Fri 8 Oct 2010 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Ellen DeGeneres Lesbian comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has been named the tenth most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine. The list-obsessed but influential American business and finance magazine acknowledges DeGeneres' sexuality and activism. "An outspoken gay-rights supporter, she came out in 1997 and married actress Portia de Rossi in 2008; de Rossi legally took DeGeneres' name last month. Putting her money where her heart is, this March the talk host gave a $30,000 college scholarship to Constance McMillen, a gay Mississippi teen who challenged her school's policy banning same-sex prom dates," Forbes says. Forbes rates American First lady Michelle Obama most powerful, German politician Angela Merkel second and puts entertainer and gay rights advocate Lady Gaga at number seven Five years ago Forbes rated DeGeneres 74th, commenting "It's no wonder this funny lady feels like dancing. Her daytime gabfest is a critical darling and audience fave: The show, only in its second season, has already nabbed a slew of Emmys and won its host a devoted following. Ellen's plum syndication deal is worth millions—money she surely spends by whipping out an American Express credit card, as befits her role as a spokeswoman for the company."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 8th October 2010 - 8:10pm