Ellen DeGeneres is a child abuse survivor. While Ellen's mother was battling breast cancer, her step-father sexually molested her. But she overcame the trauma and became a major television star with a popular daily talk show, launched a lucrative ad campaign with American Express, had a successful turn as Oscar host, and became a groundbreaking gay icon.

In the early 90s, Ellen was the star of an ensemble TV sitcom patterned after a Seinfeld episode which was retooled by ABC into the sitcom Ellen and lasted four seasons during which time she garnered two Emmy nominations. In April 1997, Ellen's character became the first lead in sitcom history to openly admit being gay. The Ellen episode generated high ratings and considerable controversy. An ABC affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama, refused to air the episode. Some of the show's sponsors withdrew advertisements and the show was cancelled.

Ellen made the move to film in Mr. Wrong (1996) and EdTV (1999). Then she won accolades for TV's If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) in which she had a highly controversial love scene with Sharon Stone. Ellen returned to television in 2003 with her self-titled talk show, Ellen, which has won has won an Emmy, several Daytime Emmy Awards, and numerous People's Choice Awards.

For several years, Ellen dated actress Anne Heche Although they announced their desire to be married, they broke up in August 2000. Ellen later dated actress Portia de Rossi whom she married on August 16, 2008 after California legalized gay marriage.

So what would be a more appropriate way to celebrate Ellen's birthday than to watch If These Walls Could Talk 2 and toast her with a lesbian joy cocktail? The lesbian joy cocktail should not be confused with the cocktail lesbian which is slang for a glass of ice water ordered in a straight bar and which some bartenders claim is typically ordered by a lesbian so that she can sit at a bar for long periods of time and not have to pay nor tip the bartender. Apparently, there is a rumor that some lesbians are noted for being cheap .However, that perception doesn't apply to Ellen who supports numerous organizations, and has won many awards for her charitable efforts including the Small Change Campaign to benefit Feeding America that she cofounded with Ben Affleck, and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

January 26
Ellen Lee DeGeneres's Birthday