Brad Pitt Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is in Support of Gay Marriage

Brad Pitt is a celebrity who -- even when he's making mockable perfume ads -- usually keeps his wallet out of political matters, choosing to generously throw money at a variety of charitable causes instead.

But this week, Pitt broke one of his own unspoken rules by making a rather large donation to help same-sex marriage advocates around the country.

To support the efforts of the Human Rights Campaign, Pitt donated a hefty $100,000 to their National Marriage Fund -- giving same-sex marriage advocates in four states a much-needed boost right before the election.

The money came attached to an email written to supporters of the group in which Pitt wrote:

“It’s unbelievable to me that people’s lives and relationships are literally being voted on in a matter of days. In Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, voters will go to the polls to decide if gay and lesbian couples -- our friends and neighbors -- are worthy of the same protections as everyone else.”

Each of those four states have ballot initiatives that will determine if same-sex couples have the legal right to marry, and Pitt’s donation was divided evenly among them.

Despite his reluctance to get involved in political matters, this isn't the first time Pitt has lent his financial support to gay marriage causes. He donated an equally large wad of cash to the effort to defeat California’s Prop 8 back in 2008, and earlier this year, he starred with pal George Clooney in an LA production of the play ‘8,’ which tells the story of the legal fight over that same ballot measure.

So we know Pitt will spend $200,000 to help the gays get married. Kinda makes you wonder how much he’ll spend when he and Angelina Jolie eventually tie the knot -- whenever that may be.