O’Donnell marries lesbian lover in San Francisco

FORMER US talk show host Rosie O’Donnell has married her long-time girlfriend in San Francisco, taking “a proud stand” for gay rights in the city where more than 3,300 same-sex couples have tied the knot since February 12.

“I want to thank the city of San Francisco for this amazing stance the mayor has taken for all the people here, not just us, but all the thousands and thousands of loving, law-abiding couples,” Ms O’Donnell said yesterday after she and Kelli Carpenter emerged from their ceremony at mayor Gavin Newsom’s office.

Earlier, Ms O’Donnell announced her wedding plans on ABC television, just two days after President George W Bush called for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.