Michele Van Gorp is out and proud. And I am so proud of her!

Everyone makes a controversy out of DOMA, and what I can't understand is people getting hung up on the term 'marriage,'" Van Gorp emphasizes. "It's not that gay people necessarily want the term 'marriage.' "We have a partnership in life, as much as any straight couple does, and for the government to say, 'Well, you can't have the benefits that come along with that, that everybody else gets,' is just wrong.

"People try to say it's not a civil issue. Well, it is a civil issue. We don't care what you call it. If you want to call it a civil union, you can call it a civil union. If you want to call it marriage, call it marriage."

Additionally, Van Gorp firmly believes that when it comes to federal policy, a separation of church and state must be observed. "For you to sit there and give me religious reasons why we shouldn't have gay marriage is just ludicrous," Van Gorp remarks. "I think it comes down to fiscal policy, because no matter how much a politician agrees or doesn't agree with it, if it's something that's fiscally good, and it's going to benefit the government, then they're going to be for it."

Van Gorp's message to WNBA players who are not out in the league is simple. "It's a personal choice for everyone, and if you're not comfortable enough with yourself to be out, then you're not. And if that makes you happier not to be out, then don't be out. But don't be afraid if you are out. There are a lot of people who are straight, and there are a lot of people who are gay. That's just how life is."

Van Gorp plans to attend Twin Cities Pride Festival.