Mormon Valedictorian Who Came Out At Graduation Sits Down With Ellen

Matthew Easton chats with Ellen DeGeneres (screen capture)

Matthew Easton, who recently came out during his commencement speech as valedictorian at Brigham Young University, sat down with Ellen DeGeneres today to talk about what inspired him to make his announcement.

“It’s something I’ve been wrestling with my whole life," said the newly-minted graduate. "Ultimately, I decided there’s no better place to do it than here."

“I thought, I’m ready, this is a new chapter of my life,” he continued. “I’m graduating, and I want to live more authentically, more honestly.”

“More than that, I want to give visibility to the other students who are gay who maybe aren’t so ready to come out,” he added.

Easton also shared the meaning of the white sash he wore during his speech. Called a ‘stole of honor,’ the sash allowed him to honor someone in particular. Easton chose a former classmate named Harry Fisher, who committed suicide his senior year after coming out.

“It was his last semester, and he was in sort of the same situation that I was, and he decided to come out on Facebook, and because of the rhetoric and the response that he got from our community, he actually ended up committing suicide,” he shared.

“He sat right in front of me,” he added, growing emotional. “And I thought, ‘Is that my future? Is that what I’m headed toward?’ So I thought, maybe if I came out at graduation, maybe a student like me, a freshman, could say, ‘No, my future’s something brighter, something better.’”

“We can succeed, we can do what we want, and accomplish our dreams,” he concluded. “So, that’s why I chose to come out there.”

“It’s all about visibility,” Ellen quietly replied. “A lot of times some people want to keep us quiet.”

Speaking of keeping quiet, Easton shared his plan to come out with his dad the night before the graduation ceremony. He asked his father if it might upset people. His dad had the right answer.

“Matt, if people have a problem with what you’re going to say, it’s a problem with them, not with you,” Easton recounted. “We love you, we’re here for you, and that’s all that matters.”

“That’s a good dad,” said Ellen.

With his studies in political science now complete, Easton says he’d like to make it out to Washington D.C. someday.

But for now, he has an internship lined up in Salt Lake City. And having come out, he says he’d really like to get involved with the LGBTQ community there.

“For a long time, I’ve been really afraid and scared to participate, and now’s my time to shine,” he announced. “I’m ready to live authentically and I want to get involved.”

It looks like he’ll be able to take some time to do just that as Ellen’s connections at Shutterfly wrote a big, fat check for $10,000 for Easton to start his next chapter.

Watch the interview below.

Ellen Really Wants To Shave Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman's Beard

Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman (and his awesome beard)

Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots dropped by The Ellen Show to chat about winning this year’s big game, but Ellen clearly had one thing on her mind.

After walking out with the Vince Lombardi Trophy in hand (and that glorious beard on his face), Ellen asks if each player gets a trophy. The answer is ‘no,’ but Edelman does share you can buy one - from Tiffany’s!

After presenting him with the MVP award, Ellen does explain since it’s his first time on the show that there’s a tradition that a shirtless pic has to be shown (!!!).

And she does. Squee!!! I ain’t mad.

But wait, there’s more!

Another pic - and jostling Julian is naked in it! This one from his photo shoot for the 2017 ESPN Magazine Body Issue.

When did TV talk shows get to be so much fun?

Ellen notes the technical merits of the photo asking, “How’d you do that? What’s happening there? I mean, you just jumped in the air and they took that picture?”

“You know… it was a crazy day,” offers Edelman. “The temperature was just right, though, that was a good thing,” he adds with a smile.

After pointing out his obviously muscular legs, Ellen shifts her attention to Edelman’s arms and how you can’t miss them, even asking, “Do you wear shorter sleeves than the other guys?”

And he does!

Edelman explains something about ‘being tight,’ and less surface area, and ‘putting hands on him,’ but it was lost on me as I was still looking at his biceps, so, oops.

He adds it takes two guys to put the jersey on him before a game. “And afterwards, it’s like the worst thing ever… getting it off.”

“Getting it off?” inquires Ellen.

“Yeah, getting it off….” affirms the wide receiver.

“Cause it’s so tight and sweaty?”

“Without a doubt,” confirms Edelman.

I might have lost consciousness there for a second, anyway…

Ellen finally gets to what’s really been on her mind as she addresses Edelman’s big, bushy beard. #swoon

Asked if he’s shaved at all since the football season began months ago, Edelman explains, “(Patriots) Coach Belichick says ‘Put everything in the drawer, and worry about it ’til the season’s done.’ So I put my razor in the drawer.”

Noting that the 32-year-old wide receiver is a fan of The Boys & Girls Club of America, our intrepid host finally gets down to business offering him $10,000 for the charity if he’ll allow her to shave his beard.

Wait, whaaaat? The beard is going away…??? But, but... #stunnedblankface

Edelman grabs his whiskers (as if to protect them) as he ponders the offer. “It’s like a child that grows on you…,” he says.

But he’s up for it, and even offers to kick in his own $10K for the Boys & Girls Club. So, off to the barber’s chair they go.

Before they get started Edelman does inquire as to whether Ellen knows how to trim a beard, and she helpfully offers that she’s used clippers on her dog.

So, great.

Ellen gets going with the clippers and you can see some apprehension in Edelman’s face. But he’s a tough guy, he’ll get through.

Halfway through Ellen checks to see if “there’s anything else” he’d like trimmed?

“Are we talking a Brazilian?,” says Edelman laughing.

Ellen does stop to consider whether the considerable porn stache should stay for a moment...

Going, going….

Gone!

You know, that is a handsome face.

And all for a good cause! Happy Friday!

Out College Football Player Jake Bain Sits Down With Ellen

Out college football player Jake Bain on ELLEN

Ellen DeGeneres sat down with out Indiana State University football player Jake Bain, who inspired the nation with his coming out speech during a high school assembly in St. Louis, Missouri, two years ago.

Jake chats with Ellen about his coming out experience, the support he’s received over the past two years, and his hopes to inspire other athletes in college sports to have the courage to also come out.

The handsome college freshman was emotional about meeting one of his idols, saying, “Can I first just say, before I came out, I used to watch your show, like, all the time, and it means so much to me to actually be here now.”

“You’ve done so much for the entire LGBT community, and humanity as a whole,” he continued. “It just means so much to me to be on your show.”

Ellen points up the good that Jake has done by coming out and hopefully giving other college athletes the courage to come out.

“It’s a really conflicting thing to feel really proud of yourself and good at something, and then in the back of your mind have shame or carry shame around,” said Ellen.

“If everyone had the courage to do what you did, then we wouldn’t have that homophobia, we wouldn’t have that fear,” she added. “And so, you’re going to inspire other people the way I inspired you.”

On top of doing great at Indiana State (full football scholarship, don’t you know?), the good news is he’s still with his high school boyfriend, Hunter Sigmund.

The boys see each other whenever they can since Hunter goes to school hours away at the University of North Carolina. So, Hunter tagged along for the Ellen appearance.

And you knew this was coming - since Jake can’t accept gifts due to NCAA rules, Ellen gives Hunter a 6-night vacay to Fiji.

Gee, I wonder who Hunter could take with him…?

Jake Bain on ELLEN

(h/t Outsports)

Sean Hayes Busts A Move Filling In On ELLEN

Sean Hayes fills in on ELLEN

Will & Grace star Sean Hayes filled in for Ellen DeGeneres today as guest-host for her talk show.

Explaining her absence, Hayes shared, "She tripped and fell and is trapped under the weight of her own wallet." He then admitted, "I really don't know where she is. I assume Home Depot - that's where all the lesbians go...?"

Along the way, Hayes reminded the audience that, although he hasn’t hosted a ‘talk show’ before, he does have some experience to draw upon.

“I do know my way around a television stage - I’m on a little show called Will & Grace,” said the sitcom veteran.

“And before that, I was on another show - called Will & Grace.”

“I’ve also been on Broadway. Maybe you’ve heard of the award-winning musical, Hamilton? (Applause) I saw that, too.”

Hayes assured the ELLEN audience that he’s “not going to change” anything in the show, except for that dancing thing.

“I don’t have anything prepared,” says Hayes. “And these shoes aren’t even good for dancing.”

Annnnnd, cue the music.

Gus Kenworthy: VP Mike Pence "Seems Like A Bad Fit" To Lead Olympic Delegation

Via The Hill:

Freeskier Gus Kenworthy, one of the first two openly gay male athletes to represent the U.S. in the Winter Olympics, told Ellen DeGeneres that he things Vice President Pence is a “bad fit” to lead the U.S. delegation to Pyeongchang, South Korea, this month.

Kenworthy’s comments echoed those of figure skater Adam Rippon, who has harshly criticized Pence and the Trump administration in general over their treatment of LGBTQ rights. Rippon, who is also openly gay, was named to the Olympic team just weeks before Kenworthy.

“[Pence] seems like such a strange choice,” Kenworthy said Monday on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

“To have somebody leading the delegation that’s directly attacked the LGBTQ community, and a Cabinet in general that just sort of stands against us and has tried to do things to set us back, it just seems like a bad fit.”

Pence has a long history of opposing LGBT rights and supporting anti-LGBT legislation. He's encouraged funding for so-called "conversion therapy," signed legislation that would allow discrimination against LGBTs into law, opposed allowing gays in the military and same-sex marriage.

Watch his chat with Ellen below.

ELLEN: Alabama Peanut Farmer Who Protested Roy Moore On Behalf Of His Lesbian Daughter

Alabama peanut farmer Nathan Mathis, who criticized U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore this week for calling gays perverts, appeared on ELLEN today.

Mathis picketed outside Moore’s Midland City rally earlier this week with a sign which read:

Judge Roy Moore called my daughter Patti Sue Mathis (who committed suicide) a pervert because she was gay. A 32-year-old Roy Moore dated teenage girls aged 14 to 17. So that makes him a pervert of the worse kind.

In honor of Patti Sue, Ellen donated $25,000 to The Trevor Project which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, courtesy of Shutterfly.

I won't spoil it for you, but Mathis is beyond touching in his honesty talking about his daughter as well as exceedingly charming in the way he expresses his world views.

Make sure you hit play below and watch. You'll be very glad you did.

My Favorite Thing Of The Week: Trans Military Couple Logan & Laila Ireland On ELLEN

Ok, this is my favorite thing this week.

Ellen DeGeneres sat down with transgender military couple Logan & Laila Ireland to share their personal journeys of working in the military as well as their concerns about an uncertain future thanks to Donald Trump's proposed ban on transgender military service members.

Logan is particularly moving telling Ellen that "It feels really disheartening for our president to not have our back when I would give my life for him."

Watch below. Terrific segment. Donald Trump should see this.

ELLEN Launches 15th Season On The Air

Ellen DeGeneres launches the 15th season of her talk show, ELLEN, today!

And to celebrate, the Human Rights Campaign has assembled their 15 favorite "Ellen Moments" over the years.

Here's just two of mine. Hit the link above for more :)

First up, that time when she featured two best friends from Las Vegas (my town!) on her show -- one gay, the other straight -- who attended prom together.

On a more serious note, when Ellen addressed the rash of LGBTQ youth suicides in the U.S. after Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi took his own life after being outed by his college roommate.

2016 Presidential Medal Of Freedom Honorees Include Ellen, Springsteen & De Niro

Via press release from the White House:

Today, President Barack Obama named 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House on November 22th.

President Obama said, "The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation's highest civilian honor - it's a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better. From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way."

Among the honorees are openly gay Ellen DeGeneres, and two of Donald Trump's biggest critics - Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen.

Here's the full list:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Elouise Cobell (posthumous)
Ellen DeGeneres
Robert De Niro
Richard Garwin
Bill and Melinda Gates
Frank Gehry
Margaret H. Hamilton
Tom Hanks
Grace Hopper (posthumous)
Michael Jordan
Maya Lin
Lorne Michaels
Newt Minow
Eduardo Padrón
Robert Redford
Diana Ross
Vin Scully
Bruce Springsteen
Cicely Tyson

This event will be streamed live at: www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Ellen DeGeneres Let's Her Audience "See Now, Buy Now"

The biggest trend at Fashion Week recently was “see now, buy now,” where folks could buy new fashion items they liked right on the spot.

Ellen took a cue from that and offered her audience the opportunity to buy some Ellen fashion items fresh off of ELLEN model, Raul!

(h/t Towleroad)

ICYMI - "Magic Mike Live" On ELLEN

I'll give them this: they can move, and they're awfully nice to look at.

"Magic Mike Live" opens in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in March 2017.

A video posted by Magic Mike Live (@magicmikelive) on Sep 7, 2016 at 5:37pm PDT

President Obama To Ellen: "I'm So Proud Of You"

Stopping by ELLEN this afternoon, President Obama and Ellen DeGeneres talked on the evolution of LGBT rights, with the Queen of Talk becoming emotional about the President's support.

Said DeGeneres, “I cannot tell you, or thank you enough, for what you’ve done for the gay community. So, thank you.”

President Obama responded in kind:

“It’s one of the things I’m proudest of because my whole political career has been based on the idea that we constantly want to include people and not exclude them. How do we bring more and more people into opportunity and success and feeling hopeful about their lives?”

“I will say, we were driving over here today — and I meant this. I said it to my staff — I said, as much as we’ve done with laws and ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ etc.. changing hearts and minds — I don’t think anybody has been more influential than you on that. I really mean that.

"You being willing to claim who you were - that suddenly empowers other people. And then suddenly, it’s your brother, it’s your uncle, it’s your best friend, it’s your coworkers. And then attitudes shift. And the law is followed, but it started with folks like you. I’m so proud of you.”

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Feb 12, 2016 at 11:39am PST

Ellen Takes On The Faux "Starbucks Red Cup" Scandal

Ellen shows how silly the current "outrage" is over the announcement that Starbucks' holiday cup will be solid red. No decorations of any kind.

Or as she says, no "snowflakes, Santa's sleigh and elves - all the things you find in the Bible..."

New Music: Gwen Stefani "Used To Love You" On ELLEN

The fab Gwen Stefani performs her new single, "Used To Love You," on ELLEN.

Stefani first premiered the track Saturday night in New York during her MasterCard Priceless Surprises concert at Hammerstein Ballroom. The first song of her encore, Stefani returned to the stage to thank the audience for listening as she sings about the “pain and love and my real life.” She continued by saying “this song is really special.”

Ellen Arranges Viral Singing Sensation To Duet With His Idol

Tom Bleasby has become a YouTube singing sensation after he uploaded a "duet" of himself singing with Jesse J of her song "Flashlight." The clip has over 11 million views on YouTube.

The duet was actually done via an app called Smule Sing, which let's fans sing along with their idols pre-recorded vocals.

Ellen took note and invited Tom to come on her show to sing. But that wasn't the whole story.

Watch the video to see how it all unfolded :)

Happy Arbor Day With Nick, Ellen's Hunky, Shirtless Gardener

Nick the shirtless gardener's favorite holiday? Arbor Day!

Ok, ok, so it's not really Arbor Day today.

But this clip from ELLEN just posted today for some reason, so any day can be Arbor Day as long as you spend it with Nick the gardener :)

Ellen explains that Arbor Day is Nick's favorite holiday, and as such, she wants him to share with us his beautiful trunk and spread his seeds as much as possible as a celebration!

"You get a seed! And you get a seed! And you get a seed!"

(h/t Towleroad)

Ellen Introduces Her "Twins" To The World

On today's show, Ellen introduced her "twins" - Leo and Theo - to the world.

She apologized to the audience for the shiftlessness - "I don't know where their shirts are. They're at that age where they think it's ok to run around half-naked in front of strangers."

Personally, I wasn't offended :)

Bored backstage at mom's show today...@theellenshow #Ellen #LeoandTheo #whatsfordinner

Mariah Carey Shares Clip Of New Video Featuring Shirtless Tyson Beckford Cameo

Mariah Carey dropped by Ellen today to share her new album #1 To Infinity and a clip from the video "Infinity."

Free CDs for everyone!

Having dropped by the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas last week after her Vegas concert residency debut to visit her pal Tyson Beckford and the Chippendales, she must have found some inspiration in seeing the shirtless Chipps. Check the cute bit in the music video.

Ellen Stages "March Madness Dance-Off"

Ellen DeGeneres decided she could predict the winner of the NCAA Final Four through the utilization of shirtless, hunky dancers in an audience participation dance-off.

Ellen's totally scientific approach predicts that the Wisconsin Badgers will win tonight. We shall see.

Madonna Perfroms "Ghosttown" On ELLEN

Madonna has spent the entire week on ELLEN promoting her new album Rebel Heart.

Here she performs her new single "Ghosttown." This is my favorite track from the CD.