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Charlize Theron: Rallying Behind Gay Marriage

Wed., May. 6, 2009 5:00 PM PDT by Marc Malkin

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Forget Carrie Prejean. Charlize Theron should be Miss California.

The Academy Award winner is lending her support to an upcoming rally for gay marriage in central California.

"We know the people whose lives are on the line—those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender—will be there," Theron writes in a letter released today by the progressive grassroots organization Courage Campaign. "But we need everyone there. Especially straight people."

The Meet in the Middle for Equality rally will take place in Fresno (an inland city between Los Angeles and San Francisco), and could turn out to be a protest or a celebration...

Why? Meet in the Middle is set for the Saturday following the upcoming ruling by the California Supreme Court on lawsuits challenging Prop 8, the statewide ballot initiative that banned same sex unions.

"While we don't know when the Supreme Court will rule exactly, we know it will be within the next four weeks," Theron writes. "Californians need to be prepared to commit right now to go to Fresno on the Saturday after the decision is announced, no matter what that decision may be."

Why Fresno?

"The battle for equality has to be fought in Middle America—in places like Fresno, California—not just in gay-friendly cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles," Theron writes. "California's Central Valley population is far more reflective of national attitudes towards LGBT equality—and until we engage the communities of Middle America, we will not achieve full equality in California."