All Al Gore said in his recent speech about Ellen was, “When the character of Ellen came out, millions of Americans were forced to look at sexual orientation in a more open light.”

That’s ALL. One brief remark that is undeniably true is truth can be seen clearly by the uproar this innocuous comment has generated among the bigots and homophobes who don’t want to be forced to see gay people.

They want all gays back in the closet with the door nailed shut.

Judging from the extreme response of right-wing politicians like Dan Quayle and gay-bashing political televangelists like Pat Robertson, you’d think the vice president’s speech was about nothing but the virtues of lesbianism. In fact, the theme of his speech was that the entertainment industry must be responsible for the images it conveys, a theme he and his wife Tipper were speaking out on long before Dan Quayle.

As White House communications director Ann Lewis (who’s brother is gay) commented, Ellen is simply a mirror of reality.

Millions of Americans are gay or have family or friends who are. Of Ellen’s critics she said, “They’ve got a problem with reality.”

Alan L. Light

Iowa City