Anne Heche & Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen

Born: January 26, 1958

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

Quote: "A good psychic would pick up the phone before it rang."

Anne

Born: May 25, 1969

Hometown: Aurora, Ohio

Quote: "When you discover discrimination for the first time, there is no other calling except to be an activist."

In a culture that worships celebrities, it seems civil rights are often just a matter of good PR. The nation eventually got over "the gay thing" after comic actress Ellen DeGeneres came out, on and off the TV screen, and found love with recently out actress Anne Heche.

The two have become the unofficial first couple of the lesbian and gay community, diverting the controversy surrounding their lives into successful films like HBO's If These Walls Could Talk 2 and an upcoming documentary about Ellen's tour, shot by Anne.

Add Ellen's mom Betty to this family of smart, activist women (you can read her advice column here on PlanetOut), and we've got a fine first family.