Ellen Urges California Residents To Vote No On Prop 8

LOS ANGELES — Ellen DeGeneres has made a public service announcement urging California voters to oppose a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage.

DeGeneres married actress Portia de Rossi on Aug. 16, two months after the California Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage took effect. In recent days, the popular talk show host has been criticized in the gay press for not giving money to the campaign to defeat Proposition 8 or otherwise lending her star presence to the cause.

She still hasn't made a campaign contribution, but on Tuesday she posted a video on her show's Web site. She said when she got married it was the happiest day of her life.

DeGeneres' mother, Betty, has given $700 to help defeat the initiative.

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On the Net:

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/10/prop_8_psa.php

Comments

[Lemeritus]

A few folks don't seem to think DeGeneres is contributing enough to the fight against Prop 8 -- and, believe me, this fight is a microcosm of every vicious, lie-ridden, fear-happy wedge issue the right has ever launched. I am reminded, however, that when Ellen "came out", she did so at great cost to herself -- a cancelled series and brutal coverage of her breakup with Anne Heche. We're all doing what we can to fight Prop 8 and I think Ellen's PSA is worth more than many of you think it is.

[mredder4]

Indeed, it begs the question "Hasn't she given enough already?"

[JohnKevari]

KEVARI SNOWFLAKES

Here's something I've always thought about.

Gays in America pay taxes.

Therefore, if they pay taxes they should have the full rights that every American has.

Now if Gays are not given the right to marry,

Why should they pay taxes?

[M1]

Gays pay more taxes than married heterosexual couples because, even if gays are marriaged in their state, the Federal government does not recognize gay marriages for tax exemption purposes. Everyone knows the Federal tax is greater than state tax. Translation...this is economic discrimination at its finest.

[klandish]

A small but profound step for Civil Rights. Our Country has problems with Humanism. And more problems with how to react to fear and fear mongering. Or at least it has up until this point. Let's hope the U.S. outgrows the prejudice and the reactionary climate in our culture.

[jmwtex]

Exactly!! Since I am not a fully recognized citizen of this country, I want it all back with interest. Between school taxes (institutions that teach that there is something wrong with me) to county taxes, to federal income taxes, I think I am owed about $375,000 not including interest. With interest over 22 years since I began working and owned my first home (school and property taxes), I think that should pretty much double. I will be waiting for my check.

[pascaljim]

This is an interesting proposal, if California gays are to be placed on a 2nd tier, something like Blacks were earlier, then taxes should reflect this status.

Taxes paid for the School Systems should be stopped.....many other taxable items could be included in this mix.....

.Straight folks should think twice......

A very Big No on Prop. 8...........

[kathy001]

What is the deal? I though gay marriage was legalized in California. And some crack-pot who wants to regulate who loves who has gotten it on a ballot again? This is a wanton waste of time, money and energy. It's time for extreme conservatives to get out of everybody else's beds and mind their own business.

[M1]

I thought the republicans were for less government regulations....or is it just less government regulations when they are stealing the American people blind on the one hand by deregulating the stock markets but on the other hand they want to tell you who can marry who...WTF?

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

C'mon Ellen, I gave money and I don't have a tiny fraction of what you have.

[klandish]

You'd think she'd contribute to a cause that would uphold her own marriage. Wouldn't you?

[ShanniC]

I am not against gay marriage, but someone like Ellen who is gay and married should be doing more than a video. I agree with the gay press in that regard because she should have lent her star power a long time ago!

[locust]

I have already mailed in my absentee ballot. I voted 'no'.

[zeotrope]

Gay marriage has been legal in Canada for over two years. Guess what? The sky has not fallen and hetero marriages are just fine.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

But I bet the number of BROKEBACK marriages has dropped.

[klandish]

What does the number of marriages have to do with it? If statistics were a tuning fork for the valid reasons for making an issue legal the amount of straight divorces to marriages would make marriage among that group passe.

[progressivelady]

I VOTE NO ON PROP 8

[Topfeeder]

Florida has a sanctity of marriage vote this election too. It proclaims to protect "marriage" as being between a man and a woman. When are conservatives going to get out of other peoples beds?

[Lemeritus]

"When are conservatives going to get out of other peoples beds?"

Do you mean that figuratively or literally?

[nibblybits]

She seems to be interested only in issues that affect her personally. She never took a stand in this Presidential race or in a lot of other issues where her support would have made some difference. I'm not impressed with her -- she seems just out for herself.

[jukesgrrl]

Ellen, could you make one of these commercials for Arizona? We're being blanketed with ads for an anti-gay amendment we have on the ballot -- AGAIN, since it's not enough we turned one away two elections ago. If the money being spent on this nonsense were put to a good cause we could feed the hungry for a decade.

[D-la-G]

If there is an exception to a rule then it is not a rule and or an abomonation!

[Bystander]

Then by extension, would you say that pedophelia, for example, is not an abomination?

[dhertzfe]

Give me a break. With pedophelia there is a victim. In gay marriage it is between two consenting adults.

Go back and put the covers over your head.

[GingerB]

EQUALITY for EVERY citizen!

Vote NO on Prop.8

http://www.noonprop8.com/

Please, contribute if you can.

[ImpalaSuperSport]

I'll go with Obama and Biden's stance on this issue and vote yes on 8.

[kissmygrits]

That's not their stance. They're not going to press for a constitutional amendment or federal legislation for gay marriage, but they have supported states doing this.

[tasukibeth1]

Read their policies - they aren't against gay marriage as much as they are against changing the constitution to either support or oppose gay marriage. They want the states to decide.

Personally I am disappointed that that they can't be a little more supportive of gay marriage without being so wishy-washy, but they have voters to pander to.

And if you're trying to be sarcastic, McCain and his little Christian soldier are hardly a better alternative.

[sandiegoconservative]

That is what is happening here. A State is to decide the constitutional amendment for their State only.

[DeniseD]

They are actually against federal amendments or laws ruling one way or the other. They are not against civil ceremonies and want to leave the choice up to the states.

[JDJase]

I think you win the award for being the most un-informed person here

[ImpalaSuperSport]

Isn't Obama and Biden against this measure?