Gay marriage is now constitutional in California

Ellen DeGeneres plans to make an honest woman out of her girlfriend ... and herself.

The Emmy-winning talk show host announced that she and her partner, actress Portia de Rossi, plan to get hitched, reports TMZ.com.

DeGeneres told the good news to her audience during the taping of her talk show on Thursday afternoon (May 15), the same day that the California Supreme Court decided to strike down the state's ban on gay marriage.

De Rossi was also reportedly present in the crowd for the announcment. The episode is set to air Friday.

DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35, have been together since 2004 and currently live together in Beverly Hills. De Rossi is best known for her roles on "Ally McBeal" and "Arrested Development."

In the past, gay couples have been able to enjoy certain rights similar to marriage under domestic partnership laws in California. This has led to commitment ceremonies much like the fictional one featured between characters Scotty Wandell (Luke Macfarlane) and Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) on the May 11th finale of "Brothers & Sisters."

Real-life couples weren't allowed to marry, however, until now. Gay married couples still will be denied many federal rights and benefits that straight couples enjoy such as filing a joint federal tax return, Social Security benefits and veteran's benefits. A November ballot initiative -- which in California can supersede legislation and court decisions -- will seek to amend the state's constitution so that the ban on same-sex marriage can be reinstated.