Actress Charlize Theron has previously stated that she refuses to get married to her long-term boyfriend Stuart Townsend until same-sex marriage is legal in the US, but now she's taken it a step further by calling US marriage laws "a form of apartheid".
She was quoted saying, "I don't like living in an elitist world, it bothers me. I don't want to be part of an elitist sexual preference. It bothers me. Maybe it's because I come from a country where I lived under apartheid. This is a form of apartheid and I don't want to be a part of that."
Theron was born in South Africa, which enforced a horrendous system of racial segregation from 1948-1994. Some have taken issue with comparing the fight for gay rights to the fight for racial equality, so I'm curious to see how the community will react to her statements. On a personal level, even if I had any issues… I'd put them aside with the knowledge that we have another ally speaking out in the public eye.
– Dewitt
Photo Credit: Flickr
I agree with her 100%. It started with race and 1 by 1 we are accepting other groups that started with race and now we are at sexual orientation
Poor Charlize Theron, living under apartheid as a white person, it must have been so awful for her!
This is just another hollywood star trying to make themselves feel better for being rich.
And the only similarity between the gay marriage debate and apartheid is that it involves human beings.
give me a break and make another movie.
I love this women. She is willing to stand up for people and that is brave and noble in my eyes. I wish more people would think the way she does.
In order for change to happen people in a position of power have to field that change. Good for her.
I completely agree with her. I’ve often heard the comparison between the African American Civil Rights movement and our push for equal rights in the gay community. The thing is pain is pain. No matter which form or how intense one group feels it, they are still feeling it. THAT is the problem. I can’t stand when I hear people say, “yea but the civil rights movement was so much worse” Why is this a competition? Oppression is oppression.
Jason- agreed.
Tomiboy, that is awfully cynical. You may need to talk to someone about your feelings of resentment.
Charlize grew up in South Africa and had no control over apartheid as a younster anymore then we had control over segregation. But now if she can use her celebrity to be heard then more power to her. No one in the media cares what you and I think.
I say more power to her. And bless her for being our friend.
Jason, is it so hard to believe that someone can genuinely be a good person even if they are well off? Yes she didn’t experience the apartheid by being the minority that does not mean she was not effected by it. If someone see’s an attempted murder first hand they are traumatized by it, just because they weren’t the murderer or the victim doesn’t mean they come out of the situation unscathed.
In my post earlier I should have said Jason, not TOMIBOY. Apologies.
this really is exactly what we need right now. I want to know where the out celebs are. yes we hear the occasional shout out from ellen, but really you already out why not stand firmly behind your cause… but maybe that is the problem; they don’t view it as “their” cause.
Agreed, Jason. I was raised by white parents, white people usually assume I am. I am not disabled. But when I fight unfair treatment of my racial minority or deaf friends by other people or large corporations or employers or government agencies, it is not about feeling good, although I won’t deny that victory is sweet. It’s about caring for the rights of other human beings, especially those I have an emotional investment in. There is always the argument that all altruism is ultimately selfish, but even if you believe that, I would rather be selfish in a way that does other people good, not just me.