PHOTOS: Daytime TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, went Down Under this week for a special Australian edition of Ellen’s show. The adorable couple was spotted in Sydney, checking out the sites in between taping segments. This is Ellen’s first visit to Australia—Portia was actually bornin Horsham, Victoria.
Ellen’s team has been posting all the pictures of her 10-day trip to her Tumblr, where fans can follow along.
Photos: Ellen on Tumblr
jbo206
I was just in Australia for Mardi Gras. While there I was met at venues by police & dogs, watched people get strip searched & heard of others who had menacing experiences (threats of cavity search, detained for 30 min at a time, etc). Thank goodness local Australians & flora & fauna are so amazing.
I hope Ellen asks the tourism board of Australia why they spend so much to attract the gays to Mardi Gras if the local police are clearly demonstrating they believe we are not wanted (at the harbor party, there were over 40 officers & dogs. I couldn’t help but think that there were better ways to allocate police funds & personnel).
stadacona
Absolutely correct, jbo206 . Australia has no Bill or Charter of Rights like the USA and Canada. In fact, Australia is the most police state-like of Western countries. People have no constitutional rights at all in Australia. Aboriginals weren’t even considered legal humans until the 1970’s. And gay rights – dream on. Gay men have such rose coloured glasses on about Australia. Because of the many hot lifeguards in speedos, gay men imagine the country is like some sort of porn video. The reality is warrant-less searches, no civil rights, police dogs growling, detentions and abusive threats by thugs with badges, etc. At least in the USA, you have legal recourse.
JJinAus
I have no idea what agenda the above posters have, but they are willfully or ignorantly misrepresenting gay rights in Australia. While we do not have equal rights as far as marriage, adoption and immigration are concerned, we enjoy equal rights in pretty much every other area including taxation. Federally! So much for the US and their bill of rights, those rights do not apply to fags apparently, however hopefully this week there may be a slight improvement. As far as taxation and other rights, the US is woefully behind and will continue to be so unless and until they have federal laws. A bill of rights will not protect you when you are seen as a lower form of life. Witness non-whites in the US until fairly recently – and indeed in living memory. Witness gay rights in most states now!
You people are talking nonsense. Things aren’t perfect, but they are better here than 95% of the world.
jbo206
@JJinAus:
I understand that you are proud of Australia (& once again, the people I met, the physical setting of Sydney were both gracious and amazing), but it doesn’t take away the fact that these things are happening. Ignoring it won’t make it go away and you have a duty to warn people that they should expect this kind of treatment before they pay thousands to fly and stay (I had a wonderful trip which is why the police discordance sticks out so much)
Good for you that with the exception of; marriage, adoption, immigration & police searches you are treated like every other Australian…..
JJinAus
@jbo206: As I said, it’s not perfect. However, where are you from? Do you enjoy as many rights as we do? Do your rights stay intact when you move around your country? Can you visit your partner in hospital and make medical decisions anywhere in your country? Can you inherit? How about superannuation? Insurance?. etc etc
Recently the Federal government removed over 1000 discriminatory Federal legislative laws. If you’re from the US, you are dreaming if you think you’re even close to us or you think your police are unbiased law abiders.
Allen D.
Apparently off topic, but I’ve been rewatching “Better Off Ted” over the weekend and I just wanted to say how much I LOVE Portia! Can’t wait to see her on the new “Arrested Development” episodes. Hopefully they’ll do well enough to keep it going.