Imagine my surprise when, after watching the controversial “coming out” episode of TV’s “Ellen,” I found that the world had not come to an end, America was still standing, and the youth of our country had not suddenly turned gay en masse.

Those who were upset by the episode — upset before even seeing the show, as only the truly self-righteous can be — kept saying it shouldn’t air because sex belongs in the bedroom. Imagine their shagrin to find out that Ellen could be gay without sleeping with someone, that being gay is an element of identity, not necessarily behavior. Like many real people, the TV character Ellen had never been with another woman — but she was still gay.

Was this whole thing really a big deal, after all? Well, it isn’t a big deal that Ellen is gay. It is, however, a big deal that many Americans still believe it’s OK to discriminate against other Americans based on nothing other than whom they fall in love with. That’s the big deal, and luckily, that’s what’s changing.

Scott Miller

St. Louis, MO