Ellen DeGeneres Supports Gay Marriage - Donates $100,000

First it was Brad Pitt. Then Steven Spielberg. Then others.

Now it's Ellen DeGeneres' turn to show her support for the defeat of California's proposition 8.

The original gay marriage bill passed earlier this year may be repealed - again banning gay marriage in the state.

Related: Top Ten Openly Gay Male Celebrities
Related: Top Ten Openly Gay Female Celebrities

According to the a "No on Prop. 8" spokesperson, Ellen's cash will go to fund a media advertising campaign targeted at encouraging those in California to vote NO on the ballot initiative, which looks to define marriage in the California Constitution as "A union between a man and a woman".

Ellen's ad campaign will take her public plea, which she released Tuesday on the "Ellen" web site, to television stations in California where she will try to convince people to vote down the proposition.

Ellen married her long time lesbian partner Portia de Rossi earlier this year just months after California began allowing same sex marriage. Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson have vowed to tie the knot by Christmas.

Related: Sam Ronson And Lindsay Lohan To Get Married

While the "No on Prop. 8" staff would not provide details about the dollar amount Ellen donated, a spokesman for GLAAD said she gave $100,000, the same amount as Brad Pitt who was the first Hollywood celebrity to contribute.

Related: Pitt And Spielberg Give $100,000 to Tank Prop 8

Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, also gave $100,000. Pete Wentz and the rock band "Fall Out Boy" has donated $50,000, as did T.R. Knight.
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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.

Related Story: Samantha Ronson Says She Will Marry Lindsay Lohan By Christmas

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.

Related Story: InfoStar Top Ten Openly Gay Male Hollywood Actors

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.

Related Story: Brad Pitt And George Clooney In "Burn After Reading" - Review And Movie Trailer
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