On April 14, 1997, Ellen DeGeneres graced the cover of TIME Magazine, with a feature interview where she confirmed she was gay. Shortly after this interview, DeGeneres's character in her 90s sitcom, Ellen, also came out in an episode titled "The Puppy Episode." After these back-to-back moments, DeGeneres shook the media landscape for being one of the few outwardly gay public figures on national television. While DeGeneres is a controversial figure, it certainly cannot be denied that her very public coming out was a watershed moment for queer celebrities and visibility.