Charlize Theron Won't Get Married Until All Her Gay Friends Can, Too

categories: Gay Marriage, LGBT Celebrities, LGBT Entertainment, Marriage Equality

Published September 17, 2009 @ 05:56PM PT

Charlize Theron

Looks like the latest Hollywood trend is to pledge not to get married until all people -- straight folks and gays and lesbians -- have the right to do so. Earlier this week, True Blood actor Mechad Brooks said he wouldn't tie the knot until same-sex marriage was legal, and now Charlize Theron adds her name to the list of celebs who'd rather not walk down the aisle until the aisle is inclusive of everyone.

Theron has long been a supporter of marriage equality, famously saying last year that laws like Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, reminded her of South African apartheid. Discriminatory laws are discriminatory laws, according to Theron, whether they're on the books in 1980s South Africa or 2009 America.

Theron made her marriage equality comments on The View, where she was promoting her new movie, The Burning Plain.

"I don't want to get married because right now the institution of marriage feels very one-sided, and I want to live in a country where we all have equal rights," Theron said. She's been dating actor Stuart Townsend for more than eight years.

At eight years, you're already practically married, right? Still, making it official while so many folks aren't given access to marriage rights goes beyond Charlize's sense of decency.

"I think it would be exactly the same if we were married, but for me to go through that kind of ceremony, because I have so many friends who are gays and lesbians who would so badly want to get married, that I wouldn't be able to sleep with myself," Theron said.

Lack of sleep -- reason #419 to sign the National Marriage Boycott.

Principled and heartfelt stances -- reason #120 to love Charlize Theron. Video of her appearance on The View below.

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Comments (11)

I love Charlize even more now!

Posted by Sarah McConnaughey on 09/17/2009 @ 06:23PM PT
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Yeah, do you think women are going to allow men to get away with this, "sorry dear, you know how important my LGBT activism is to me"; if they do, more power, and freedom, to them both- and all. Great trend.

reality

Posted by james m nordlund on 09/18/2009 @ 06:30AM PT
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Charlize Theron is so beautiful and talented. To also be so smart is just icing on the cake. Good on her.

Posted by Jay Jonson on 09/18/2009 @ 06:51AM PT
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Oh puh-leeze. Who the hell cares

Posted by Thomas Berg on 09/18/2009 @ 07:52AM PT
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Indeed mr. berg...Who the hell cares about you and all the other homohaters.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 09/18/2009 @ 03:32PM PT
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Good for her. I made the same decision a few years ago, and after being with my "spousal equivalent" for almost 10 years, we are still waiting...

Not until everyone can "tie the knot"! www.whiteknot.org

Posted by Michele McCowan on 09/18/2009 @ 09:11AM PT
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Charlize Theron is doing a good thing by not getting married until same-sex marriage is recognized everywhere by the federal government. Her committment to the National Marriage Boycott is strong because she's been going out with Stuart Townsend for several years. The passage of the intolerant Proposition 8 is the equivalent of a South African apartheid law in California. It's unfortunate that many states have the intolerant amendment, but there will be change.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 09/18/2009 @ 03:05PM PT
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Yep...I wonder if they know about the National Marriage Boycott site or that they can get rings to wear to symbolise their stand for equality ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 09/18/2009 @ 03:34PM PT
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Charlize Theron is wonderful. She even came to Meet in the Middle.

Posted by Greg Goldgof on 09/18/2009 @ 09:26PM PT
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Thank you, Thomas! Who cares about Mr. Berg and his hatred? No one here except other ignorant bigots.

And thank you Chelize!

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 09/22/2009 @ 07:39AM PT
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Your very welcome miss lightroller.

Its idiots like mr. berg that gives the rest of us human beings a bad name...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 09/24/2009 @ 12:37AM PT
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Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.