---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and…"
description: "\"The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell. The mainstream needs RuPaul.\" — Billy Eichner"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg"
---

#  The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell…

![“The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell. The mainstream needs RuPaul.” quote by Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg)

> “The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell. The mainstream needs RuPaul.”

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Mainstream media should feature diverse, bold personalities like Ellen, Rosie, and RuPaul.

**In simple terms:** Mainstream needs inclusive, outspoken voices.

Key Takeaway

Support diverse representation in media.

Themes

media diversity representation LGBTQ+

Mood

advocacy critical

Type

observational inspirational

When to use this quote

- television
- online platforms
- public events

Key Concepts

cultural inclusion visibility entertainment social impact

Questions to Reflect On

- Which voices are missing today?
- How can audiences demand more inclusive content?

A Different Perspective

Mainstream acceptance can be slow and contested.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/)

## Related quotes

> [When I was a kid, Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell were mere blips on the gaydar; and they were both still in the closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/when-i-was-a-kid-ellen-degeneres-and-rosie-o-donnell-were-mere-blips/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Maybe the mainstream needs someone like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-fox/maybe-the-mainstream-needs-someone-like-me/)

[Julia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-fox/)

> [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [While increasing acceptance of gays marks my generational experience - Ellen DeGeneres is welcomed into the living rooms of millions of Americans daily, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/while-increasing-acceptance-of-gays-marks-my-generational-experience/)

[Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/)

> [Ellen DeGeneres is a huge influence in my life. She's one of the reasons why I wanted to do stand-up comedy. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/ellen-degeneres-is-a-huge-influence-in-my-life-she-s-one-of-the/)

[Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/)

> [“Dear Lord,” began Randy, who paused for long enough that Tristan sneaked an eye open to look at him. His saw his mother’s cheek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/z-a-maxfield/dear-lord-began-randy-who-paused-for-long-enough-that-tristan-sneaked/)

[Z.A. Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/z-a-maxfield/)

> [“I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-stand-for-honesty-equality-kindness-compassion-treating-people-the/)

[Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/)

> [I think about Ellen DeGeneres, seeing her every single day on a show. Her identity is there every day, but what leads the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/i-think-about-ellen-degeneres-seeing-her-every-single-day-on-a-show/)

[Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/)

> [It's about you putting in the work, practicing every day, and hopefully one day you write the song the whole world wants to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/it-s-about-you-putting-in-the-work-practicing-every-day-and-hopefully/)

[Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/)

> [I left my apartment in London and I sold everything. I literally had $1000 and a suitcase when I got on the plane. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-leeves/i-left-my-apartment-in-london-and-i-sold-everything-i-literally-had/)

[Jane Leeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-leeves/)

> [“Finding and keeping a lifelong partner is a common dream of all girls, everywhere. Women love men (well, most of us, anyway--Ellen DeGeneres is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/finding-and-keeping-a-lifelong-partner-is-a-common-dream-of-all-girls/)

[deborah ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/)

> [I really can't wait to dance with Ellen DeGeneres!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-really-can-t-wait-to-dance-with-ellen-degeneres/)

[Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/)

> [When our video of 'Smooth Criminal' came out, suddenly we started getting all kinds of offers. We were getting calls from TV shows like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-sulic/when-our-video-of-smooth-criminal-came-out-suddenly-we-started/)

[Luka Sulic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-sulic/)

> [I was doing stand-up at a restaurant and there was a chalkboard on the street out front. It said, Soup of the Day: Cream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-was-doing-stand-up-at-a-restaurant-and-there-was-a-chalkboard-on/)

[Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/)

> [Roseanne was a huge groundbreaking comedian. Margaret Cho. Ellen DeGeneres, and then on 'Saturday Night Live,' the era of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/roseanne-was-a-huge-groundbreaking-comedian-margaret-cho-ellen/)

[Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/)

## More by Billy Eichner

> [I think 'Billy on the Street' is a big show, but why do a show if you won't make it original and unique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-think-billy-on-the-street-is-a-big-show-but-why-do-a-show-if-you/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [It's one thing to be struggling and not really making money in your early 20s and figuring out your life. Early 30s, you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/it-s-one-thing-to-be-struggling-and-not-really-making-money-in-your/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [You can't be a great comedian without having self-awareness about others or your own faults. You need a strong sense of self and view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/you-can-t-be-a-great-comedian-without-having-self-awareness-about/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [I came back to New York after college like any number of struggling performers, and you just find that niche where you can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-came-back-to-new-york-after-college-like-any-number-of-struggling/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [I thought I was going to be like Kevin Spacey in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-like-kevin-spacey-in-college/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [I have a medical condition, all right. It's called caring too much, and it's incurable. Also, I have eczema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-have-a-medical-condition-all-right-it-s-called-caring-too-much-and/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [You have to have a sense of humor about all of it - the Emmys and politics and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/you-have-to-have-a-sense-of-humor-about-all-of-it-the-emmys-and/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [Ironically, my rabbi was a bar mitzvah Nazi. So I got bar mitzvahed. And though I didn't want to, the theme of my bar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/ironically-my-rabbi-was-a-bar-mitzvah-nazi-so-i-got-bar-mitzvahed-and/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> ['Billy On The Street' has no doubt always been about the people we talk to. That being said, it thrills me that the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/billy-on-the-street-has-no-doubt-always-been-about-the-people-we-talk/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> ['Billy on the Street' is the hardest thing that I will ever do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/billy-on-the-street-is-the-hardest-thing-that-i-will-ever-do/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [It's been a very strange trajectory because I struggled for so many years. I mean, I was doing these videos, I was doing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/it-s-been-a-very-strange-trajectory-because-i-struggled-for-so-many/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [ I think it \[ Difficult People\] is for people who don't feel that they have been properly represented on TV. I think it's painting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-think-it-difficult-people-is-for-people-who-don-t-feel-that-they/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [One thing that I love about 'Difficult People' is that Julie Klausner and our showrunner, Scott King, have written the lead character I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/one-thing-that-i-love-about-difficult-people-is-that-julie-klausner/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [I was like a fat, sweaty kid growing up in Queens who just was plopped down in front of 'Entertainment Tonight' by my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-was-like-a-fat-sweaty-kid-growing-up-in-queens-who-just-was-plopped/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

[Explore all 146 Billy Eichner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

## More Drag quotes

> [Some people say that 'Drag Race' is about glory and immortalizing yourself in the Hall of Fame. For me, it's about shaking RuPaul down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/some-people-say-that-drag-race-is-about-glory-and-immortalizing/)

[Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/)

> [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/)

[Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/)

> [ Music \[is\] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grabbed-it-to-shock-yourself-out/)

[Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/)

> [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/)

[RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/)

> [Drag has always been an open space where anyone within the LGBT community can express their creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/drag-has-always-been-an-open-space-where-anyone-within-the-lgbt/)

[Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/)

> [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Wish there was something that I could say or do, I can resist anything but the temptation from you. But I'd rather walk alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/wish-there-was-something-that-i-could-say-or-do-i-can-resist-anything/)

[Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/)

> [A film is a boat which is always on the point of sinking-it always tends to break up as you go along and drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-truffaut/a-film-is-a-boat-which-is-always-on-the-point-of-sinking-it-always/)

[Francois Truffaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-truffaut/)

> [If I was a man, I would be a drag queen. Honestly, I would. I absolutely love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/if-i-was-a-man-i-would-be-a-drag-queen-honestly-i-would-i-absolutely/)

[Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/)

> [Life will drag us kicking and screaming to our destiny if we try to escape it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/life-will-drag-us-kicking-and-screaming-to-our-destiny-if-we-try-to/)

[Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/)

> [If you don't have to drag yourself off the field exhausted after 90 minutes, you can't claim to have done your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nichols/if-you-don-t-have-to-drag-yourself-off-the-field-exhausted-after-90/)

[Bill Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nichols/)

> [Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/never-keep-up-with-the-joneses-drag-them-down-to-your-level/)

[Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/)

> [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/)

[Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/)

> [I want to do something that is not just a pastiche of drag that's come before but is really authentically me. I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/i-want-to-do-something-that-is-not-just-a-pastiche-of-drag-that-s/)

[Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/)

> [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. On some it sits easy for they are but beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-may-alcott/wherever-i-am-i-see-the-yoke-on-women-in-some-form-or-another-on-some/)

[Abby May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-may-alcott/)

Browse all 1,167 Drag quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell. The mainstream needs RuPaul.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Billy Eichner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and-rosie-o-donnell-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Drag"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and-rosie-o-donnell-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/billy-eichner-2900_mainstream_the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and_2129056.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell. The mainstream needs RuPaul.” — Billy Eichner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Billy Eichner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The mainstream needs Ellen DeGeneres and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and-rosie-o-donnell-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/the-mainstream-needs-ellen-degeneres-and-rosie-o-donnell-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
