Ellen Degeneres Announces Plans To Marry Portia De Rossi (VIDEO)

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Ellen DeGeneres is putting the California Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage into action _ she and Portia de Rossi plan to wed, DeGeneres announced during a taping of her talk show.

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DeGeneres was taping the episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Thursday, the day the state's high court struck down California laws against gay marriage, and it was to air Friday, a person close to the production said.

The person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Citing the court's ruling, DeGeneres said she and girlfriend de Rossi ("Ally McBeal," "Nip/Tuck") would be getting married.

De Rossi, 35, who was in the studio, and DeGeneres, 50, were applauded by audience members, the person close to the production said.

Calls and e-mails late Thursday to DeGeneres' publicist were not immediately returned.

The court ruling means same-sex couples could tie the knot in as little as a month. However, religious and social conservatives are seeking to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and ban gay marriage.

DeGeneres has boldly used TV before to make a stand for gay rights.

In 1997, she brought her character on the ABC sitcom "Ellen" out of the closet, making the show the first on prime-time network TV to have an openly gay lead. The move drew cheers from gay civil rights organizations but was condemned by some religious groups.

A month before, DeGeneres had proclaimed from the cover of Time magazine that she was a lesbian.

DeGeneres and the glamorous de Rossi have been a familiar couple at Hollywood events, including the Academy Awards. Previously, DeGeneres had a high-profile relationship with actress Anne Heche.

In a 2005 interview with Allure magazine, the comedian said she hoped she and de Rossi are "together the rest of our lives."

"I never would have thought my life would have turned out this way," DeGeneres told the magazine. "To have money. Or to have a gorgeous girlfriend. I just feel so lucky with everything in my life right now."

Comments

[scruffyandspunky]

07:57 PM on 05/18/2008

Hooray for Ellen and Portia and any other gay/lesbian couples that can marry as a result of this ruling. For the rest of you, STFU. If you had anything worth preserving/defending, you'd have no need to attack loving relationships between consenting adults, no matter their sexual orientation. Grow up and mind your own businees.

[avicenna]

06:21 PM on 05/18/2008

As a Canadian, I find it a tad confusing - if same-sex marriages are recognized in one state - does that mean that if either move or travel to another state - your marriage won't be recongized? Shouldn't something that defines one's status be something that has to be nationally recognized? It's not exactly in the same category as driving speed.

[OuterBoroughPrincess]

06:52 PM on 05/18/2008

The ironically named "Defense of Marriage Act" (signed into law by President Clinton) is the only reason that same sex marriages in State A aren't necessarily recognized in State B. The constitutionality of this Act hasn't been challenged yet. But, eventually it will. Hopefully not until President Obama has had an opportunity to appoint a few justices in the to the Supreme Court!

[avicenna]

09:50 PM on 05/18/2008

Thanks for the insight - and best of luck to Obama... something tells me that W Virginia may opt out of equal opportunity initiatives. As it stands now - it's more apt to call it the "Divided States of America".

[DeSwiss]

08:47 AM on 05/19/2008

Agreed. Because DOMA is certainly in violation of the Full Faith and Credit sections of the Constitution.

HOORAY!!!! Ellen and Portia!!!!!

[Harrier]

04:22 PM on 05/18/2008

If you are born to be attracted to the same sex, no question this is a good think. A celebrity doing this publically can only help those afraid to take steps of their own

[rextrek]

09:08 AM on 05/18/2008

You would think these so-called " religious Folk" would be upset about....oh, I don't know.....$3 Billion a week going to WAR to KILL people...Hunger in America and Around the world, 47+ Million Americans WITHOUT Healthcare...the economy, Gas Prices...the environment...you know, the Things that REALLY Effect society as a whole? Nahhh - they're too busy worry about 2 consenting,committed adults loving each other....PRIORITIES?

[jgalvan]

01:25 AM on 05/18/2008

Sickening/Stay in the Closet

[Hirnlego]

08:49 AM on 05/18/2008

And women should stay in the kitchen right?

[dattexas]

08:48 PM on 05/18/2008

jgalvan, interesting, that's a latin name. how do you feel about Sickening/Stay out of the Country?

[jgalvan]

01:21 AM on 05/18/2008

Who cares, just get married and shut the F@&K up already.

[brooklyncitizen]

12:22 AM on 05/18/2008

well its ok and all but why do lesbians fall into traditional male- female roles and appearance?
i've yet to see a lesbian couple that isn't a facsimele of a straight couple (girl and boy)...gay men seem more diverse they can be two queeens or two really macko guys or a mixture..interesting IMHO

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

12:50 AM on 05/18/2008

Gays more likely twins than lesbians, IMHO.

[cadbury]

10:23 AM on 05/18/2008

brooklyncitizen, you obviously don't know very many lesbian couples. The traditional role-playing arrangement you describe is by no means typical.

[lisakaz2]

06:44 PM on 05/17/2008

GL to ya ladies. I do wonder why Portia has kinda been scarce lately in terms of film/TV. What she been in recently? Anyone know? She always looked awesome on those award shows.

[wadenelson1]

06:27 PM on 05/17/2008

I give her 3 years before she trades Portia in on a newer model.

[JohnJames]

06:35 PM on 05/17/2008

You obviously don't know Ellen. She'd have walked across the Sahara for Anne Heche until that crazy woman, who was probably just using her for the publicity, dumped her.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

12:52 AM on 05/18/2008

Lest anyone think lesbians (and gays) don't love as strongly and deeply as us breeders, please recall Ellen's heartbreak was national news.

[Puller58]

05:34 PM on 05/17/2008

I believe we all are equal and discrimination based on sexual preference is immoral as well as illegal. That said, this sort of showboating brings out the haters and puts those gay people who live in hostile locales in increased risk of violence. This is just too much "look at me" nonsense. I like Camille Paglia's views on this. Ellen should be glad she has her show and her squeeze, but can we kind of tone it down?

[nuglet304]

07:23 PM on 05/17/2008

go hide under your bed if you can't handle it.

[ShakeYourComplacency]

08:43 PM on 05/17/2008

Flashback 1960!........"I believe we are equal and discrimination based on skin color is immoral as well as illegal. That said, this sort of africanized showboating brings out the haters and puts those good blacks who live in hostile locales at risk of violence. Those big afros, gaudy colors, loud bar-b-ques and outspoken behavior is just too "look at me" nonsense. Can we tone it down a little, blackies?"

[johnnyjust]

05:23 PM on 05/17/2008

You are sliding toward eternity, but there's still time.

[ryanjones2006]

03:29 PM on 05/17/2008

I'm so happy for Ellen! If you watched it on a larger screen TV (not that small video), you could really tell how happy Ellen was to announce that she is getting married!

[puhibay]

04:07 PM on 05/17/2008

Don't get me wrong, I like ellen just like everybody else, but didn't she have a bad falling out with some other movie star?
I just don't think this will work out, and you will see one bad, public divorce that will have 2 cats fighting like nobodys business, that will make Brittany look tame

[hominidx]

08:22 PM on 05/17/2008

More sexism, please.

And so...one bad relationship means they'll all be?

Genius!

[dr4Will]

03:13 PM on 05/17/2008

which one plays the man in this affair of hearts

[antaeus]

03:35 PM on 05/17/2008

If you ever had the pleasure to see them in person, then you'd know there's nothing mannish about wither of them.

Who plays the man in your house?

[JohnJames]

05:30 PM on 05/17/2008

That's an old conception of gay relationships, that thankfully has mostly fallen by the wayside, where one person was "masculine" and the other "feminine". Now we're just two men or two women together. No need to pattern ourselves after heterosexuals.

[thegirlnextdoor]

02:06 PM on 05/17/2008

I photograph weddings for a living. So I've seen more than most. And I can assure you that the gender of the parties is not the issue. It is about love and a desire to say publicly, with your family and friends as witnesses, that the two of you love and commit to each other.

I have photographed straight couples who did not last the honeymoon and I know several gay couples who have been together for decades.

I wish these two ladies all the best.

[Bibbo]

09:28 PM on 05/18/2008

Case closed.Everybody knows wedding photographers achieve expert status to assess relationships.Are you for real?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

01:26 PM on 05/19/2008

Wedding photographers or bible-thumpers. Hmmmm.

[jimmyolsen]

11:22 AM on 05/17/2008

Can't believe these people clapping and applauding. Condoning this lifestyle is only encouraging it. Gays can do what they want, but don't flaunt it. Marriage was meant for man and woman. Ok how many are going to say the usual - he's homophobic. Sorry, I'm straight and love it.

[JohnJames]

12:07 PM on 05/17/2008

Falling in love with a person of the same sex is a "lifestyle"? I'll have to keep that in mind as gay man next time I go grocery shopping, sit in traffic on the way home from work, or when doing laundry. As for marriage, it's real purpose throughout most of human history was to ensure that a man was raising his own biological children, hence the severe punishments against adultery. It clearly no longer serves that puropse any longer. It's now primarily about love and companionship. So why not let gay people join in? Oh and I guess I'm flaunting it - just the way you flaunted your heterosexuality.

[rwhiteside]

12:28 PM on 05/17/2008

Oh, it most certainly IS for children! I am gay and I have two lovely children. Our family really needs the legal protections and federal benefits other families get.

I may have a newsflash for people. Four years ago when most of us were getting married at City Hall in San Francisco, at least half the people in line had children. Many brought their kids with them to the ceremony.

Marriage is about love and companionship, yes, but it's also about social security benefits, children, family, adoption, childbirth and all the other things that straight people take for granted. Gays who have kids need them just as much.

[Hirnlego]

12:15 PM on 05/17/2008

So if people encourage you would you consider changing your own sexuality?

Marriages have been redefined many times throughout the years.