Ellen's A "Poor Role Model?"

When someone publicly condemns Ellen DeGeneres it’s like they’re saying they dislike unicorns, rainbows, and all things great, because that’s pretty much what the actress-comedian embodies. Yet, after a Catholic school used a photo of Ellen DeGeneres on a flier for an eighth grade graduation dance, an apology was issued to parents by the principal of St. Andrew Elementary School in Bucks County, Penn. Specifically, principal Nancy Matteo called DeGeneres a “poor role model."

Matteo’s wrote that it was “completely wrong” to use a picture of DeGeneres because the celebrity “lives her life outside the teachings of the Catholic Church.” Furthermore, she continued to hate on DeGeneres by telling parents that they could return the invitations to the school and that she would “personally destroy them.”

“A role model, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, is a person who is unusually effective or inspiring in some social role, job, position, etc.,” Matteo wrote in her email. “This does not describe her at all. We work so hard to be good role models and then I go and do something stupid!”

Interestingly enough, DeGeneres actually is all of those things. Not only does she encourage everyone to laugh — and dance — all the time through her family-friendly talk show, but she also shows us how important it is to give back. I have seen her help families in need time and time again by providing them with vacations to act as stress relief, new cars for those without, games and toys for children, and even gift cards worth thousands of dollars for families to spend freely.

It’s quite obvious that the real reason Matteo denounced her actions for using DeGeneres’ photo was due to the fact that the Bible does not tolerate homosexuality (though ironically saying to love thy neighbor). I was raised Catholic and I still don’t understand this. What Matteo is doing is teaching her students to hate and discriminate against people in the LGBT community.

We should all be respectful of one another, and it seems unfair that Matteo criticized the celebrity’s character and role as a leader in the world simply because of the fact that she is gay. Her sexual orientation and marriage practices have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not she can be an inspiration to children, whether Catholic or not. Likewise, the parents who initially questioned the photo after receiving the invitation should also think about what it means to teach compassion for all to their kids.

I find it alarming that this is still such an issue today and I will forever stand by DeGeneres — even as a Catholic myself.

Image: Philly.com