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It's official—after nine years celesbian super-couple Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels have gone their separate ways. Their split was announced on Thursday, April 15, according to the Associated Press.
In an official statement by Etheridge's rep they have asked for "consideration and respect for our family as we go through this difficult period."
The two met at a We-Ho bar in 2001. In Sept. 2003 the musician and the L word actress exchanged vows during a ceremony in Malibu, Calif. However, their plans to legally wed were stalled by the passing of Prop. 8 in California.
In 2004 Etheridge was diagnosed with cancer. After successful treatment, she became a breast cancer activist and made it one of her missions to raise awareness about the disease.
The Grammy Award winner and her former partner are mothers to 3-year-old twins Miller Steven and Johnny Rose, who were conceived through an anonymous donor.
Etheridge also shares custody of a daughter and a son from a previous relationship with Julie Cypher, whom she separated from in 2000.
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Reader Comments:
Hey Melissa,
You need to come see me. I'd be happy to help you with your relationships. You seem to have a problem keeping a lady.
My partner and I have been together 35 years. She was just diagnosed with Alzheimer's, yet we remain deeply in love. I will stay by her side "until death do us part!"
Linda
Hey Melissa,
Come see me. It appears you have some problems with relationships! My partner and I have been together 35 years and I think I can give you some tips!
My partner was just diagnosed with Alzheimer's, yet we remain desperately in love. She has my heart no matter what and I will stay by her side until "death do us part!"
Linda
why are people assuming this is Melissa's fault?? Why does their even have to be a fault?? People-people-=people.. sometimes folks just aren't meant to be together.. no matter how hard they try. Kudos to them for making it this long if they weren't meant for each other and/or for having to deal with their life issues in public. Now that that has been said.. Melissa..please.. 'come to my window!!!!!'
seems like the more $ you make, the harder it is to get along,, we simple people stick together thru thick and thin, but others just can't seem to realize that thru bad times and good, a partner is a partner.. tt
Melissa is awesome! I love her music and what she stands for. However, the reason many (including myself) blame her is because we've followed her through the years. She seems to have a hard time maintaining a relationship. When a couple commit to each other, they commit 'till death do us part'. Not for 9 years so that the couple can get kudos.
Melissa, I have known you for 14 yrs now and I love you for who you are and for what you stand for. I admire and respect you. I feel for you and I feel your pain. If people knew you the way that I have learned to know you they would know that you are hurting just as much as we would if we broke up with our partner. I love my wife whom I have been together with for 15 yrs and married legally for 1 yr, and we have had our ups and downs but have remained together loving each other every day and i know if we broke up we both will be hurting. So Melissa and Tammy I commend you for handling this break up amicably and I will always be here for you Melissa, through thick and thin. I hope to see you here in NY soon and I hope you look for me. Love you always, your true friend, Wanda Nieves
Relationships are complicated. Melissa and Tammy have gone through difficult issues in the 9 years such as custody and co-parenting with ex spouse, Julie Cypher, the traumatic experiences associated with her breast cancer, parenting children, career, etc. Tammy Lynn's role as the caregiver for Etheridge during the cancer promotes the thought of compassion fatigue...these journeys remain parallels to situations my partner and I have processed and walk through and continue to struggle and to fight to remain loving and true to one another...to place blame on one or the other is superficial, trite and insulting to lgbt couples as well as to any relationship and again sometimes love shifts into different parameters for which we need to be mindful in approaching and understanding. I will keep them in my prayers and am very sad for each of them and their children as they all fight to survive yet another challenge and life's lesson.
peace-