Rosie to Marry

For a woman that swore her allegiance to Tom Cruise on her daytime talk show, this is a huge move. Rosie O'Donnell plans to marry her long-time girlfriend, Kelli Carpenter, a former dancer and marketing director at Nickelodeon, in San Francisco, where, since February 12th, over 3,300 gay and lesbian couples have exchanged their wedding vows, despite the illegality of the autonomous decision. Governor Schwarzenegger stated that San Francisco is "trying to make it's own laws and must be made to follow state law." Rosie O'Donnell counters that, "We, too, have a dream of equality for all families. The only way changes are made in society is when people like Mayor Gavin Newsom have the courage to stand up against injustice."

O'Donnell has a 1:00 appointment to pick up a marriage license. O'Donnell's publicist, Cindi Berger, says the couple plan to marry on the steps of City Hall.

Just two days after President Bush called for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, O'Donnell announced her wedding plans on Good Morning America.

In a city where officials continue to perform same-sex weddings, even as state courts are considering the legality of those marriages, O'Donnell said, "I think the actions of the President are, in my opinion, the most vile and hateful words ever spoken by a sitting president." She went on, "if civil disobedience is the way to go about change, then I think a lot of people will be going to San Francisco." A now self-proclaimed proponent of gay marriage, she said, "I hope everyone shows up."

During a recent trial for her now defunct magazine, Rosie was forced to have her personal correspondence with Carpenter entered into evidence, as they were not married. She joins thousands of same-sex lovers, that vow to fight state law.