Melissa Etheridge to Wed After Gay-Marriage Rulings
Melissa Etheridge plans to marry her girlfriend following yesterday’s Supreme Court rulings that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and cleared a path for California to legalize gay marriage. The rocker had been an active opponent of California’s Proposition 8, describing the voter-approved ballot measure to ban gay marriage as “blatantly hateful.”
“I look forward to exercising my American civil liberties and getting fully, completely and legally married this year to my true love of over three years, Linda Wallem,” said Etheridge in a statement reported by Reuters.
Etheridge came out in 1993 and has been a prominent gay rights advocate for years. “Once again our constitution stands strong. All men, and women, and everything in between are created equal,” she said.
After Supreme Court ruled that a key portion of DOMA denying federal benefits to same-sex spouses was unconstitutional, actors and musicians took to Twitter to express their excitement and support.
“It’s a supremely wonderful day for equality. Prop 8 is over, and so is DOMA. Congratulations everyone. And I mean everyone,” Ellen DeGeneres tweeted.
Etheridge also took to Twitter to after announcing her intention to marry Wallem, writing, “Lets hear it for the general progress of the human mind. With a beautiful sweep of sweet justice’s blind hand we move forward. We correct the laws made hastily out of fear.”