Brad Pitt's generous donation

Brad Pitt has been a longtime believer in equal marriage rights for all. For a while, he and now-fiance Angelina Jolie had said they wouldn't get married until everyone had the right to and, even though they've now decided to tie the knot for the sake of their children, it's clear that Pitt's belief in the right to marriage equality hasn't changed.

This is probably why the Killing Them Softly star has decided to donate $100,000 to the Human Rights Campaign and encourages others to do the same. Pitt sent out an email to HRC members and supporters to explain why he decided to give such a large amount of money to this cause.

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

The letter continues, "But that's the system we have and I'm not going to back down from the fight for loving and committed couples to have the ability to marry. Especially when groups like the Human Rights Campaign are fighting these battles day-in and day-out. So, here's what I'm going to do. If you make a contribution to these ballot measure campaigns in the next 24 hours, I'll double it — every dollar of the way, up to $100,000."

HRC president Chad Griffin issued a statement praising Pitt for his time and donation.

"We're proud to be working with him as we show that fundamental fairness will win at the ballot box," he says.