It was back in 2006, just after Shiloh was born in Namibia, that Brad Pitt sat down for an interview with Esquire, and he shed some light on his take on marriage rights: “Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able.” Gay people were happy, and people who thought he was going to rush into a remarriage with Angelina Jolie were happy too. Then some years passed and Brad and Angelina kept insisting that they already felt married, yet they kept getting questions about WHEN they would possibly marry. It was just this past May that Brad seemed to indicate that his “no marriage until everybody can do it” stance was softening – he told USA Today, “The kids ask about marriage. It’s meaning more and more to them. So it’s something we’ve got to look at.” Mixed signals? Not so much! Brad just gave an exclusive statement to People Mag, reaffirming his stance:
“It is encouraging that New York has joined the movement to grant equal marriage rights to its citizens. But it is each American’s Constitutional right to marry the person they love, no matter what state they inhabit. No state should decide who can marry and who cannot. Thanks to the tireless work of so many, someday soon this discrimination will end and every American will be able to enjoy their equal right to marriage.”
-Brad Pitt exclusively to PEOPLE, on the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in New York State. The star and marriage-equality activist, 47, once said in an interview that he and Angelina Jolie would not get married until everyone had the same right.
[From People]
It’s noble, and sure, I can why you would take that position as a general stance. But this stance isn’t really taking it to the man, you know? Who is missing out? Brad and Angelina could probably get a tax break if they were married, so they might be paying more taxes by remaining unmarried. That’s about it – it’s not like this is some brilliant strategy that Mohandas Gandhi thought up. It’s just a straight dude standing up for equality, but not really doing much to push the issue in any demonstrative way.
As far as the Constitutional issue – well, I’m not going to get into DoMA and all of that. We don’t need an amendment, we need bold state legislatures and truly activist courts.
Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.
as well it should be. good on you, brad.
Brad actually donated 100,000 to help fight prop 8 in Cali for he has done something demonstrative
Damn, it seems he got his hot back in more ways than one…
I still can’t believe America is so lagging behind on this issue. It boggles my mind.
Kudoz.
Crap, Italy is still SO behind about this subject! I really hope it’s a good sign a place like the USA (advanced, but still not like several European countries) has approved this.
Actually Brad has been active. He has given substantial monies to gay causes.
I think his initial comment was an off the cuff remark because that is the 2nd question they are asked all the time (boring, reporters need to come up with better questions) right behind are you going to have more babies. He also said jokingly that he and Angie would marry when George Clooney and his partner would marry.
So I think he backed himself in a corner and stood by the comment (GOOD FOR HIM). I do think Brad and Angie may marry for their own reasons.. and doubt it would be a tax right off..
Anyway they have a lot of friends that are gay so I see them supporting that. Besides he is not going around ramming his opinion on anyone. Not shouting at people or tweeting. So like others he just gave his opinion.. which some agree with and other wont.
and YES HE IS FREAKING HOT AS HELL..ALWAYS WILL BE FOR ME.
…and it’s like the entire world all knows he’s taken. So he’s standing up for a personal belief. I say good for him.
Great that he’s supported this and even better that my home state NY has finally approved this BUT I am thinking it will be decades if ever that all 50 states enact gay marriage.
Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend had already made that statement before the Brand wanted to appear all progressive. Bunch of copycats.
Now Charlize is honest enough to state marriage isn’t for her, which is plainly truthful without all the selfless jumping on the bandwagon celebrities tend to do to elevate their cool factor.
For all of Lady Gaga’s excessive flamboyance and staged outrageous outings, she really does use her vast platform to rally her fans and the politicians to extend equal rights to the LBGT community, particularly the dismantling of the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy of the military. That wasn’t a palatable or easily accepted position as the military is treated as some kind of sacred cow.
Brad is just half-assed about his positions on political issues.
I get what he is saying, but shouldn’t marraige be a personal choice? Not on condition that gay people or their kids want them to.
It is a comitment YOU & YOUR PARTNER chose to make, not a specific group, or even your kids.
It is a personal bond between the two of you and when the two of YOU feel it is time.
Recently, the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF – Supremo Tribunal Federal) ruled that gay couples have now the same legal rights as unmarried heterosexual ones. It was an ultimate decision, like the leading cases in the US.
It may not seem much but I can assure you that it is a huge thing — not long ago unmarried (hetero) couples didn’t have the same rights as married ones. If a person’s partner died, she would have a lot of trouble trying to keep whatever they had built while they were together (and now they pretty much have the same rights in terms of adoption and patrimony – if you can prove you’re in a committed relationship).
It still doesn’t have the word “marriage” written on a piece of paper. But now gay couples, just like unmarried hetero couples, have basically the same legal rights as those who are married (civil marriage, I mean).
I was moved when I heard it — not surprised that it was a decision by our top court (the bill that proposes same-sex marriage here hasn’t never been voted and I have heard about it for at least a decade, it’s older than that though) — because it was a 10 to zero decision (with one abstention).
I agree, Addie. I’m 100% for equality and civil rights and think it’s something that people should stand up for, but one’s own marriage should be a personal decision, not a political one.
It’s great to support the cause, but whatever decision they and their family make really isn’t anyone else’s business, and I wish they’d just say as much. I wish a LOT more celebs would do that about their private lives.
If it’s just a personal issue to you, go right on with it. For some of us, particularly those with gay family members, the line between personal and political gets blurred. Maybe you don’t see it as a meaningful gesture, but a famous couple who are constantly hounded about their marriage status using that platform to point out that it must be an option for every couple is fantastic.
Brad is a good guy.
I live in Florida and I was ashamed a few years ago when a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage was passed. I wasn’t surprised that it passed, but was still embarrassed for the state. It’s just ridiculous that there is still SO much prejudice out there. Some of my closest friends have been gay/lesbian/bi. It’s heartbreaking that they don’t have the same rights that I do, when the only difference between us is that they love someone of the same gender.
Good for Brad for speaking out about this issue and for donating money to help promote civil rights.
On a somewhat related note, did anyone see the Parks and Recreation episode where Leslie marries the two male penguins? I thought it was hysterical when the obnoxious woman demanded that the “marriage” be annulled because, “when gay people marry, it ruins marriage for the rest of us.” The episode really did a great job of underscoring just how STUPID the arguments are against gay marriage.
@Addie&others: I agree with you, but sadly we live in a reality where a couple MUST be married to be recognized in many cases. And I’m talking about every couple, gay ethero children or just the duo. There are still places where one of the two (usually the woman) is basically worthless without a spouse; where people have to marry because is “the thing to do” even if they don’t have any religious belief; where is more important a piece of paper than a many years relationship or a child; where children who are loved are considered less because their parents aren’t married; where people dictate HOW a couple should live to be considered right. This is a political decision because for many IT CAN’T BE just a personal decision.
I think it’s funny that he doesn’t spell out that gays should be allowed to marry – he says anybody that wants to get married should be able to – so, man marrying dog, woman marrying 10-yr old, and brother marrying sister are all good! 😉
GeekChic, I loved that episode of P&R! It really did make a lot of great points. I unfortunately used to work with someone like that obnoxious character who actively campaigned against gay marriage (despite having multiple divorces in their own history, of course) and I never ever got a logical explanation of why. It’s never made much sense to me.
personal/political – I get that the lines blur for many, my point (and I think Addie’s) is that the decision to marry still has to be right for the two people considering it and based on truly wanting to be married, not what their family members or society or whoever wants or expects.
of course gay marriage should be legal -i really don’t get the hoo-ha surrounding this issue. but with the divorce rate holding at 50% i’m not sure marriage is all that awesome, either, LOL.
@Melissa: Marriage can’t be forced on either of participants of marriage. So as dog cannot declare their wish to marry, and neither can a child as they are legally incapable the issue you brought up is imaginary.
@lucy2: it’s not that they vowed to marry “when everybody else can” no matter their own feelings. It’s just that they don’t want to consider it until everyone equality is achieved.
I think most normal people know that Brad meant consenting human adults that aren’t related. 😉
Maybe he should start by marrying his long term gf and baby mother before preaching to the peasants. Celeb hypocrites are so annoying.
@ Amanda- At least some US states allow gay marriage. No Australian states do and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon because the government is to wussy to do anything.
@ GeekChic- We don’t get P&R here so I can’t comment on the episode but you are right in that a lot of the anti-gay marriage arguments are ridiculous. These are my usual responses to the arguments against it
It will destroy the institution of marriage- well straight couples have been doing that for years.
Marriage is for having children- so if you don’t want kids or are barren you shouldn’t get married even if you are straight?
God is against it- who do you think you are to speak for God? Do you believe that God created everything? (they always say yes) DO you believe that God doesn’t make mistakes? (they always say yes) Do you believe that we are all made in Gods image? (again they say yes) You think gay people are abominations or mistakes? (again they say yes) I then say “So you think the God that created everything, made us all in his image and doesn’t make mistakes made a mistake with gay people even though he doesn’t make mistakes? So either you’re infallible god is fallible or I guess it safe to say that gay people are exactly what and how god wanted them?” they then splutter for a bit and then counter with “he didn’t put it in the Bible so it isn’t allowed?” and I could spend all day discussing the things that are ridiculous in the bible but I dont like to spend that much time with bigoted morons so I just end it with “GOD didn’t put anything in the bible. It was written by a bunch of men who were most likely smoking weed”
Some of the most important people in my life are gay and they deserve the same rights as the rest of us. I don’t know if this can be done in the US but I think in Australia it should be taken to referendum so the people can vote on it (hopefully that wont back fire) because the government is too weak to do anything
Good on him.
@Shoe_Lover, I don’t think Aussie states have the legal right to change marriage laws in their state. Because most of the state ALPs around the country are in favour of gay marriage, but haven’t been able to do anything except suggest federal Labor joins the 21st century.
The territories can change the law, but whenever the ACT tried, federal parliament forced them to overturn it. So we won’t be able to see it slowly grow state by state, like the US currently is, and I don’t see either Gillard or Abbot bringing it up anytime soon.
Brad may believe in the issue, but it still feels like an excuse, because he doesn’t want to get married.
Total and complete Bullshit! He’s not marrying Angie because he doesnt want to. His belief in Gay Marriage didnt stop him from marrying Jennifer. Cut the crap Brad.
If they dont want to get married then they dont have too. They can be pro gay marriage and not be married themselves. Some comments here are just moronic.
if my southern baptist texan father is ok with gay marriage …..it won’t be long until its legal.
i just want to look at him.