Melissa Ethridge: DNC Embracing Gay Rights Is 'Tipping Point' for America

If you watched the first night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, followed the events on Twitter or just waited to read about it this morning, you know that a big talking point was gay rights, specifically when it comes to marriage and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Well, we happened to have Melissa Etheridge in our office this afternoon, so we had to ask the famed gay musician and activist what she thought of the evening.

"Us poor gays. We go from being the stepchildren to being front and center," she said with a laugh. "It seems like where the shift has been is in understanding that American society, we benefit from making sure that all of our citizens enjoy these amazing rights.

"It's the most amazing country on earth and our democracy is sacred. For us to celebrate our diversity, each and every one of us has to understand that we're all going to be incredibly different -- sometimes uncomfortably so -- yet our ability to recognize each of our individual freedoms, even amidst that diversity, is what makes America strong. It seems the Democratic party has understood that embracing gay marriage is symbolic of that.

"And yeah, it's time. We've hit the tipping point. It only took a few years [laughs]."

Despite decades in the public eye, the 51-year-old Etheridge is adamant that she's not tired of interviewers bringing up these issues. "I'm so diversified in my gay, cannabis, cancer ... I talk about a lot of things," she says with a grin.

Melissa's 12th studio album, 4th Street Feeling, is out now. Check back soon for more from our interview.