Celebrities salute NZ over gay marriage

Ellen Degeneres, right, and her wife Portia de Rossi. Photo/AP

Celebrities from Macklemore to Chelsea Clinton have saluted New Zealand for making gay marriage legal.

The passage of legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry was greeted by a chorus of celebration from supporters last night, including several stars overseas and at home.

Macklemore, who stood up for gay marriage in his hit song Same Love, tweeted: "New Zealand has just passed same sex marriage! Beautiful... Congrats to everyone that has been working towards equality."

Popstar Ronan Keating was impressed by National MP Maurice Williamson's speech calling for the bill to pass.

"Everybody should take a listen to Maurice Williamson Marriage equality Speech. Simply brilliant," he wrote on Twitter.

Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former US President Bill Clinton, said the bill represented a step forward.

"NewZealand has legalized gay marriage. First country in the Asia-Pacific region. #MovingForward," her tweet said.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who is married to actress Portia De Rossi said: "It's a big day for Kiwis! New Zealand's marriage equality bill passed! Also, Portia just made me a tropical fruit salad."

Kiwi actress Melanie Lynskey, who stars in Two and a Half Men, said the bill's passage made her proud to be a Kiwi.

"Dear Aotearoa, I love you. The marriage equality bill passed!! I'm especially proud to be a New Zealander tonight," she said.

All Black Adam Thompson said New Zealanders shouldn't discriminate when it comes to love.

"If people are lucky enough to find love in this world, surely it's the heart and soul that count, not the body they're in."

Zach Braff, the star of Scrubs and Garden State, said New Zealand had shown the US the way.

"Congrats New Zealand. We follow you in time in more ways than one."

- nzherald.co.nz