[cyncooper]

Julie Cypher, who was Etheridge's girlfriend for 12 years.Word parsing at work. Julie was the "wife" previously - but like some men do, Melissa traded up to someone younger.

I think Cypher, like Ann Heche, went back to men. It was not Etheridge doing the dumping.

[Jackie-O]

Cypher was previously married to Lou Diamond Phillips when she met Ethridge while producing one of her music videos.
Ethridge claims that Julie, after many years together, two children later, turned to her and said..."I'm not gay."