Degeneres Argues With Mccain Over Gay Marriage

Lesbian TV host ELLEN DeGENERES has argued with U.S. presidential candidate JOHN McCAIN after the politician voiced his opposition to gay marriage.

The Arizona senator and Republican candidate appeared on the The Ellen DeGeneres show on Thursday (22May08) and told the host he believes in "the unique status of marriage between and man and a woman".

But he says same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into legal agreements for insurance and other purposes.

Last week (15May08), U.S. officials ruled gay marriages legal in California, and those who wed during a spate of same-sex nuptials at San Francisco's City Hall in 2004 will be recognised as married couples.

Following the announcement, DeGeneres announced on her programme her engagement to longtime girlfriend Portia de Rossi.

She told McCain, "We are all the same people, all of us. You're no different than I am. Our love is the same.

"When someone says, 'You can have a contract, and you'll still have insurance, and you'll get all that,' it sounds to me like saying, 'Well, you can sit there, you just can't sit there.'

"It feels like we are not, you know, we aren't owed the same things and the same wording."

McCain replied: "We just have a disagreement. And I, along with many, many others, wish you every happiness."