by Dorothy Snarker

Charlize Theron says "I don't" to gay marriage "apartheid"

If you’ve ever watched a boxing match, you know how important it is to have good people in your corner. So when it comes to the fight for gay marriage, it’s nice to know we’ve got people like Charlize Theron behind us.

The Oscar-winning actress has spoken out publically for years about her support for gay rights and of same-sex marriage. In 2005 she announced that she and longtime boyfriend Stuart Townsend would wait to get married until gays and lesbians could get married. And she has played gay in films like Monster, Head in the Clouds and the upcoming trans love story, The Danish Girl.

And now, in yet another interview, Charlize is pointedly comparing current marriage laws to apartheid. When asked by IndieLondon why gay rights are such a “hot button” issue for her, the South African native responded:

Because 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. It bothers me that I have a lot of friends … maybe because I came from a country where I lived under apartheid, I don’t know. But this is a form of apartheid and I don’t want to be a part of that. It’s not the reason why I’m not getting married but maybe there is a piece of me. It’s just so caveman. I can’t believe we’re still talking about it.

You and me both, sister, you and me both. Charlize gave the interview to promote her new film, The Burning Plain, the directorial debut of Guillermo Arriaga, the screenwriter behind Babel and 21 Grams.

In the same interview, Charlize praised the Oscar-winning film Milk, saying, “I just love the film, the way it was embraced, the speeches and this conversation that we’re constantly having about this issue. I don’t want that to go away. I want us to keep talking about it.”

Couldn’t you just swoon? It’s great to see an actress who not only plays gay for the box office, but will stand up and speak out outside the theater as well.

Dorothy Snarker's blog

Submitted by

Dorothy Snarker

on April 15, 2009 - 1:30pm.

TAGS ::

Charlize Theron

Ooh. i dont know who she

Submitted by

Hannah (26 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 1:45pm.

Ooh. i dont know who she is.

But I sure wish I did. ;)

Good for her!

Submitted by

reanbean (123 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 1:53pm.

I love hearing stories like this. It's nice to know people are on our side. I love Charlize Theron too.

This just makes me want to

Submitted by

monica_ca (751 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 1:56pm.

This just makes me want to go out and buy copies of every single film that she's ever been in. Straight allies are so frakkin' important.

The last picture: WOW.

Submitted by

Anonymous

on April 15, 2009 - 2:04pm.

The last picture: WOW.

agreed

Submitted by

MeltingCharcoals (680 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 10:26pm.

i agree

i'm so fed up with labeling and explaining myself, that the next time i'm faced with such situation i'm just gonna say IM DAMN SURE IM NOT STRAIGHT end of story

I Love The Fact Charlize Theron...

Submitted by

Anonymous

on April 15, 2009 - 2:07pm.

www.myspace.com/lunakiss7.com

made a point unequal rights towards LGBTQI community is like an apartheid and how sexual preferance "privileges" are elistist. She's so observational and undertstanding about others. Sometimes people who experience stuff like she has will completely understand those who are still going through it. I actually rank her and Anglina Jolie has one of the better white actresses in Hollywood. When I saw her in Monster I truly gave her lot of praise for taking on that role especially since pop culture magazines oversexualizes her and not giving her props on her acting ability.

This picture is actress Paula Patton, the R&B/Soul RobinThicke's wife. She played in Deja Vu,Idelwild and Rush Hour 3. So it's not me.

she has been an outspoken

Submitted by

A Muse (522 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 2:50pm.

she has been an outspoken advocate for gay rights forever. when her name comes up it's one of the things that immediately pop into my head.

having a high profile lady like her in our corner is amazing. I wish more people were like her. Love how she compares it to apartheid.

I <3 Charlize.

------------------------------------------------------
Films, tv, games, travel, sport, books - everything you want to chat about on The Trial Run. Make new friends or meet old ones

I never knew what an

Submitted by

generally (12 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 3:06pm.

I never knew what an incredible ally Charlize Theron was.

I always liked her

Submitted by

LCTRgirl (234 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 3:06pm.

I always liked her :-)

And now I regret putting her in my top 10 for the Hot 100 :-( Never mind, she can be my unofficial number 11 :-D

What???

Submitted by

Irish88 (58 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 3:12pm.

Why do you regret putting her in your top 10? I forgot to put her in my Top 10, now I regret that! God there are not enough superlatives to describe Charlize- she's ridiculously beautiful, extremely talented and incredibly humble! Can't wait to see her upcoming movies!

My guess?

Submitted by

DaChickenLady (32 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 4:37pm.

It was just a typo. I think she meant to say she now regrets not having put Charlize in her top 10.

I'm sorry if I misunderstood.

she. is. AMAZING.

Submitted by

riotgrrrljaz (105 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 4:14pm.

she. is. AMAZING. period. :D

______________________________________________

We Want Revolution Grrrl Style Now! -BIKINI KILL

From personal experience,

Submitted by

medic_82 (3 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 4:55pm.

From personal experience, south africans are pretty amazing in general.

Yes, we are! :-) Jus'

Submitted by

Jo (2 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 5:12pm.

Yes, we are!

:-)

Jus' kidding!

lol

Submitted by

Lowell (220 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 8:44pm.

my "first" was a south african woman.

#3!

Submitted by

Jay (30 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 4:58pm.

The reason she's number 3 on my list! Sigh...goes off to dream about Charlize

...

Submitted by

Jo (2 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 5:09pm.

My heart goes out to you guys!

It really just is ridiculous! Think about it this way: if gay marriage is legal in South Africa, which is "officially" classed as a third world country (God only knows why, because we have everything here that you guys have in the US, but I'm not gonna go into that) and where the people are EXTREMELY conservative, how does it make sense for it to be banned in a great country such as America? It kinda makes you wonder who's going backward...

However, with that being said... I don't think you can really compare it to "Apartheid"... that's being a bit extreme!

agreed

Submitted by

Lowell (220 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 8:50pm.

but i definitely don't think she was saying that it was the same, that not allowing gays to marry is equal to apartheid, because it obvioulsy isn't.

i think her point was just that discrimination is discrimination, no matter who it's directed at or it's severity.

i also think that it's odd how south africa allows gay marriage since aren't they extremely homophobic? i could have sworn reading not too long ago about lesbians being targetted and "punished" by men for being gay, including being raped in order to "fix" them?

top ten

Submitted by

DANA (122 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 5:33pm.

and thats why this lovely lady made my top list...number 3....ahh so hot...and smart

Man, she is so incredibly

Submitted by

redhead4 (96 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 7:03pm.

Man, she is so incredibly gorgeous. I think reading stuff like this makes me like her even more. It's nice to see someone with such strong convictions. America needs to hurry up with legalizing gay marriage across the country.

word

Submitted by

aly (60 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 11:25pm.

or im moving in with you up in Canada

word

Submitted by

aly (60 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 11:25pm.

or im moving in with you up in Canada

uh oh

Submitted by

Lowell (220 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 8:43pm.

she's going to upset some african americans with that. many blacks already have been very angry that gays have "hijacked" their movement, even though no one has ever said that what has happened to blacks and gays IS the same. how can it be? but they are both discrimination, which is totally baseless.

but maybe they'll give charlize a break, even though she is white, since she's from south africa and was not comparing it to the struggles of blacks in the US.

My respect for her just

Submitted by

Mariah (61 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 9:11pm.

My respect for her just increased exponentially.

Charlize <3

She is awesome! I saw her

Submitted by

Shawn (80 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 10:06pm.

She is awesome! I saw her in the movie, Hancock recently. Took me awhile to realize it was her. I didn't know she was in it and I didn't recognize her at first,

hancock

Submitted by

MeltingCharcoals (680 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 10:28pm.

loved the movie. loved her in it

i'm so fed up with labeling and explaining myself, that the next time i'm faced with such situation i'm just gonna say IM DAMN SURE IM NOT STRAIGHT end of story

The Danish Girl looks good

Submitted by

Lauren (194 posts)

on April 15, 2009 - 11:27pm.

The Danish Girl looks good and The Burning Plain looks good. She always picks such interesting movies not to mention that Kim Basigner is tied to it.

I really loved the line

Submitted by

Guitarheroed_out (52 posts)

on April 16, 2009 - 12:48am.

I really loved the line about putting the LGBT community in front of her own marriage. Though I've heard it else where, it's a little kinda cliche... I really appreciate it and really hits me when I read that. Though I highly doubt I'd find my girl that I'd marry. haha

She's beautiful and very talented. Thanks Charlize!

i am enamored...

Submitted by

joan_xiii (69 posts)

on April 16, 2009 - 1:12am.

wow i am just completely enamored by what she had said... she's just amazing that my jaw is still wide open.:P i have much respect for this woman. thanks charlize. woo!

the greatest test of one's ability is to be able to hold two opposing ideas and find balance between the two...

I'm South African and.....

Submitted by

Anonymous

on April 16, 2009 - 5:26am.

......my mother started talking about this story and was like "She musn't believe in god that's why she said that." My parents lived through Apartheid and are extremely homophobic and religious (Christian) so they think Charlize Theron is the devil for saying what she did. :-(.

I'm South African and.....

Submitted by

Anonymous

on April 16, 2009 - 5:26am.

she was voted sexest woman

Submitted by

afan (68 posts)

on April 16, 2009 - 8:03am.

she was voted sexest woman alive by some magizine -- YA THINK!!!!!!!!

The perception of South

Submitted by

medic_82 (3 posts)

on April 16, 2009 - 8:08am.

The perception of South Africa as a third world country is so far from the truth!

If you've not been to Cape Town, I think you should! It's like my idea of paradise. In fact, one day soon I'd like to move there. Imagine everything in one place.....a beach, a city, a mountain......it's phenomenal.

However, the whole country isn't like that.....but then, step outside of london and it's not that great in the rest of the UK either.

Regarding the gay scene, haven't seen it first hand but apparently it's the place to be for beautiful gay women (have seen a few myself and was seriously impressed!)

Plus, being a hot country, you tend to find that people are a lot more open to experiences (which means an endless stream of hot bisexual women!).

CT in general is quite an accepting environment.....have I sold it to you yet?! I should so work for SA tourism!