America’s Most Captivating Couples 2007
Daria “Deno” Orechwa
27, Graduate Student/Youth Services Counselor
Ingrid “Inno” Dahl
26, Rock Musician/Editor/GO Writer/Founding Member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
San Francisco, CA & Jersey City, NJ
Deno and Inno met at Rutgers University in (year). Today, Deno is a graduate student at San Francisco State, and assists queer teens at the Huckleberry House shelter. Her goal is to open a queer community center someday with its own thrift store. At the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, Inno also works with teens—managing their bands and teaching them to play different instruments. In addition, she’s a writer for GO and plays in the groups Boyskout, The 303s, and Lismore. This couple, who say they “like to make out and lay on each other everywhere we go,” are currently in a long-distance relationship. What keeps it on track? “Teamwork; consideration; independence; admiration; text messages; imaginary scenarios; missing one another; extreme cuteness; generosity; and phenomenal sex.”
It was difficult to narrow down the entries, but we finally did it–and the result is the year’s most captivating couples! Ranging from a historic preservationist to a superhero to a TV talk show host (times two), it’s great to see so many proud women, not just in love, but spreading that love around and making the world a brighter place. Their stories inspired us, and we know they’ll inspire you, too. Say hello to this year’s sweethearts.
PORTIA & ELLEN
Portia de Rossi
34, Actress
Ellen DeGeneres
49, Talk Show Host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Beverly Hills, CA
Portia and Ellen first met in the early ‘00s and there were sparks, but Portia, then on Ally McBeal, was closeted. When they were at a photo shoot a few years later, the timing still hadn’t improved. Portia was in a relationship with singer/songwriter Francesca Gregorini, while Ellen was with actress Alexandra Hedison. But when Portia saw Ellen at VH1’s Big in ‘04 awards, she could no longer ignore the attraction, although she was still “officially” in the closet. “My feelings for Ellen overrode all of my fear about being out as a lesbian,” she told the Advocate. Fans were on the fence when the couple first got together, but once it became clear how in love they were, the support was overwhelming. “I’m very happy,” Portia told the Advocate. “I’m happier than I ever, ever thought I could be. Yeah. She’s incredible. …She’s so caring and kind, and she’s beautiful and open.”
