Drescher Teams Up With Ex For Gay Marriage Campaign Gala

The U.S. star and her ex, Peter Marc Jacobson, are teaming up to host a benefit for Equality California - the group fighting to defeat an upcoming ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in California.

Gay couples, like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, have been taking advantage of new marriage laws that permit same-sex nuptials by exchanging vows this summer (08) - but the new regulations could be overturned in November (08) if anti-gay marriage activists get their way.

Drescher tells Eonline.com, "I'm a gay icon... (and) I'm a political activist who believes in preserving the American dream which is tolerance of diversity and the separation of church and state…It's simply un-American not to be tolerant of different lifestyles. If you wanna live in a single-minded, religious-based country you're in the wrong place."

Guests at Wednesday night's (03Sep08) fundraiser have paid at least $100 (GBP54) each to hang out with Drescher and her ex. The actress insists she and Jacobson are the best of friends.

She adds, "We have very similar beliefs in terms of ideology as well as theology."