America’s Most Captivating Couples 2009, Part I
Beverly Hills, California
Portia, 36, Actress
Ellen, 51, Comedienne, Talk show host
Married in 2008, Ellen and Portia have inspired us with their public relationship and celesbian chic. Their tabloid-worthy marriage and vocal opposition to California’s Prop. 8 caught our attention last year, and we just couldn’t resist giving them a second run as one of our most captivating couples. “We’ve both changed and grown, and we just feel like, ‘Oh, okay, this is completion,'” said the daytime talk show host of their decision to marry. Despite the struggle with California’s same-sex marriage laws, and the liminal state of their legal union, the two are still beaming. And Portia’s three-carat pink diamond ring certainly gave Ellen points in the romance department. Vegan animal lovers, they live with three cats and two dogs. Says Ellen on the Prop. 8 legal
battles, “I’m begging you. I can’t return the wedding gifts—I love my new toaster.”
Between new friends and familiar favorites, choosing the most delightful duos of 2009 was no easy task. But our hard work paid off and here we present part 1 of this year’s most captivating couples! Look for more couples in the March issue!
Jo & Katie
Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York
Jo, 29, Emcee
Katie, 28, Writer
Katie and Jo love Summer, the beach, each other’s creativity, green living, cultural tourism, their French bulldog, sneakers, cooking food, and Boggle. “We met at The Gay Life Expo at the Javits Center in the fall of 2007, which is really gay. We didn’t have our first date until July 2008. It lasted a week and it was awesome,” says Katie. Their secret to success is a combination of Tantric sex and Paula Cole on the stereo. “I love and lust Katie. She challenges me and she’s been really supportive of my artistic endeavors,” says Jo. “It just works,” says Katie. “Also, I love Jo’s positivity and lack of pretense. She makes me laugh all the time.”
