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

[rikkirighteous]

Fortunately, wiser minds anticipated the court's ignoring 61% of voters who wished to define marriage.

Since the minority consider the correct definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman to be hate speech, and since they insist on forcing their morality (or lack thereof) on everyone else, there will be another chance for Calif. voters to enforce their will in spite of activist judges.

Once passed, it will be a part of the Calif. constitution and cannot be removed. Bring on the vote.

[Imrightyourewrong]

Exactly. Civil rights should definitely be up for popular vote. Like...back when the Supreme Court said that miscegenation laws violated the constitution and struck them down. If only we would have had brave people like yourself back then saying...but the majority don't want Nigras marrying our precious white women!!! Leave it to the political process. I'm SURE you would have been out there fighting to allow a state to tell YOU that you couldn't marry outside your race...or religion...or ethnic group...or class...oh wait...that's apartheid!!! Perhaps you be better at home in 1970s South Africa.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Because 61% is SUCH an overwhelming majority. NOT. And 70% want us out of Iraq ASAP. Care to flip-flop?

Regardless...it's about equal protection.

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. "
-- Thomas Jefferson

[Rendon76]

What is it about Ellen that you can just tell she's gay...

[DTGB]

cuz she is and she's open about and she doesnt conform to your definition of what a woman should look like or how a woman should act.

[bella]

Maybe its the pantsuits.

[SteveStephens]

In this country , the more religious a person is , the more , it seems, intolorant they are.
This story has to piss off you right wing republican bible thumpers.

[mamacat]

Congratulations!

As much as the GOP tries to make this an anti-Democrat issue, I do believe that most people are ready for this. I know I am.

[Arguman]

Portia De Rossi announces plans to continue to be extremely sexy.

[Mygirl]

Why do they appear doing election time?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

More gay marriage = fewer Brokeback marriages.

The conservatives should be APPLAUDING the court decision... given how many of them get DUPED.

[BroMan]

I wish that were true, but I don't see a lot of gay men running to the alter because of this, except the ones who are already couples. Those guys who needs "beards" for career and inheritance reasons will always be able to find them.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Good point.
I confess I was thinking more of the women who now have other, and truer, options.

[longislandlol]

Mazel tov angels!

[MissingAmerica]

Ellen is a giver, whether it be charitable donations or gales of laughter. Congratulations. May she and Portia have a long and happy life together!

[drolleen]

Hmmm... Why did this action by the California Supreme Court came just as general election season starts? Why are the liberals fall for it every time?

The Carl Rove's of the world know that the liberals can't wait. Couldn't wonderful gay people like Ellen wait for November 4th? I hope the others do. Otherwise, I can already see the headlines: "Ohio again gets a Republican to power with majority of rednecks afraid to vote for pro-gay Obama."

[klandish]

No, there's been too much waiting. Waiting for everyone to give Gays the o.k . to do all the things hetrosexuals take for granted. I won't give the laundry list of oppressions that have exsisted for decades. I assume you are aware. But it's OVER. OVER you hear! Besides Obama and Clinton have said they are for civil unions, that's their stand. They can't play gotcha on that. This was a judgement made by the California Supreme Court, not Obama or Hillary.

[rmetz74]

Um, Ellen has no control over the schedule of the State Supreme Court.

And the political climate has changed dramatically since 2004. If the right thinks this is the way to beat the Dems, let 'em try.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Ironically, the court decision will strenghten STRAIGHT marriage, as it will reduce or eliminate the need for "domestic partnerships" which STRAIGHTS could also use.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"Ironically, the court decision will strenghten STRAIGHT marriage"

I suspect that gay marriages will help to lower the rate of DIVORCE. Therefore, It SHOULD strengthen MARRIAGE!

GOOD FOR ELLEN & PORTIA. YOU GO GIRLS!!!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[AtomicSplash]

A God of Love would never stand in the way of love.

[jneems]

Yep. But then again, would a God of love allow 900 children to die in a collapsed school building?

I don't understand so much. But I see nothing wrong with two people loving each other. I'm happy to hear about Ellen's marriage.

[AtomicSplash]

A god of love would allow 900 children to die in a collapsed school building. From God's point of view the line between life and death isn't a barrier. It's not even a line.

[Bibbo]

Gay marriage is not about "two people loving each other" its about sex and demanding(not asking) that the majority view on marriage be ignored. Its basically narcicissism elevated and clothed in lofty language about "rights" and "tollerance" and "love". However the venom is exposed whenever somebody(like my post here) has a different opinion. BTW has anybody noticed that the last person Ellen married because of "love" (A Heche) is now pleading poverty in regards to child support or something to that effect...suffer the little children...but its a small matter compared to Ellens needs.

[Hirnlego]

Marriages have been redefined constantly throughout the years:
http://marriage.about.com/cs/generalhistory/a/marriagehistory.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage

Once it will be fully accepted, and it will...it's just a question of time, those who were against will think "what was the fuss all about?". The fear that some more people will have the freedom to marry should make it clear that politicians and other talking heads have targeted people's irrational fears which are based on ignorance.

Watch the documentary "For the bible tells me so" and see for instance how parents have lost their own children because they couldn't accept their own child's sexuality. Perhaps some of you nay-sayers will have (a) homosexual child(ren) on their own someday....

[Bibbo]

Think about what you are saying. An opinion that differs from yours(stated in a "civil" manner) is somehow venomous. Talk about tollerance and nonjugementalness from your side is just that ,talk and no more. No body is demanding you change or live a "hetero" life...but please show some of that tollerance for those who dont agree that its a good thing. Are differing viewpoints allowed or do you define the good only by what you want? As far as not interfering with your choices...thats ok for me..'but dont then ask for a blessing on choices that I'm forced to oppose on moral grounds. I can respect you as a person and still profoundly disagree with your choices but when you call those who disagree with you "bad" then you lose that respect. Funny how the scriptures anticipate things. I lack the exact citation but it goes like this...When they curse you and say all matters of vile things about you..rejoice because your reward in heaven will be great... remember what they said of Me... What you dont know is that I openly disagree with you not because I'm indifferent or hostile but because there is a need for certain things to be clearly stated.

[Hirnlego]

Umh, are you replying to the correct person?

[avraamjack]

.
That is going to be one happening wedding.
.

[whitewaterwillie]

Ellen gets all the good looking women.

[SteveStephens]

As a single man who lives in Nebraska, I must agree. There are no attractive women here.