One small step for homosexuals, one giant leap for the world of entertainment. As the nation awaits the much-publicized episode of “Ellen” tonight, in which the lead character played by Ellen DeGeneres announces she is a lesbian, we are reminded once again that being a homosexual in this society is no easy task. The prime time television sitcom may very well be making history tonight when DeGeneres, who recently announced she was a lesbian in real life, will play a character who announces her true sexual orientation.

Homosexuals on television is certainly not a new concept. There have been gay, lesbian and bisexual television and movie characters for several years. There have been “out” homosexual actors and actresses for decades.

Yet, the uproar DeGeneres’ announcement has created is, sadly, not surprising. “Ellen” has been criticized, ridiculed and in some areas, even banned. That’s right: The folks in Birmingham, Ala., won’t even be able to watch tonight’s episode because the city’s ABC affiliate has opted to not show it. National advertisers, such as Chrysler Corporation, General Motors Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, J.C. Penney Company Inc. and Wendy’s, are pulling their ads from tonight’s show.

Why all the fuss? The character’s announcement shouldn’t be a big deal. In fact, it shouldn’t be news at all. Ellen’s coming out is a part of life, a part that most Americans have been introduced to or made aware of by now.

Instead of saying tonight’s episode is just another example of how television is corrupting our youth, why not say tonight is a step in the right direction of educating not just the children, but the nation, about a another lifestyle, about a large percentage of this population’s struggle to be who they are?

Tonight, the character Ellen will make an announcement thousands of homosexuals have had to agonize over, and now they have a character they may be able to relate to. This might not drastically help the fight against anti-homosexuality, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.