T.R. Knight talks being out and dating Katie Heigl's mom on Ellen

(Note: Above pic from Knight's previous visit)

T.R. Knight appeared on Ellen today for the first time since his notable post-coming-out appearance, and he was his usual cute/awkward/self-effacing/clever self. The two out celebs talked about T.R.'s Emmy nod, the dog (Arrow) he got from BFF Katherine Heigl, and how being out has changed his life (good news: it's for the better).

The most interesting thing about the interview to me was that, in discussing T.R.'s dog, Ellen put his Advocate cover on the screen about 10 times.

I don't know that I've ever seen a gay magazine thrown onscreen like that during daytime TV like it was just another People or Entertainment Weekly, and the lack of hoopla about it was great (although, admittedly, I loved the hoopla around Kevin Smith's A Bear's Life cover shot on David Letterman just as much).

Here's the part of the discussion of being out:

Ellen: So you have your dog, the next step is a relationship so that you can have someone help take care of the dog.
T.R.: That's good. That should be the only reason. No ... Yeah, that's not happening too much right now.
Ellen: Not right now? Because you're working too hard.
T.R.: Sure. That's it. Or I'm unlovable, one of the two.
Ellen: What? You have to be. You seem happier since you've come out. You seem ... Do you feel like it, since you've made the decision?
T.R.: I feel I've learned so much this past year, so yeah, that changes you. But as far as the dating, recently Kate and her fiancé Josh Kelly and me and her mom went out to dinner recently, and it was reported that it was with me and my new boyfriend.
Ellen: Yeah?
T.R.: But that was really her mom ... So I guess I'm dating Katherine's mom right now.
Ellen: We saw her on the Emmys, they kept referring to her. She doesn't look like a man at all!
T.R.: Oh no, no ... I'm sorry ... I'm gonna get filleted for that. She's a gorgeous woman. It's just they were busy looking at Katherine and Josh. She's gorgeous. Nancy's awesome. Nancy also gave me the dog.
Ellen: So, do you have an opinion, since you've come out, about people who have not come out? About people in this business who are closeted actors?
T.R.: Everyone has their own path. You just have to respect that. I don't know what it's like to be in their shoes. I know a lot of people who make statements, but you have to do it when it's right for you. It don't think it's right to force that. It's impossible to know ... There's a lot of soul searching you have to do.