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  • [APPLAUSE] We're back with Oprah and Laura Dern and the cast of Ellen.

  • And one of my favorite things to do on this show is to surprise audience

  • members but I just found out that there's a few people in the audience that have

  • a surprise for me, and I think we're supposed to watch.

  • >> Hi, my name is Sarah Kate Ellis.

  • >> Hi, I'm RJ.

  • >> Hey, I'm Liz.

  • >> I'm H Allen.

  • >> My name is Christopher McDonald.

  • >> I am Shawn Goucher.

  • I was that kid in middle school that was different.

  • >> Not admitting who you are and being closeted, and

  • living your life on a day-to-day basis not out, it's really painful.

  • >> The pressure, when you're in the closet, to you don't wanna talk about

  • something gay, cuz then people are gonna know you're gay.

  • So I wanted to distance myself as much as possible from the episode.

  • But at the same time, inside, I was dying to talk to someone about it,

  • [LAUGH] cuz I was so excited.

  • >> I was so excited.

  • I was literally counting them and it's that day to go home and

  • watch her come out on television.

  • >> When the episode aired, I threw a big party.

  • I think there are about 45 to 50 people.

  • >> Yeah, I watched it.

  • [LAUGH] Ironically, with my wife.

  • >> I knew, in a way, that I was watching history.

  • But, I didn't know how much that was gonna impact my own life.

  • >> It's like watching the Superbowl.

  • This was our hail mary as, I think, a gay community.

  • >> The whole time I was like, please just get to it.

  • Please just get to it.

  • Please just say it, please just say it.

  • >> Susan, I'm gay.

  • >> [APPLAUSE] >> It was a triumphant moment,

  • we all felt we're seen.

  • >> I'm gay. >> [APPLAUSE]

  • >> It was this huge feeling of relief,

  • that was the very first time in my life that I didn't feel alone.

  • >> The credits had just started to beginning to roll and

  • ring, and I picked up and my father didn’t even say hello,

  • he just said, we know, and we love you.

  • >> My mother was in the kitchen,

  • she asked if I had watched Ellen's coming out, and I said no.

  • She said, you should have, it was brave.

  • It's like you wanna tell your mother thank you for that, and you want to,

  • but you can't say the words.

  • >> She could not say the word gay.

  • I could relate to that so much, because saying that word

  • means you can't go back, and I was right there with her.

  • >> She's an icon.

  • She's a hero.

  • She's someone that helped me become the person that I am.

  • >> She put her career on the line to not open doors but

  • to kick down doors and swing them flying open.

  • >> You've made a lot of people laugh, but you saved lives.

  • >> You took that on so that people like me could be here.

  • [MUSIC]

  • You saved my life.

  • >> Ellen, you gave me a great gift.

  • I didn't think I would ever have a partner.

  • I certainly never thought I could say the word wife.

  • My daughters can walk up to friends and say, I have two moms.

  • And people come up to my daughters and go, well, aren't you lucky.

  • >> Thank you for giving a 14 year old fat,

  • gay, sort of sissy kid, who had a really large personality and

  • hid behind his humor, the ability to continue to foster that humor.

  • >> You've given me a dream which 20 years ago wouldn't have even have been possible.

  • >> Thank you for being you and for being brave, and bold,

  • and courageous, for me, for my kids even,

  • because I learned from you how to be brave, and bold, and courageous.

  • And now I'm giving that to my kids.

  • So thank you, Ellen.

  • [APPLAUSE].

  • You're still alive to hear it.

  • >> Yeah, amazing.

  • Thank you all so much.

  • >> Wow.

  • >> We'll take a break, we'll be right back.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • [MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE] We're back with Oprah and Laura Dern and the cast of Ellen.

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