Brad Pitt Gives $100K To Defeat Prop 8 Gay Marriage Repeal

"Burn After Reading" star Brad Pitt has donated $100K to help defeat a California ballot proposal targeted at abolishing the right to gay marriage. California recently made it possible for gay couples to wed, and the rush to the altar has been amazing.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are now married. Star Trek's George Teki has hitched the knot, and Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson have announced they will be married by the end of the year.

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Brad Pitt explained in a press statement:

"No one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8".

Pitt's generous gift is the largest to date by a Hollywood celebrity for a campaign against Prop 8.

During a 2006 press interview, Pitt told reporters that he and Angelina Jolie would not marry until all couples had the same rights.

"Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able."

Brad and Angelina have grabbed their fair share of attention for the adoption of several children, and for Jolie's artificial insemination resulting in their recent twins while not being married.

The intense interest comes at a time when more and more celebrities are feeling comfortable about being gay in public. Our just released top 10 list of openly gay male celebrities has received more traffic then any story we've ever written. People feel strongly that the Government should stay out of it and allow gay couples to get married and share the same rights as everyone else.

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Political strategist Chad Griffin, who is helping coordinate efforts in the entertainment industry to defeat the controversial initiative, said he is hopeful that Brad Pitt's donation will prompt others to get involved, and said that Democratic billionaire Ron Burkle has agreed to host a large fundraiser at his home in October to rally Hollywood against Proposition 8.

Brad Pitt can currently be seen in the recently released thriller "Burn After Reading", starring alongside George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton.

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