Madonna and Queen Latifah on Sunday
joined Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and vocalist Mary Lambert during
their performance of gay marriage anthem Same Love.
Queen Latifah entered the stage through
a church door to officiate over the weddings of 33 gay and straight
couples.
“We are gathered here to celebrate
love and harmony in every key, in every color,” Queen Latifah told
the audience. “As I look out on this audience I'm delighted to see
the faces of 33 couples who have chosen this moment to celebrate
their vows with us here in Los Angeles and everyone watching around
the world as witnesses.”
Queen Latifah asked the couples to
exchange rings.
“By the power vested in me by the
state of California, I now pronounce you a married couple,” an
enthusiastic Queen Latifah belted out as Madonna walked through the
same door.
“Open your heart to me, baby. I'll
hold the lock and you hold the key,” sang Madonna, dressed in a
white cowboy outfit.
One of the couples who married
consisted of Spencer Stout and Dustin Reeser of Salt Lake City.
Video of the couple's musical proposal in the lumber aisle of a Home
Depot went viral, racking up more than 11 million views on YouTube
since September.
(Related: Home
Depot flashmob ends with gay marriage proposal.)
Dustin told the The
Salt Lake Tribune that despite the broadcast their wedding
was “still very special and intimate.”
Queen Latifah told reporters after the
performance that she “didn't get ordained but I'm a commissioner.”
“Everybody should get to fall in love
with someone and make a life together and be protected under the
law,” Queen Latifah said. “And so, I'm all for that, and I'm
glad to have been able to support it and be part of it. I think
it's where the future is going. We need to be there, right now.”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis went on to
win four Grammys, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance
(Thrift Shop), Best Rap Song (Thrift Shop) and Best Rap
Album (The Heist). Same Love, however, lost in the
Song of the Year category.