05/16/2008
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi to Marry
The first high-profile couple to take advantage of California's big Supreme Court decision yesterday, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi announced they're getting married during the taping of Ellen's show yesterday.
TMA reported last night: "A spy in the audience of this afternoon's taping of the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' tells us that after Ellen mentioned today's California Supreme Court ruling striking down the state's ban on gay marriage, she surprised everyone and announced that she was going to tie the knot with longtime girlfriend, actress Portia de Rossi. Portia was in the crowd and after she made the announcement, the studio audience went wild, giving the two a huge standing O."
The show will air today
The court's decision doesn't go into effect for at least 30 days.
Posted 6:58 AM EST by Andy Towle in California, Ellen DeGeneres, Gay Marriage, News | Permalink
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These gay marriage postings right next to one about Fundie Crystal Dixon show a interesting contrast:
Fundamentalist whackjobs in CA: The decision of the court is wrong because it goes against the will of the people.
In other words, Constitutions are meaningless, because any law, created by a legislature or a direct vote, trumps them.
Fundamentalist whackjob in Toledo,OH: The decision to fire me was wrong because I have guaranteed Constitutional rights to do and say whatever I want, whenever I want.
In other words, no rules or laws apply to me because the Federal Constitution give me absolute freedom.
The opinion of a fundie whackjob: full of rhetoric but ultimately meaningless, since it's completely free from the influence of any overarching principle.
In other words, 100% opinion, 0% philosophy.
I wish some TV talking head would call them out on this. Sounds like a job for Steven Colbert.
Posted by: Chris | May 16, 2008 7:56:17 AM
Frankly I think the news of the engagement is great.
A lot of attention has been paid to promoting male homosexuality as normal, but the female equivalent is still, I suspect misunderstood, Mariel Hemingway and Rosanne (or was that Woody Allen :-) ) notwithstanding (yes Madonna, it had been done --- OOOh, get you! mieow (etc.)) and associated either with soft-porn fantasies or crewcuts, square body frames, bov-ver boots (read Doc Martens) and lumberjack shirts ("and I'm okay" :-) ).
Seeing two very normal looking women in such a high profile relationship can only be good for the normalization of being gay and female.
David,
Neither gay nor lesbian, just live-and-let-live-and-be-nice-to-others-please
Canada
aka "The Adsense Strategist"
http://adsensestrategiesadsense.wordpress.com
Posted by: The Adsense Strategist | May 16, 2008 8:59:07 AM
I can't remember for sure but I recall Ellen once saying that the issue of gay marriage wasn't an issue for her and I don't think she was actively helping to win the fight...
Posted by: Luigi | May 16, 2008 10:32:49 AM
Can't this attention-craving woman stay out of the limelight for just one second? The limelight belongs to Gaffney and his partner, the couple who brought the action against California. It doesn't belong with you, Ellen. Now buzz off.
Posted by: jason | May 16, 2008 10:45:22 AM
This is why that anti-gay-marriage ballot initiative is going to lose.
Ellen in her own seemingly "unpolitical" way is a HUGE political plus for the LBGT rights movement. "Mainstream" America loves this lesbian and wants her to be happy. Therefore. . .
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | May 16, 2008 10:46:38 AM
If it ever goes into effect...
Posted by: anon | May 16, 2008 12:16:21 PM
They are counting(or about to start counting) samples of the names on the petitions to ban gay marriage in California. The sponsers claim they have 1.5 million signatures.
If it gets to the ballot, it's hard to say what will happen. The Hispanic community will be almost solidly behind it and combine their votes with the far right votes and it could be a squeaker.
The good news is that Gov. Arnie has said he will not support the proposition. This is a change for Arnie, since becoming Gov., he vetoed 2 bills passed by the legislature allowing gay marriage because he says it's up a vote of the PEOPLE not the courts or legislature to decide. He also said he will campigen against the proposition.
My spelling is awful today.
Posted by: Joshua | May 16, 2008 3:03:29 PM
Arnold has said in the past that he would not sign the two prior bills passed because he wanted the courts to decide, which now they have. He has now said he respects the courts decision. An anti-gay marriage amendment added to the state constitution now, after all of this, is blatant discrimination.
Posted by: Vi Agara | May 17, 2008 9:00:47 AM
Ellen may not have contributed to the cause of gay marriage, but I do believe she can be a positive influence. As noted above, mainstream America loves her. And she's very visible. Alas, I wish this had all happended 20 years ago, but it's not too late.
Posted by: Ted | May 17, 2008 11:48:55 AM
Dear Ellen;
My name is ria and i am so happy for you.Good luck on your and have a wonderful llife with your soon to be wife Portia
Posted by: Ria | Jun 16, 2008 5:59:40 PM