or who are thought of as role models.

Topping that list was 57-year-old DeGeneres which is surprising considering her age against the target audience. However, it also indicated that when it comes to role models, millennial women are looking outside their own age group.

Ellen DeGeneres Welcome Party

The media company that targets women in categories like beauty, food and home, says by 2020 according to U.S. Census projections, millennial women will number 80.4 million, and according to New Strategic Press, will have a spending power of $2.5 trillion annually. They also cite a Realtor.com figure that predicts millennial woman by that year will account for two-thirds of all first-time homebuyers.

The survey offers up various data in the areas of beauty, food and home, and also presents some insights into the thought process of millennial women.

For example, 27% think weight acceptance is the most pressing issue facing women today; 25% believe it’s wage equality; 19% believe it’s domestic violence; and 10% believe it’s quality healthcare.

And 83% of millennial women say they are ready for a female president.

EllenDegeneresDesignerMain

When it comes to media, the survey says millennial women turn to different media for different reasons. They say print provides “tech disconnect” and “me time,” while digital satisfies their need for information and TV offers entertainment and escape.

Most millennial women rely on laptops (81%) and their smartphones (80%) for Internet access, more than any other generation, and are much less likely to use tablets or desktops. And social media is a mainstay in their lives.

Some 90% access Facebook at least once a week, 77% access YouTube, 57% access Instagram, 56% use Pinterest, 47% use Twitter and 28% use Snapchat.

In the area of beauty, 73% of millennial women say looking “beautiful/sexy” is important to them. That compares to 57% of Boomer women who say that.

A majority of millennial women (62%) consider themselves “foodies” and 79% like to experiment when cooking. While 70% say they will stick to food brands they trust, 78% will try new products if recommended by friends. Big purchase motivators also include coupons (64%) and price (63%). Millennials also turn to digital to get information on different foods.

One piece of data seems contradictory. Boomer women are more concerned with eating healthy (76% vs. 63% of millennial women), yet millennial women are more likely to look for natural/organic ingredients.

In the area of home, 75% of millennial women like to decorate and do home improvement projects; 69% like to experiment to change the look of their home; and 52% change their home décor seasonally.

Pinterest was listed as millennial women’s most influential source of impacting a home product purchase, followed by recommendations from friends and family.

sign-up-insert-01

Ellen DeGeneres: My clothing Line Gives Girls the Voice I Never Had

Like most of us queer women born in a certain era, Ellen DeGeneres as a child was forced to wear dresses, pinks and a lot of “girly” things her mother made for her wear – sigh.

Talking to Mashable, Ellen said

When I was growing up I didn’t have a lot of choices, as most kids don’t. It really starts when you’re young. It starts when you’re able to express yourself…”

Enter GapKids x ED and the #heyworld campaign, which launches this week. A clothing line that Ellen hopes will allow children to express their authentic identities and empower girls to embrace what makes them different.

ellen-gap-01 ellen-gap-02

In the past, Ellen says she tired to appease her parents by wearing traditional girls’ clothes out in public — from school to church — and afterward immediately changing into comfortable outfits, similar to her sartorial tastes today.

It’s really important to dress in a way that is you, and these clothes that we have designed together are very unique and very powerful and very different.”

Besides DeGeneres, other influencers such as Hilary Duff, Victoria Justice and Nikki Reed, have joined the crusade and will be hash-tagging “heyworld” on social media, for young people either seeking advice or encouragement.

ellen-gapkids-03

Ellen added

I’m a comedian, I’m funny some of the time, but I’m not funny all of the time. I’m definitely sad sometimes. I have my days when I’m down, and my days when the world is overwhelming and sad things happen. You should look for ways to feel better about yourself and not get down on yourself because you’re having a bad day.”

She wants people to use the hashtag campaign for this purpose, and to talk through tough times.

I want to see what people are writing, what they choose to express, and what they choose to say. I want to see if socially they are going to send us message [about] who they are, what sets them apart, what makes them unique.”

ellen-gapkids-01

Tricia Nichols, global lead of consumer engagement and partnerships for Gap, added

Ellen represents an American icon with a commitment to individuality. ED by Ellen is all about “being allowed to be the individual you are.”

Along with DeGeneres, Gap plans to highlight responses and inspiring stories that come from the movement — on her show, Instagram and Twitter.

Hopefully young girls are going to get empowered by this, which is my goal,”

Ellen DeGeneres Inspires Young Girls Fashion with New GapKids Range

Chat show host Ellen DeGeneres and her lifestyle brand ED has teamed with Gap to produce GapKids x ED

The 57-year-old chat show host revealed she loves working with them because of their principles and standards.

ellen-gapkids-01

Gap has always encouraged people to be themselves, and I love that they have the same values that I have: to be true to who you are and to wear cute pants.

I know from my own experience that nothing makes you feel better than being who you are and celebrating what makes you unique. I think if we shine a light on real girls doing incredible things, that’ll encourage other girls and boys to do incredible things, and that’ll encourage even more people to do incredible things, and eventually the world will be a more incredibler place.”

Pieces from the collection – which are modelled by a pro-Skateboarder, a young entrepreneur, a professional drummer, and a 9-year-old engineer of prosthetic hands – will feature lightning bolts to depict power and speech bubbles to represent words of encouragement.

ellen-gapkids-03

Also read: Ellen DeGeneres Discusses Designing Clothes In A Post-Gender World

Although the collection focuses on clothing for girls, there will also be a small assortment of apparel for boys and adults.

ellen-gapkids-02

Ellen said in a statement:

I think it’s important to teach boys at a young age to respect girls and their ideas. It’s like Aretha Franklin spelled, R-E-S-P-E-C-D. By the way, we have some really amazing boys clothes in the collection. We believe in equal opportunity cuteness.”

The collection will be available on gap.com and in GapKids stores worldwide in August.

Ellen DeGeneres New Luxury Lifestyle Brand ‘ED’ is Finally Launched (Video)

It’s hard to imagine, and frankly pretty unfair, that someone could be as hilarious and stylish as Ellen DeGeneres. But the comedian and everyone’s favourite talk show host just proved her fashion prowess with the launch of her new lifestyle brand, ED.

First announced last month, Ellen explained that she was inspired by fans who were copying her “very distinct way of dressing”, but struggling to find the clothing they wanted to buy.

The website offers a range of clothes and homeware goods chosen by the chat show host.

ED-clothing-01 2 ED-clothing-01 ED-clothing-03 ED-clothing-04 ED-clothing-05

Also read: Ellen DeGeneres Discusses Designing Clothes In A Post-Gender World

She described the line, which features bomber jackets, blazers and shorts, as not being “extremely feminine, it’s not masculine, it’s just comfortable”.

The name of the line comes from Portia de Rossi’s nickname for Ellen, and if that’s not enough to make you fall in love with it, the collection’s even better than we imagined.

UAE Media Try Desperately to Ignore Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi Marriage

TV-show host and comedian Ellen Degeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi took a trip to unannounced trip to Dubai over the weekend – causing a social media storm in the process. The celebrity couple apparently flew from the USA, last Friday to attend The Act Dubai in the Shangri-La Hotel on Sunday evening.


However, the media in the United Arab Emirates have been a little confused on how to address the fact that the couples are married, as being homosexual is illegal in the United Arab Emirates.

In fact, none of the UAE media mentioned the fact that the duo are married, choosing to skirt the issue entirely.


The National

We’ll just have to wait to see what the American chat show host Ellen DeGeneres and her friend, Scandal and Arrested Development actress Portia de Rossi, are doing in Dubai.”

ellen-degeneres-portia-gif
Of course, we would hope America’s favourite lesbians are also friends . . .

Gulf News

Very little is known about the pair’s visit to the city except that they were invited for dinner by the club’s management.”

ellen-degeneres-portia-gif-01

Hmmm . . . “pair” is a little different than the word “couple.”

Time Out Dubai

The comedienne was joined by actress Portia de Rossi for dinner at the Peruvian place too.”

ellen-degeneres-portia-gif-02

Interesting, another random actress joined her on her vacation - Oh wait, that’s her wife!

Arabian Business

Best known for hosting her daytime comedy chat show, DeGeneres was spotted with ‘Scandal’ actress Portia de Rossi on Sunday night.”

ellen-degeneres-portia-gif-03

How bizarre, Ellen was “spotted” hanging out with her own wife!

Ahlan Live

After the show both stars happily posed for pictures with the performers, before heading back to their hotel.”

ellen-degeneres-portia-gif-05

Do you think they would have said “both stars” if it was Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? Hmmm, we wonder.

However, Al Bawaba, which is based in Amman, Jordan, but has an office in Dubai got the full story. Props to them.

Al Bawaba

The internet was ablaze yesterday, when TV host and Oscar presenter Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia di Rossi were spotted in departures at Los Angeles’ LAX.”

ellen-degeneres-portia-gif-04

Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?

Degeneres has been a pioneer for LGBT rights in the United States, coming out publicly as a lesbian in 1997 on her television sitcom. She and de Rossi were married in 2008 but have been together since 2004.

 

Ellen DeGeneres Discusses Designing Clothes In A Post-Gender World

Ellen DeGeneres Discusses Designing Clothes In A Post-Gender World

Her new lifestyle brand, ED, features all things Ellen, including a clothing collection — slouchy sweaters, soft T-shirts, sleek bomber jackets, casual blazers — made for the rest of us.

In a recent interview with refinery29, DeGeneres discussed her reasons for designing her new gender fluid brand.

I was having a hard time finding clothes that I felt comfortable in. I think dressing every day is a way of expressing yourself. You can almost see someone’s personality with what they wear. I don’t wear a lot of bright colours, because even though I’m in the public eye and on television, I’m not an extrovert. I’m a very quiet, shy person if you know me. I dress in more earth tones and more neutral colours because, it’s weird, but I don’t like to stand out. I also like to be really comfortable. And, I’ve never found women’s clothes that I felt completely comfortable in, the way they were cut. I didn’t want to wear men’s clothes, and if I did like something… I would always have to alter it to fit me.

EllenDegeneresDesignerMain

On how the brand started, Degeneres added

We started making my own clothes on the show and noticing that a lot of people who were coming to the show were trying to dress like me, but those clothes weren’t out there. I mean, I have a very distinct way of dressing, and clearly other people are responding to it, so that was the impetus to launch the brand. So, there’s a line that’s out there that’s not extremely feminine, it’s not masculine, it’s just comfortable.”

Degeneres, says like most of us, she struggled to find clothes that truly expressed herself

We find our own way instead of just going along with what society presents us. It’s the same with clothing. I was just wearing what I could find that was comfortable for me. I mean, if you look back at some of my styles — unfortunately, they’re all documented because I’ve been on television since the ’80s — there’s some bad style there. I think maybe Sinbad was an influence for me? That’s a joke. Also, for a time, I was closeted, so I was also highly aware of, How can I be myself and be comfortable and yet not give away the fact that I’m gay? Stella McCartney, Jil Sander, rag & bone — I loved a lot of clothes, but they weren’t exactly me. It took time for me to recognise what exactly made me comfortable.”

I don’t like extreme, feminine things. And, I don’t like masculine things, and yet I’m more drawn to men’s sweaters or the way Ryan Gosling or Brad Pitt dresses. So, I think it’s blending both of those things to be sort of non-gender-specific, just cool and classic. ’Cause I don’t think blue is for boys and pink is for girls. I don’t think that exists anymore. We’re living in a world where, you know, Bruce Jenner is a woman. We’re learning so much about gender and sexuality and fluidity, and I think that should blend and bleed into the fashion world.”

You can read the full article at refinery29

Watch | Portia de Rossi Opens up about her Eating Disorders and Struggles to Accept Her Sexuality

In the newest episode of the online docu-series It Got Better — part of the It Gets Better project to foster hope in LGBT youths — Portia de Rossi discusses how her eating disorder distracted her from addressing her sexual orientation.

I didn’t want to think about being gay. Having the eating disorder was kind of like a babysitter. It kind of allowed me to not think about who I really was.”

Talking about her childhood, the actress candidly speaks about her struggles as a young model.

I felt tremendous responsibility when I was 12 years old, and I was put on a catwalk. My modelling agents had told me to go on a diet. So I didn’t eat for 10 days before then. I’m up on this catwalk, and I’m a little kid and posing and trying to be sexy and strutting around and all the other models are making fun of my bushy eyebrows.”

The Arrested Development star goes on to describe what happened after the bullying.

When I got in the car after that event and just opened up a bag of my favourite candy and just put my whole head in it and I think, ‘Sh*t, what have I done? I just undid two weeks worth of dieting. So then I vomit. I erase the feelings with food, erase the food with vomiting, but you’re still left with the shame.”

Growing up de Rossi felt isolated and confused about her sexual orientation. She first noticed her feelings toward other girls at the age of 10. Being gay was the ultimate taboo in her family. When her mother initially discovered de Rossi’s interest in women, she encouraged her daughter to keep her romantic life private.

When de Rossi headed to the States in the 1990s to pursue her acting career, she battled anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating as she pushed down her personal feelings.

I was 82 pounds at the time, very much in the closet. They were both hand in hand. It was all the same thing: shame.”

De Rossi’s dual struggle is a common one in the LGBT community. Lesbian and bisexual teenagers are twice as likely to report binge eating at least once a month, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Instances of violence, bullying, and fear of rejection when coming out contribute to a predisposition of eating disorders in LGBT teens.

True to the form of the It Gets Better campaign, de Rossi reveals how her life changed and improved. After getting a wake-up call about her deteriorating health because of self-starvation, she began the long road to recovery.

As de Rossi learned to accept her body, she also accepted that she was gay.

Portia de Rossi 02

Who you are is enough. There is no us and them. There is no way to be. There is no normal.… How amazing is it to be alive and be uniquely you?”

The second season of the web series will feature such celebrities as RuPaul, Andrew Rannells, Janet Mock and Nate Berkus.

First Look at Ellen DeGeneres’ New Clothing Range

As we all, know America’s favourite funny lady Ellen DeGeneres is adding ‘designer’ to her résumé, with the launch lifestyle brand ED (pronounced “Ed,” a nod to wife Portia de Rossi’s nickname for her).

EllenDegeneresDesignerMain

 

And now we’re starting to get a peak at the new collection, which serves up cool tailored clothing and eclectic housewares inspired by DeGeneres’ own closets and homes.

Ellen DeGeneres' New Lifestyle Brand 07

I want my line to be the answer to ‘I have nothing to wear. Guests on my show always ask me where they can get my clothes. Now I’m excited to tell them, ‘I’m wearing me!'”

A teaser site, only informational and with imagery, goes live May 18 at Edbyellen.com with sales opening in mid-June.

Ellen DeGeneres' New Lifestyle Brand 06

The specific date is to be determined, as the full site remains under construction. Conversations are under way with a major retail partner and a deal should be in place in time for the fall selling season. In addition, a major event is being planned for New York Fashion Week, with the details still under discussion.

The whole brand is beyond what I expected. It’s my brand, but I can kind of brag about it, [because] it’s other people that made this happen and executed it.”

Reflecting DeGeneres’ personal style, the fashion focuses on classic tailoring and sharp attention to detail. Casual and chic — DeGeneres’ guiding mantra. Inherent therein: the comfort quotient.
 

It just doesn’t exist [elsewhere],” DeGeneres contended. “That’s what’s special about it. What makes a shirt different, any sweater different — it’s just all in the detail. Everything about it is casual and yet it’s chic.

This is nothing new to say, but I don’t think you should sacrifice style for comfort. That’s mainly the way I dress. I care about how I look and I care about aesthetic tremendously; I like nice things.”

Ellen DeGeneres' New Lifestyle Brand 05 Ellen DeGeneres' New Lifestyle Brand 08

For Ellen each item must not only look good but make sense.

I’m not going to wear a dress because I just don’t feel comfortable in dresses, but if I were to wear a dress it would be that dress. Probably Kim Kardashian is not going to buy my clothes. She might — and then just shorten them….I don’t think anyone [on the team] dis- agreed with me when I said the dress was too short and it wasn’t an objectification issue. It was more practical — when you sit down. I have a lot of actresses on the show. They come out and sit down and say, ‘oh, I didn’t sit down backstage. I didn’t see how short this was going to be.’ The stylists dress them right before they come out. They come down and sit down and they can’t cross their legs. I think it’s important to be able to wear a dress and be comfortable and sit down and not worry about how you sit.”

Ellen DeGeneres' New Lifestyle Brand 03 Ellen DeGeneres' New Lifestyle Brand 02

Watch: Rosie O’Donnell It Gets Better Video

Last year, the It Gets Better Project had out celebrities like Jane Lynch and duo Tegan and Sara, sharing their stories about how “It Got Better” for them as they grew older. Now the series has returned with a new selection of videos, which will include six stories from public figures like Rosie O’Donnell, and Portia de Rossi.

Below is Rosie O’Donnell journey. In it, O’Donnell has made a career out of making us laugh. But her past heartbreaks are no laughing matter. In the video she discusses losing her mother and how becoming a mother herself inspired her to advocate for gay parents everywhere.

She also discusses growing up in New Jersey, her first crush on a female friend, being a tomboy, and coming out to herself at 17. Then she discusses why she came out publicly in the 2002 and advice she offers to LGBT youth.

‘Arrested Development’ Producer Announces Another 17 Episodes

The Bluth family is set to return for another hilarious season, so get your chicken dances at the ready.

In a fairly off-the-cuff remark amid a discussion at SXSW about his current hit show Empire, he said:

“I love Arrested Development, but it was never a huge thing. But people are loyal to it, and we’re going to do another 17 episodes. So stay tuned for Arrested Development.”

Fortunately, news that the show would return isn’t completely out of the blue, and follows comments last year from Netflix head Ted Sarandos, who said “It’s just a matter of when”, after being asked if new episodes were incoming, and from series actor Will Arnett, who said “It’s going to happen, we don’t know when but it is going to happen.”

Arrested-Development-01

Starring Arnett alongside Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor and Tony Hale, Arrested Development ran for three series on Fox between 2003 and 2006, attracting a cult following as well as a string of awards.

Cancelled by the network in 2006, the show was picked up by Netflix for a fourth series in August 2012 with fifteen new episodes launched on the online streaming service in May the following year.

While a Netflix spokesperson declined Redeye’s request for comment, you can watch video of Grazer’s announcement below. His remarks begin at the 24:30 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1467&v=NOy6WYr9jxQ

Portia de Rossi Laughs Off ‘Marriage Problems’ With Ellen On Good Morning America

Portia de Rossi sat down with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America and addressed the rumours that she and wife Ellen are experiencing marriage problems.

Last year, the couple were forced to deny rumours of rows and fall-outs, but if you are a follower of their social media accounts then, you’d see the hollywood power couple appear to be happier than ever in their relationship.

More: The Social Media War Continues Between Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi

Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres Rock The People’s Choice Awards

Winners for the People’s Choice Awards 2015 were announced during a live broadcast hosted by Anna Faris and Allison Janney last night on the CBS Television Network.

But the couple who owned the show was Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres. Photographers couldn’t get enough of them on the carpet, backstage and inside the show.

Both were nominated tonight were nominated for awards, with Portia is nominated with the cast of Scandal for Favorite Network TV Drama, and Ellen is up for the Favorite Daytime TV Host award, which she of course won. Meaning this is her 15th People’s Choice Award!

Now in its 41st year, the People’s Choice Awards is the only major awards show voted on entirely by the public for fan favourites in movies, music and television.

ellen-degeneres-portia-de-rossi-people-04 ellen-degeneres-portia-de-rossi-people-02 The 41st Annual People's Choice Awards - Backstage And Audience

Ellen DeGeneres And Portia De Rossi Address Baby Rumors

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are putting an end to baby rumours.

“No, we’re not gonna have a baby? OK, good for me to know now.”

Ellen DeGeneres

De Rossi appeared on The Ellen Show, with DeGeneres’ grilling her wife over tabloid claims they’re going to start a family.

“They want us to have a baby. Did you see it says, ‘They’re finally starting a family’. Like, are people really that mad at us? … So, um, no … we’re not.”

Portia De Rossi

And finally Portia de Rossi gets put in the dunk tank!

Scandal’s Newest Cast Member Portia de Rossi Surprises Her Wife

Awwww, Scandal’s newest cast member Portia de Rossi surprised her wife (Ellen DeGeneres) by joining the entire cast of Scandal on the Ellen Show.

portia-de-rossi-on-scandal

“You stopped texting me!” said Ellen in response to Portia appearance. Well, now she knows why.

Watch the videos here…

Ellen played a special game with the cast of “Scandal,” in which they had to guess each other’s secrets! But first, Kerry Washington had a BIG secret to reveal!

Ellen them issued a dare to the cast of “Scandal,” with a big prize for the winner…

7 Wonderful Quotes From Lesbian Celebrities On Coming Out

Here are 7 wonderful quotes

Ellen Page came out at a Human Rights Campaign conference.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 02

Brittney Griner recently proposed to her girlfriend, Glory Johnson.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 03

Emily Rios came out after her character on The Bridge had a lesbian storyline.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 01

Ellen Degeneres came out in 1997.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 04

Portia de Rossi came out publicly in 2005 in an interview with Amanda De Cadenet.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 05

Laura Jane Grace came out in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 06

Sara Gilbert came out publicly in 2010 on The Talk.

Quotes Celebrities Coming Out 07

Image source – BuzzFeed

Portia de Rossi to Join Scandal

Ellen DeGeneres, proudly announce to 29.8 million twitter followers that her wife Portia de Rossi, will feature in multiple episodes of the upcoming fourth season of ABC’s Scandal, which is on TV (in the US) September 25.

Degeneres tweets: “So annoying when people brag on twitter & that’s why I’m not tweeting that Portia just signed on to do a top secret arc on ‘Scandal’. Oops.” 

The Portia will join the Scandal storyline after season 3 wrapped up on a cliffhanger, with Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) taking off with Jake (Scott Foley) and leaving behind a devastated Fitz (Tony Goldwyn).

 

The Growing Number of Lesbian & Bi Celebrities – Here are Our Top 20

Coming out can be tough enough when its too a few, but coming out to millions… Takes time. In the past it was considered a potentially career-ending acknowledgment, now growing number of celebrities have come out with relatively little fanfare.

Here is a list of 20 Out and Proud Lesbians Celebrities…


Jodie-Foster1. Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster ended years of rampant media speculation when she casually came out of the closet while accepting her Cecil B. Demille award at the 2013 Golden Globes.

“I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age. In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, coworkers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her.”


Gillian-Anderson2. Gillian Anderson

The “X-Files” actress revealed she’s had numerous relationships with women in a 2012 interview with Out magazine. The 43-year-old mother of three, who’s long enjoyed a sizeable lesbian fan-base, told Out that she first had a relationship with a woman while still in high school, after moving from her native England to suburban Michigan.

 


Raven-Symone3. Raven-Symone

Raven Symone came out via Twitter in early August 2013 after long-term speculation surrounding the actress’ sexuality. She confirmed the subtle coming out by retweeting of her followers congratulating the star.

“I am very happy that gay marriage is opening up around the country and is being accepted. I was excited to hear today that more states legalized gay marriage. I, however am not currently getting married, but it is great to know I can now, should I wish to.”


Meredith-Baxter4. Meredith Baxter

In December 2009 Baxter, most famous for playing Elyse Keaton on ’80s sitcom “Family Ties,” went on the “Today Show” and told Matt Lauer that she was a lesbian. Baxter said,

“Some people would say, well, you’re living a lie and, you know, the truth is — not at all. This has only been for the past seven years.”

Meredith Baxter


Cynthia-Nixon5. Cynthia Nixon

Star of ‘Sex And The City’ was out-ed in 2004 when the NY Daily News and the New York Post reported she was living with another woman in September 2004. Nixon half-heartedly confirmed the rumours…

“My private life is private… But at the same time, I have nothing to hide. So what I will say is that I am very happy.”

Cynthia Nixon


Kelly-McGillis6. Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis, known as who starred opposite Tom Cruise in “Top Gun,” revealed she’s gay on lesbian website SheWired.com.

McGillis, who was married twice to men and has two daughters, said…

“It’s a part of being true to yourself. That’s been a challenge for me personally.”


Sara-Gilbert7. Sara Gilbert

Sara Gilbert, who’s best known for her role on “Roseanne,” officially came out in 2010. At that time, she was getting ready to launch “The Talk,” a daytime talk show which focuses on parenthood and families, so Gilbert felt compelled to acknowledge her sexuality.

“I don’t ever really think of things as out or in. I just think I am who I am, and when topics come up that are appropriate, I’ll talk about them and share when it seems right.”


Joanna-Johnson8. Joanna Johnson

“Bold and the Beautiful” star Joanna Johnson became daytime soap opera’s only active “out” actor when she said she was a lesbian in May. Johnson said she feared coming out would prohibit her from getting acting roles. Johnson is now married to L.A. club promoter Michelle Agnew, with whom she has two children with.

 

 


Lady-Sovereign9. Lady Sovereign

In May 2010 the British rapper came out in Diva magazine.

“Magazines would always ask about it but [questions about my sexuality] would get stopped by my publicists. It was my choice, too, because I was a bit worried about it but now I don’t really give a shit. You can’t hide away forever. It’s just stupid and now I’ve come out I feel a lot more comfortable with myself. But it was a bit scary back then because some people do have horrible opinions.”


Kristy-McNichol10. Kristy McNichol

In January 2012 Kristy McNichol, who was beloved for playing Buddy Lawrence in the ’70s show ‘Family’, for which she won an Emmy, and later Barbara Weston on the “Golden Girls” spin-off “Empty Nest,” revealed she is a lesbian because she is “approaching 50” and wants to “be open about who I am.”

McNichol also cited the wave of antigay bullying stories for coming out, hoping to help bullied LGBT youth who need support.


Chely-Wright11. Chely Wright

Country singer Chely Wright came out in May 2010.

“There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality… I wasn’t going to be the first.”

But she changed her mind and said of her decision, “Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out.”


Amber-Heard12. Amber Heard

Amber Heard, 26, came out while attending GLAAD’s 25th anniversary party. She has starred in movies like as “Pineapple Express” and “Zombieland.”

“I personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you’re inadvertently admitting it’s wrong. I don’t feel like I’m wrong.”

Amber Heard


Denise-Ho13. Denise Ho

Hong Kong’s fourth annual LGBT Pride Parade in November saw beloved Cantonese pop star Denise Ho come out as a lesbian. This announcement made her the first mainstream female singer in Hong Kong to say she’s gay, according to several Hong Kong media outlets.

“As a celebrity, I think I have an obligation, a duty to stand forward for the sake of love and equality.”

 


Portia-de-Rossi14. Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi had been out to friends for quite some time, but she told the entire world in the fall of 2005 in interviews with Details magazine and The Advocate.

“I’ve had my years of being not open, many years of it… It’s an honor for me to do this; it’s just nice to be asked.”

Portia de Rossi


Heather-Matarazzo15. Heather Matarazzo

The actress, perhaps best known for her role as tormented teen Dawn Wiener in the film “Welcome To The Dollhouse,” came out in August 2004 by telling the NY Daily News about falling in love with Caroline Murphy:

“I met the person I’m so madly crazy in love with…She’s not famous yet. She will be. She wants to do musical theater and stage, which is not as demoralizing as the movie business is.”

 


Rosie-O’Donnell16. Rosie O’Donnell

The comedian and talk show host came out by revealing “I’m a dyke!” during her stand up act at the Ovarian Cancer Research benefit at Carolines Comedy Club in February 2002.

 

 


Ellen-DeGeneres17. Ellen DeGeneres

DeGeneres came out in 1997, both in real life and on TV in 1997, on her sitcom Ellen. The ‘Puppy’ Episode, featured a who’s who of Hollywood, including Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore, Billy Bob Thornton, and Laura Dern as Ellen’s love interest. DeGeneres’s character became the first openly gay prime time lead character on television.

 


Melissa-Etheridge18 . Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge came out in January 1993 during the Triangle ball, the first ever ball thrown for the LGBT community during a president’s inauguration, in this case Clinton’s.

“I didn’t even think, Oh, I’m going to come out here…It was, ‘Gee, I’m really excited to be here, and I’m really proud to have been a lesbian all my life.’ And a big cheer went up through the whole hall, and k.d. [lang] came out and hugged me. I remember walking back, and my friend said, ‘I think you came out!'”


Maria-Bello19. Maria Bello

Maria Bello recently revealed that she is in a longtime relationship with a woman named Clare. The actress, who officially came out in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, wrote about her experience telling her son about the relationship.

“Whomever I love, however I love them, whether they sleep in my bed or not, or whether I do homework with them or share a child with them, ‘love is love.'”

 


Wanda-Sykes20. Wanda Sykes

Comedian Wanda Sykes revealed her sexual orientation at a Prop. 8 rally in Las Vegas in November 2008, telling the crowd…

“You know, I don’t really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn’t feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life. Everybody that knows me personally they know I’m gay. But that’s the way people should be able to live their lives. I’m proud to be a woman. I’m proud to be a black woman, and I’m proud to be gay.”

 

Ellen DeGeneres’ Big Announcement… a New Lifestyle Brand

Ellen DeGeneres has announced a new venture: a lifestyle brand. The line is called E.D. or Ed, which is the nickname DeGeneres’ wife Portia de Rossi uses for her.

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t want it to be the biggest brand name that you can imagine. They say we’re going to be on another planet soon, right? I’m going to be the first brand on that planet.”

Ellen DeGeneres

The launch will begin in late October or early November with a gift-oriented line that will take “the name of the holiday-selling season to heart.”

Ellen told Women’s Wear Daily that a full launch will happen in spring 2015. This extended line would include candles, mugs, decorative pillows, ornaments, pyjamas and slippers. Distribution will take place through an online retail partner, undisclosed at this time.

DeGeneres is partnering with Christopher Burch, who is the founder and CEO of Burch Creative Capital, a firm with offices in New York City and Shanghai. He told Women’s Wear Daily:

“People see who she is, what a wonderful person she is and how much she gives back. Everyone responds to her — you’re a man, you’re a woman, you’re a mom, you’re a working mom — she brings a happiness and a light and a true authenticity.”

Christopher Burch

DeGeneres said to the magazine:

“It’s going to be interesting over the next three or four years, to really establish the business in addition to doing my show. It’s a whole new chapter. My life has gone to places…it’s pretty amazing… My goal is that people can have a beautiful house, a really comfortable house, without only being able to afford [very expensive] things,”

Ellen DeGeneres

 

Which Lesbian Celebrity Relationship Most Mirrors Yours?

We often live vicariously through the ups and downs of famous relationships. And we have to admit; we are all obsessed with the flamboyant (and even the tame) details of celebrity couples. Celebrity couples have triumphs and agonies, successes and failures with marriage and divorce. Although fame highlights the lives of the stars, most don’t pretend to be poster children for successful relationships.

Yes, these popular partners are people too, and yes, their lives actually parallel our own, at least when it comes to love. So, what Lesbian Celebrity Relationship mirrors your own?

Perhaps from the examples of others we can learn to balance our own prosperous partnerships. While the lives of others may always intrigue us, it is clear that Hollywood love affairs simply mirror those of us who are not in the public eye.

Bridging the Age Gap

Several stars are romancing their elders and still going strong. Wanda Sykes and wife Alex share a 10-year age difference, while Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi note a 15-year deviation. It’s true, generational gaps must appear at times in these age-blind cases, but it’s a good sign that these lovers can look past the superficial number of years on Earth. May–December couples must beware of the parent-child relationship, but can also delight in the complementary blend of age’s experience with the vigour of youth.

Low-Profile Partnerships

Healthy celebrity coupledom is sometimes attributed to a pair’s ability to keep low-key about the ins and outs of their durable interdependence. It’s evident when celebs put their relationship and family first, before their careers. A couple who seem to exhibit the successful low-profile formula is Jane Wagner and Lily Tomlin. These couples seem to focus on their family, their values, and their work together both on and off the stage.

Crazy Connection

Passionate pairs have always been the most fun to watch, but rather than proving true love, these types of poisoned lovers act more often as enablers than saviours. The truth is, while opposites may attract, they usually get converted. The relationship of Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson exhibited a maniacal love affair that drips with drama. Michelle Rodriguez and Cara Delevingne also have had their own share of public scandal. Perhaps your mate isn’t partaking in illegal affairs, but your partner’s behaviour may be just as toxic.

Stealing the Spotlight

Being eclipsed by a loved one who enjoys widespread professional success can sometimes be hard to take without resentment and jealousy, but some squeezes are happy being the wind beneath their sweetheart’s wings. We defer back Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Ellen is the mega star and her lady, the stunning eye-candy. Allowing your other half to shine in the spotlight while taking a backseat exhibits confidence, trust, and your sincere wishes for very best for your dearest.

Lesbian Icon: Portia de Rossi – Making a Name for Herself

Born Amanda Rogers, this model and actress picked an Italian stage surname from the credit roll of a film to match the name she chose from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. In the Shakespearean stageplay, the character of Portia was the leading lady who disguised as a man in order to argue in court as a lawyer—saving her love from execution. Appropriately, Portia de Rossi’s star-making role was that of a lawyer in the courtroom drama-comedy television series, Ally McBeal. As the story of her life behind the scenes would unfold, her love would save her from death.

Unlike her Shakespearean namesake, the young Portia de Rossi’s disguise was not a one-time trick but a way of life. On The Oprah Winfrey Show, de Rossi spoke about realizing her sexuality. “I had always really loved men, and still do, and just kind of assumed that I would be straight. I think everybody assumes that you’re going to be heterosexual,” de Rossi said with a brittle smile. “And the thing that made me think that I wasn’t, was that I developed very strong feelings for my best friends—for my girl friends—that were stronger than friendship. And I had a series of mini-heartbreaks throughout my teens, because my fantasy of what life could be like with my best friend, uh, wasn’t shared.” At the age of eighteen, she realized that the fulfillment of her love life would have to be with a lesbian.

De Rossi recounted how she would later pretend to drink to inebriation to seduce her straight female friends.

“Here’s the thing. I thought that if I was just kind of experimenting with another straight girl, that I wasn’t gay. We were just two straight girls, experimenting. But I was afraid of being around lesbians, because I thought, ‘Well, if I’m going to be experimenting with a lesbian…must mean I’m gay’ and I didn’t want to be gay.”

Portia de Rossi

Lesbianism would be disastrous for an actress in the 1990’s, even one participating on a show such as Ally McBeal where transsexual characters and experimental kisses between high-powered professional women would make the occasional feature. When Ellen DeGeneres came out, De Rossi (who had not yet met DeGeneres in person) watched DeGeneres’ career with baited breath.

“If someone as charming and wonderful as Ellen DeGeneres can’t pull this off, and keep her career? It’s not going to work for me.”

Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi went on to star as Lindsay Fünke in the award-winning sit-com Arrested Development, and eventually met and married Ellen DeGeneres. She authored a memoir entitled Unbearable Lightness.

Portia de Rossi 03


Portia de Rossi on The Ellen DeGeneres Show