Elizabeth Jane DeGeneres is a former speech therapist and LGBT rights activist in the United States. She is the mother of Ellen and Vance DeGeneres.
She is the Human Rights Campaign’s first straight spokesman for the National Coming Out Project and an active member of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). She rose to prominence after her lesbian daughter Ellen’s public coming out in 1997.
DeGeneres is the author of two books: Love, Ellen: A Mother-Daughter Journey and Just a Mom. Betty explains her reaction to her daughter coming out as a lesbian in Love, Ellen: A Mother-Daughter Journey, as well as her journey from passive acceptance to being a passionate advocate for LGBT rights.
She also discusses the public attention she faced once Ellen came out. Her second novel, Just a Mom, expands on the same topics. She also had a section called “Ask Betty” on the website PlanetOut.
What happened to Betty DeGeneres?
Betty DeGeneres was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 70s and she had to have a double mastectomy.