Melissa Etheridge engaged, excited about marrying in California

Rocker Melissa Etheridge is taking full advantage of the opportunity the Supreme Court delivered Wednesday with its decisions related to gay marriage -- she’s announced her engagement to her partner of three years, Linda Wallem.

“I look forward to exercising my American civil liberties ... ,� the longtime advocate for gay rights wrote in the morning on Twitter, “and getting fully, completely and legally married this year to my true love of over three years, Linda Wallem.�

In addition to making public her intent to marry, Etheridge waxed a bit philosophical about the court decisions on the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition. 8.

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“Lets hear it for the general progress of the human mind,� she said in a couple of tweets. “With a beautiful sweep of sweet justice’s blind hand we move forward. We correct the laws made hastily out of fear.�

Etheridge expressed her joy to CNN as well, calling in and effusively sharing how the morning had gone with her family. “I woke them up this morning telling them the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA, and I’m so proud of my daughter Bailey, my son Beckett, and Johnnie Rose and Miller, and Linda, I love you all, I love everybody out there. It’s a great day.�

Wallem, a writer and producer on shows such as “Nurse Jackie,� “Whitney� and “That ‘70s Show,� is 52, as is Etheridge.

The “Come to My Window� singer was previously in an eight-year partnership with Tammy Lynn Michaels, with whom she shares custody of twins Johnnie Rose and Miller. Before that, she was involved with Julie Cypher, with whom she had Beckett and Bailey, kids who later famously were revealed to have been fathered by a sperm donation from David Crosby.

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