The controversy over gay marriage has divided America and divided Hollywood as well.
While some celebrities -- including Miss California Carrie Prejean --spoke out against same-sex marriage, other celebs were vocal in their opposition to Proposition 8, the consititional amendment that bans gay marriage in California.
Now that the California Supreme Court has upheld Prop 8, stars who support gay marriage are once again weighing in.
Melissa Etheridge issued this statement to RadarOnline.com:
"So, will anyone be sleeping better tonight? Those full of hate and fear will surely be disappointed that 18,000 same sex couples will be living in wedded bliss, kissing their spouses goodnight, checking off those little ' married ' boxes on all those forms we fill out nowadays. That’s really going to drive them crazy. Then there are those of us like me who still dangle in ' domestic partnership. ' We can adopt our own children, but we can’t bring our partners who might be citizens from out of the country, here. We can’t file joint tax returns. I could go on. Who will be happy tonight? How do I explain this to my children? Well, you know Ellen? She is married but Mommy and I are not. That is liberty and justice for all? I am hopeful as I see more and more states turn to the inevitable future of equality, California will get there. Change takes time. "
Lance Bass said: “The decision to uphold Prop 8 is deeply disappointing. I can only hope to one day live in a country that grants equal rights, opportunity, and freedom to all citizens.”
Reichen Lehmkuhl --the former Air Force officer who won season four of the reality game show The Amazing Race with his then-partner Chip Arndt -- told RadarOnline.com:
"This is yet another sad day for our state and our country, on which we’ll look back in shame, forever. I held some hope that today’s CA Supreme Court ruling would NOT uphold the discriminatory amendment known as Proposition 8, denying equal marriage rights to the LGBT community of our great state. I believe that Proposition 8 was born from misinformation, mis-education, and, ultimately, fear. My hope was that we would at least maintain our current 18,000 California LGBT marriages of love and commitment, which we did. I fear this ruling will delay the positive political momentum shown nationally in recent months, toward the non-discrimination of our LGBT citizens. However, overall we continue to make steady progress, which I find reassuring. I believe in the good nature of Californians and Americans, in general, to find it unacceptable to recognize two classes of citizens. I know that, eventually, everyone will see the light, understand that this issue is about equality for all, and that we will do the right thing to accept, love, and support each other in all forms of equal rights.”
Click here to see our photo gallery of openly-gay celebs who have married their partners
(Photo: Wenn)
