Ellen DeGeneres: My Haters are My Motivators

I really love Ellen's response to the quest of the (Not Even Close to a) Million (Concern Troll) Moms to get JCPenney to dump her as their spokesperson. There is no "Gay or pro-gay" bandwagon, obviously: Ellen DeGeneres is not just a successful comedian and talk show host, but is already a spokesperson for Cover Girl makeup and American Express. People connect with who she is and respond to her self-effacing humor and ability to dance like there's no one else in the room even when everyone is. She makes sense as a spokesperson for any company not because of her identity as a gay woman, but because of who she is as a professional--you know, the way it should be.

That JCPenney is sticking with her is great--because haters should never prosper, but this also serves as a reminder that as yet, most gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the US don't have employment protections for gigs that are not as cool as making tv ads and magazine spots.

 In 29 states, it’s still legal to fire

someone solely because they’re lesbian, gay, or bisexual; in 34 states it is legal to fire someone solely for being transgender.

It's always a good time to remember that there's more that can be done. But while I'm on it, props to Ellen for responding to her detrators with class.  It's the bigots who set the actual bad example about how to be in this world.