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If you look at my life before I went into television, the struggle I went through coming out would be surprising to most people, given how comfortable and how out I am being the only late-night gay talk-show host.

When you are coming out, you say it's for you. But when everybody says it's not OK, it becomes about that rather than about you. It disappointed me.

I went on Ellen once, and even then, I was just a bad performer. It was nerve-racking at first playing in front of all her fans who really wanted to see her. Her fans are so young and accepting to new people, and it helped that they knew 'Marvin Gaye,' too.

The decisions that Ellen made on her show were between her and her producers. I supported her decisions. I was there to hug her when she got home.

If you're telling a story, and somebody is going to come out badly, it better be you.

I learned that coming out was crucial to self-esteem.

People just usually think I'm someone else. They'll look at me twice, and I'll just say, 'Not Ellen Page.'

Anyone in public life who comes out, comes out primarily for themselves, and their life is immediately improved. That's what happened to me.

It's not being marketed as a gay show by a gay person. It's just Ellen DeGeneres.

Back in the day, coming out was something very personal. You began by acknowledging the truth, first to yourself, then to close family and friends. Those of us more in the public spotlight, though, also had to 'come out' to the press.