Melissa Etheridge splits from her partner of nearly 9 years

Tammy Etheridge have split after nearly nine years together, People reports. The two have a twin son and daughter, born in 2006; Melissa has two older children with her previous partner, Julie Cypher (and a little help from David Crosby).
Tammy stopped going by the name Tammy Lynn Michaels after she and Melissa exchanged vows in Malibu in 2003 under what was then a newly revised domestic partner law in California. Melissa blogged about Prop. 8 in the wake of its passage in 2008, suggesting she be let off the hook for state income taxes because California didn't consider her a full citizen.
A rep for the two said they were "saddened" to announce their spli