Ellen had already planned a ceremony to unite with her partner, actress Portia DeRossi, before the court announced its preparations to rule on In re Marriage Cases, stemming from San Francisco's move to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004.

While McCain talks about the importance of having access to legal agreements and insurance, Ellen takes him to task on the inequality she feels, being denied access to a legal union: "Women just got the right to vote in 1920, blacks didn't have the right to vote until 1870, and it just feels like there's this old way of thinking that we're not all the same.

"We are all the same people. All of us. You're no different than I am. Our love is the same."

"I've heard you articulate that position in a very eloquent fashion," McCain says. "We just have a disagreement, and...I, along with many, many others [wish you] every happiness."

"Thank you," Ellen responds. "So you'll walk me down the aisle? Is that what you said?"

"Touché," says McCain.

The entire exchange, as available on the Ellen show's website, is included below: