Rosie O’Donnell and her girlfriend, Michelle Rounds, are engaged. The TV Host announced the engagement to the audience of her program, The Rosie Show, on Monday. On Friday, she tweeted a link to a picture of Rounds with the caption “happy – in love”.

O’Donnell and Rounds met earlier this year in a Starbucks. O’Donnell recently said of their relationship “It’s fun and very exciting. I did not expect it.”

O’Donnell publicly came out in 2002 and was previously married to Kelly Carpenter, before separating in 2007.

The New York State Legislature voted this week to legalize gay marriage, a measure hurriedly signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo late Friday night.

The gay marriage law takes effect in 30 days.

In one of the highest profile celebrity responses, actor Neil Patrick Harris immediately and officially proposed to longtime partner David Burtka.

“It PASSED! Marriage equality in NY!! Yes!! Progress!! Thank you everyone who worked so hard on this!! A historic night!” Patrick Harris tweeted late Friday night.

The two had been planning for years to marry as soon as it was legal in New York. The couple plans a blowout wedding.

“This is going to be as traditional as it gets. We’re going to do it at the Four Seasons, a place that is like gay church to me,” he told the Associated Press.

The bill faced opposition from conservative and religious groups, but in the end, the right to marry rode a wave of progressiveness that has swept through New England but has not reached California.

In Arizona, Phoenix-based gay rights group Equality Arizona hopes the New York vote will help the passage of gay marriage there.

The group has a major uphill battle, as the state already voted to make gay marriage illegal in 2008, and the state is run by a conservative governor.

Outside the historically liberal New York City, more than 100 people gathered in Syracuse in upstate New York, to celebrate the vote.

“The victory we had last night was one of love and justice,” Mark Spadafore told the gathered crowd outside First English Lutheran Church, according to a report in The Post-Standard newspaper. “Enjoy today, enjoy this moment. We won! We won!…We won, but we have more work to do.”

But gay marriage is still without support at the very top of the country. President Barack Obama said he favors equal rights for gay couples, but he is not an advocate for legalizing gay marriage.

A Wharton county, Texas, Judge recently ruled that a transgender widow’s marriage to a Wharton Firefighter was not legal at the time of the firefighter’s death, leaving the widow ineligible to receive her husband’s death benefits.

Firefighter Thomas Araguz died in the Line of Duty during a fire at an egg farm in Wharton, in July 2010. He was 30.

The Firefighter married Nikki Araguz, a male to female transgendered person in 2008, but District Judge Randy Clapp has since ruled their marriage invalid because the state of Texas does not recognize same sex marriages. The state is not considering the widow’s sex change as a factor, and is determining gender using chromosomes, in accordance with a precedent set in a 1999 appeals court case.

The firefighter’s first wife, Heather Delgado, and his mother, who originally filed the lawsuit, are looking to gain the more than $600,000 in death benefits, according to the Associated Press.

The widow tried to prove herself female gendered in court to claim her marriage was legal, but she was unsuccessful. Araguz and her lawyers plan to appeal the case, according to chron.com.

“Both myself and my family are grateful for the outpouring of understanding, kindness, sympathy, and support over the past year,” Araguz said in an issued statement. “I am totally devastated by the court ruling. At this time I have no comment for the media, but will be issuing a statement shortly after I consider my options.”

The firefighter’s mother, Simona Longoria, claimed to have learned about Araguz’s sex change just before her son’s death, and claimed that her son was unaware of his wife’s status and left their home when he found out.

Araguz argued that her husband knew about the sex change, and supported her completely throughout the surgery. She underwent surgery two months after their marriage in 2008, according to chron.com.

Texas Family Code allows transgendered people to use proof of their sex change to obtain a marriage license, however a lower court threw out the wrongful-death case of a San Antonio woman’s husband, stating that since the widow had undergone a sex change, her marriage was not legal.

According to the Associated Press, Elton John, 63, took a stand last week during a performance at a private Beverly Hills fundraiser for the ongoing legal challenge to California’s gay marriage ban. John, who became a parent to a baby boy on Christmas Day with partner David Furnish, said, “As I get older, I get more angry about it.”

His son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born in California through a surrogate mother. When California’s Proposition 8 banning gay marriage passed in 2008, John said he had no desire to get married and was satisfied with his civil partnership in England. However, Wednesday he praised the effort to overturn Proposition 8 and promised to do everything he could to support it.

The source reports that the singer said in the interview Friday, “In this country, we need more dialogue. We don’t need any more stone throwing. We don’t need any more vitriol. We need people to say, ‘OK. I’m straight. You’re gay. Let’s get along. I’m Republican. You’re Democratic. Let’s work together.’ I’m sick and tired of people being hateful to each other in this country.”

He added, “Everyone is entitled to have their own beliefs and their own spirituality. The big difference is that the dogma of the church can be so hateful and divisive. It’s stuck in the stone age. We don’t live in the stone age anymore. The church is losing people left, right and center because people are fed up with the rhetoric that they’re giving them.”

Photo by Chris Ellis-Hibbett

BRAINTREE — Police are investigating an alleged assault by a Charlie Baker campaigner on a lesbian who took a picture of him holding a Charlie Baker for governor sign taped to an anti-gay marriage sign.

Chris Ellis-Hibbett, 36, of Dorchester is a married lesbian. In an exclusive interview, she told Blast Magazine that, on Saturday, she was shopping with her wife, Denise Ellis-Hibbett, at Five Corners when she saw the Republican supporter holding a “let the people vote on marriage” sign. She said she approached him and argued about the sign when he yelled at her and hit her in the face.

A spokesman for the Charlie Baker campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but Baker is an open and ardent supporter of gay marriage. Baker has a gay brother, and some conservative groups oppose his candidacy for governor because of his stance on gay rights.

Richard R. Tisei, Baker’s running mate, is openly gay.

Braintree Deputy Police Chief Russ Jenkins said the incident was under investigation, but since it was not reported until Sunday, more than a day afterward, police have not been able to identify or find the man.

“We had just finished shopping for Halloween costumes,” Chris said. “When we were driving away we noticed the man standing at the intersection of Granite Street and West Street.”

The two had seen the man, who appeared to be in his 70s, closer to their home in Dorchester in prior weeks, and decided they wanted to take a picture of him to share with their friends online.

“Some people we know had stated that they like Charlie Baker and were thinking about voting for him and we wanted to show them on Facebook what we think he really stands for,” Chris said.

The couple stopped their car, and Chris asked if she could take a picture of the man. Chris said that the man said yes.

After the picture, the man asked why she wanted a picture, and Chris said she told him she disagreed with his stance on gay marriage.

Then the screaming started.

“He soon came to realize I am a married lesbian. One that happened, he unleashed the most disgusting verbal attack on gays that I’ve heard in awhile, and I’ve heard quite a few unfortunately,” Chris said. “He also promised that should Charlie Baker win the election, gay marriage will surely be repealed and my marriage will cease to exist. He also promised many other horrible things will happen to me because of who I am and who I love.”

The two women and the man yelled at each other about the morality of homosexuality, religion, and whether or not individuals should have a right to vote on the merits of gay marriage.

According to the women, the man, while holding his sunglasses, raised his hand to Chris’s face and pressed his fist against her chin. After holding his hand still for a moment, Chris said the man firmly followed through with his fist and pushed her face away from him.

Denise Ellis-Hibbett shot a video of the altercation and provided it to Blast.

Chris is seen approaching the man while the two are in the midst of a screaming match. Denise is heard asking her wife to “stop” and trying to physically pull her away from the situation. At this point the screaming comes to a nearly inaudible pitch and the image of the video is lost because Denise’s hand obstructs the lens.

But near the end of the clip, a second man’s voice is heard saying: “You can’t touch her, Joe,” to which the woman responds: “Too late he already did.”

Chris was unharmed. The couple got into their car and left after the alleged assault.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday granted Hollywood actress Portia de Rossi the right to change her name to DeGeneres, after her spouse, Ellen DeGeneres.

Her new full name is now Portia Lee James DeGeneres.

According to ABC, the new Mrs. DeGeneres commented: "I am thrilled to legally adopt my wife’s name. I will continue to use Portia de Rossi for professional purposes.”

The couple started dating in 2004 and wed in 2008 during a period when same-sex marriages were legal in California.

Regarding this happy name change, DeGeneres said on Twitter, "the court granted Portia’s name change. She’s now officially Portia Winfrey."

Conservative poster girl Carrie Prejean’s 15 minutes are up, despite the best efforts of what I’m sure are a slew of well-paid publicists and marketers.

Little Miss Values, 22, ousted from the Miss USA pageant after coming out against gay marriage, has penned a book called “Still Standing,” which has been a flop so far. Even the well-timed “scandalous” and “malicious” release of a Prejean sex tape that reportedly shows the fallen blonde beauty queen pleasuring herself hasn’t spurred her publicity.

You can’t market Carrie Prejean — not unless you get her, Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and 9 other women together with bearskin rugs and rifles, and make a calendar.

She claimed that she made the tape for a boyfriend — because she was in a proper male-female relationship and “cared about” the guy the tape was “for.”

Prejean also went on Sean Hannity, because if anyone’s going to defend her, it’s Fox News.

Let’s be clear: This tape is no accident, and the topless photo of Prejean (right) was no accident either.

But there was plenty of backfire. The sex tape ruined Prejean’s lawsuit against Miss USA, and it’s not helping her book sales.

You can’t shine shit. No matter how hard you, uh, rub.

Today, Massachusetts proved that it continues to be a leader in the fight for gay rights. A lawsuit against the federal government was announced today by Attorney General Martha Coakley, who argued that the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, is a “discriminatory, unprecedented, and…unconstitutional law.”

The suit alleges that “In enacting DOMA, Congress overstepped its authority, undermined states’ efforts to recognize marriages between same-sex couples, and codified an animus towards gay and lesbian people.”

DOMA, which was signed in 1996 by former president Bill Clinton, defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Since then, six states–including Massachusetts, which was the first to do so–have legalized same-sex marriage.

One concern about DOMA raised by supporters of same-sex marriage lies in the fact that same-sex married couples do not receive the same benefits as heterosexual married couples, including hospital visitation, social security payments, federal income tax credits, property inheritance, health insurance coverage, Medicaid, family leave, and pensions.

But despite the absence of such rights to same-sex married couples, supporters of DOMA see the core issue as the protection of the “traditional” family.

President of the Massachusetts Family Institute Kris Mineau told the Boston Globe that the lawsuit will have “no credibility in the federal courts.”

The Institute’s website states that the “primary purpose of marriage is…procreation, [so] marriage can only be the union of a man and a woman.” The site claims that the state’s legalization of same-sex marriage is a “travesty” and that its “endorsement of motherless and fatherless families is both reckless and dangerous.”

But supporters of the suit, including Boston’s Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), which filed its own lawsuit on March 3rd of this year, see DOMA as interfering with different tradition: the “division of power between the federal and state governments.”

Gary Buseck, GLAD’s Legal Director, says in a statement on the group’s website that “DOMA represents an…intrusion by the federal government into the traditional and historical power of the states to make determinations of marital status. By refusing to recognize any marriage of same-sex couples”"and by denying these couples access to all federal rights, protections and responsibilities related to marriage”"the federal government steps in and overrides these state-sanctioned marriages.”

Buseck praises both Coakley and Massachusetts for continuing the state’s “long tradition as a national civil rights leader” and “move to protect legally married same-sex couples from…federal discrimination.”

On January 20 the world will watch Rick Warren, a man who has compared gay marriage to incest and abortion to the Holocaust, give the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration. Oddly enough, in the public eye Warren comes off as an almost moderate pastor, something that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Warren backed the recent California ban on gay marriage, doesn’t believe in evolution and once publicly told a Jewish woman she would go to hell because she isn’t Christian.

“Choosing a man like Rick Warren to deliver the invocation isn’t just a slap in the face to gay supporters, but a slap in the face to several of Obama’s supporters,” said a gay Obama supporter who requested to remain anonymous. “The choice only satisfies the right-wing. It’s like Obama is saying ‘sorry for beating McCain guys, here’s your consolation prize.”

Gays have been the most public of the outraged American population; several organizations have organized protests and sent letters urging Obama to reconsider his decision.

“Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans,” reads a letter to the President-elect from the Human Rights Campaign. “You have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans have a place at your table.”

Obama’s decision to invite Warren, a man who is already such a powerful pastor and has been deemed by many as America’s “unofficial pastor,” may come at the expense of several important groups in the U.S., including many politically knowledgeable religious minorities and gays.

Knowing that many liberals see the choice as utterly insulting, Warren defended himself in a recent speech at his Saddleback Church in Southern California.

“You don’t have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand,” Warren told the crowd, according to Fox News.

In defense over allegations that he is homophobic, he cited his relationship with gay rights activist Melissa Etheridge, saying he is a fan of her music and that the two enjoyed a great conversation one evening.

However, in an interview with BeliefNet, a spiritual site owned by Fox, he likened redefining marriage to include gays to incest, child abuse and polygamy. In the same interview he told BeliefNet that he has “many gay friends. I’ve eaten dinner in gay homes.”

“Every step Warren takes forward, he falls back twice,” said Jason Howell, a conservative who voted for McCain. “He says something to better his public image, then starts talking about gay homes.‚  He does work in Africa fighting HIV/AIDS, but teaches abstinence and prayer instead of sex education to a society where rape is a common cause of the disease. He always says things to satisfy those he’s speaking to, and we can expect the same pabulum in his invocation speech.”

Whether Warren spews pabulum or not, he will deliver the speech as millions around the world watch one of the most historic presidential campaigns come to an official end. Unfortunately, for many, the pastor’s preaching will mar this historic day.

However while countless Americans are insulted, some‚ believe‚ Obama’s willingness to have a man with whom he disagrees on many issues at his inauguration shows his commitment to unifying the country and sets an example all Americans should follow.

“You can look at it that way too. Just because he chose Warren doesn’t mean he supports Warren’s ideology,” said the anonymous Obama supporter. “He’s getting people from all ends of the political spectrum to join in his celebration.”

“He is reaching across the aisle. Warren and Obama disagree on a lot of things, but so do a lot of Americans,” said Howell. “But that doesn’t mean they all aren’t happy about change.”

As is the case with many political decisions that involve religion, this is wrought with controversy. However while analyzing this selection is of grave importance to several liberals, Howell believes January 20 should be about something else.

“The day is about Obama and his historical inauguration not about Warren’s political views. People shouldn’t let that overshadow an accomplishment by a man so deserving of all the success he has received in life.”

Credits: Conceived and Written (six weeks later than he shoulda) by-Marc Shaiman Directed and Staged by: Adam Shankman Produced by Adam Shankman, Marc Shaiman and Mike Farah Edited by Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis Cast (in order of appearance) California Gays and The People That Love Them Jordan Ballard, Margaret Cho, Barrett Foa, J.B. Ghuman, John Hill, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Rashad Naylor, Nicole Parker Proposition 8′ers and The People That Follow Them Prop 8 Leader- John C. Reilly Prop 8 Leader’s #1 Wife- Allison Janney Prop 8 Leader’s #2 Wife- Kathy Najimy Riffing Prop 8′er-Jenifer Lewis A Preacher- Craig Robinson Scary Catholic School Girls From Hell-Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke The Frightened Villagers Katharine “Kooks” Leonard, Seth Morris, Denise “Esi!” Piane, Lucian Piane, Richard Read, Seth Redford, Quinton Strack, Tate Taylor, Brunson Green Jesus Christ Jack Black A Very Smart Fellow Neil Patrick Harris Piano Player Marc “Marc” Shaiman —- Co-Choreographer: Anne “Mama” Fletcher Recorded and Mixed by Frank Wolfe & Greg Hayes Director of Photography: Michael Barrett Camera Operators: Jake Szymanski, Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis Production designer: Nelson Coates Costume designer: Shanna Knecht Costume assistants: Leslie Schilling, Annalisa Adams, Elizabeth Abate Hair: Laura Sanchez Make-up: Shauna O’Toole, Atticuss Sharp Production sound: Bradford Craig Music editor: Lisa Jaime Music assistant: Brian Naguit Snacky: “Snacky” Special Thanks to Adam McKay for the nudge

Proposition 8 opposition in Boston