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Partners in Protest

Aired February 26, 2004 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A wedding and a political protest all in one. Rosie O'Donnell is getting ready to marry her long-time partner, Kelli Carpenter, hoping to send a message to President Bush about love and same-sex marriage.
Our Rusty Dornin is in San Francisco.

Any sign of the couple yet, Rusty?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, Kyra.

From what we understand, their plane should be just touching down right at 11:00 a.m. Pacific, Rosie O'Donnell and her long-time partner, Kelli Carpenter. Now, this seemed all very spur of the moment, of course, Rosie O'Donnell making the announcement this morning and then flying up to San Francisco.

But from what we understand, her partner called the mayor's office earlier this week, of course, after the president made his announcement of his proposal to ban -- for a constitutional amendment to band gay marriage. She called herself Kelli O'Donnell. The mayor's office did say that they did call back making sure that it was not a hoax and began setting up arrangements for the marriage today.

They'll be arriving here about 1:00 p.m. Pacific. They'll be doing hair and makeup. And, also, just like the common folk, they have to go over to the county clerk's office and register. So we're expecting the ceremony to take place about 1:30. We've been told it's going to be a private ceremony. Things could change. We don't know if cameras are going to be allowed during the ceremony.

We do know, however, that Rosie and her partner will be coming out on the rotunda steps inside City Hall afterwards for a photo-op and to perhaps address reporters.

So there have been 3,300 gay marriages here so far since the city began issuing licenses February 12. Of course, this is the most famous so far -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, Rusty, you mentioned -- or we mentioned -- this is her longtime partner. And they've been together for a while. They have a family. This is not just something that was thrown together sort of as a last-minute stunt.

DORNIN: No, it's not thrown together as a last-minute stunt. But it certainly has that political message, as you said. I think she did make the statement on "Good Morning America" that she wouldn't be doing this if President Bush had not made that statement. She felt it was very mean, very vile, and that this was her way of sending a message back.

PHILLIPS: Rusty Dornin, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 26, 2004 - 14:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A wedding and a political protest all in one. Rosie O'Donnell is getting ready to marry her long-time partner, Kelli Carpenter, hoping to send a message to President Bush about love and same-sex marriage.
Our Rusty Dornin is in San Francisco.

Any sign of the couple yet, Rusty?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, Kyra.

From what we understand, their plane should be just touching down right at 11:00 a.m. Pacific, Rosie O'Donnell and her long-time partner, Kelli Carpenter. Now, this seemed all very spur of the moment, of course, Rosie O'Donnell making the announcement this morning and then flying up to San Francisco.

But from what we understand, her partner called the mayor's office earlier this week, of course, after the president made his announcement of his proposal to ban -- for a constitutional amendment to band gay marriage. She called herself Kelli O'Donnell. The mayor's office did say that they did call back making sure that it was not a hoax and began setting up arrangements for the marriage today.

They'll be arriving here about 1:00 p.m. Pacific. They'll be doing hair and makeup. And, also, just like the common folk, they have to go over to the county clerk's office and register. So we're expecting the ceremony to take place about 1:30. We've been told it's going to be a private ceremony. Things could change. We don't know if cameras are going to be allowed during the ceremony.

We do know, however, that Rosie and her partner will be coming out on the rotunda steps inside City Hall afterwards for a photo-op and to perhaps address reporters.

So there have been 3,300 gay marriages here so far since the city began issuing licenses February 12. Of course, this is the most famous so far -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, Rusty, you mentioned -- or we mentioned -- this is her longtime partner. And they've been together for a while. They have a family. This is not just something that was thrown together sort of as a last-minute stunt.

DORNIN: No, it's not thrown together as a last-minute stunt. But it certainly has that political message, as you said. I think she did make the statement on "Good Morning America" that she wouldn't be doing this if President Bush had not made that statement. She felt it was very mean, very vile, and that this was her way of sending a message back.

PHILLIPS: Rusty Dornin, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com