Ellen DeGeneres talks about anti-gay legislators, Danny Noriega's self-pride and more!

Yesterday, we gave you a heads-up that Ellen DeGeneres would have on American Idol cast-off Danny Noriega, as well as gay-friendly comedian Wanda Sykes, but we didn't realize what a gay hour of television the show would be.

It started early in the show, when Ellen brought up Oklahoma state Representative Sally Kern's anti-gay tirade where Kerns declared that "I honestly think (homosexuality is) the biggest threat, even more than terrorism." As Ellen played the audio of Kerns speaking, the cameras cut to images of the studio audience looking stunned and uncomfortable to hear such words. Definitely adding to the discomfort was a clear understanding that when Kern talked about the threat of homosexuality, she's talking about people like Ellen.

This is one of those moments that has me really appreciating the power Ellen has with her show. Bigotry is much easier to voice when you're railing against some anonymous mass, but Kern's words become ridiculous when you try to associate them with real people, like Ellen. By being open about who she is, she has the power to make clear how hurtful and hateful words like Kern's really are.

"I feel like there's some misinformation going on here," Ellen responded, "and I think I need to call her." As she listened to the phone ring, Ellen added, "I'm trying to figure out which societies have disappeared that we don't know about." Unfortunately, all Ellen got was a full voice mailbox, so Ellen tried to leave a message via the airwaves. "Give me call, I'm here usually and also later on I'll be at the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament, of course, that's if it doesn't conflict with the women's basketball games I go to."

Following that, Ellen brought on Wanda Sykes who immediately dropped a joke at Kerns' expense: "I would like for her to move up in government because if she thinks homosexuality is a bigger threat then terrorism maybe she'll get our troops out of Iraq and maybe invade West Hollywood ... anything to get our troops home." Wanda continued by calling Kerns outdated, saying, "She's like bell bottoms." Ouch, talk about things that don't look good even as retro kitch.

It's interesting to note that Sykes' sexuality has been discussed widely in the press as well, including in the "Glass Closet" article that Michael Musto wrote last year that essentially outed stars like David Hyde Pierce, Jodie Foster, and Anderson Cooper. And while she didn't address her own sexuality here, her mention that she spent her birthday skiing with her "girlfriend" does lead one to wonder if she means more than just "friend who is a girl".

Following that, Skyes gave her take on the Democratic Presidential campaign, where she hilariously mocked how the media has tried to simplify the race a simply matter of race vs. gender. There's really nothing I can say to add to her words, the outspoken comedian says it all so well.

After Skyes, Ellen followed with Danny Noriega, introducing him with his now-iconic "I guess some people weren't liking it." moment. Ellen really nicely got to the heart of why Noriega got so much attention in so little time:

Ellen: That's what I love about you, you are yourself. You're unapologetically yourself. You are who you are and ... you auditioned last year, right? What made you come back and how far did you make it then?

Danny: I made it to Hollywood last year and it was pretty bad, you could even tell on my face I was uncomfortable. I cut my hair off, I tried dressing in baggier clothes. I thought maybe I'll create an image for the judges to like and that was the biggest mistake I could ever make on the show. I just promised myself I'd just be myself this year no matter what, no matter whatever Simon says. I was like just do whatever you do and just wear your skin proud.

Ellen: Obviously he has a lot of influence, that what he says he affects people who call in but do you think he had constructive criticism for you or no?

Danny: I would like to say 'Yeah' but no. I mean, when you get called grotesque and useless, what do you take from that? It just lowers your self-esteem. After I'd hear 'useless' I'd just zone out like and airhead. don't know if you can see it on my face but I'm just like 'Okay, I don't care anymore.' I mean, the first time he called me grotesque I started crying. I was bawling.

Ellen: Well, he called your performance grotesque. Don't take that personally,. Don't ever think that, don't ever hold onto that.

Aw, Danny's so cute in his excitement to be talking with Ellen.

Ellen's words about not taking Simon's insults personally really strike a chord considering how Ellen's been called "degenerate" in public and probably had worse things said to her in private. Regardless of whether he's gay or just "gay-adjacent", Ellen highlighted why he struck a chord with gay Idol fans.

After that, Ellen brought on 8-year old Anthony Gargiula, evidently one of those YouTube celebrities I keep missing out on. Ellen sent him out to talk with the American Idol finalists on the red carpet and, well, the name Justin Suarez comes to mind. He's quite adorable as he fawns over the Idol contestants, gesticulates wildly and just has so many big, excited reactions. (While talking to Ellen there's a moment where he rolls his head in a way that totally deserves to be turned into an animated gif.) His thrill at something like an American Idol party is infectious, even my inner pop culture curmudgeon is melting away. This Gargiula kid seems like one to watch.