For weeks, Hollywood was criticized for not contributing enough to defeat a ballot initiative in California that would ban same-sex marriage. Now, members of the film and TV industries are sweeping in to preserve gays' right to get hitched. Maybe they were planning for a Hollywood ending all along?After news of Proposition 8's supporters outraising its opponents spread and the measure gained support in public opinion polls, many Hollywood insiders have made declarations of support against the ban. While the "No on 8" campaign hasn't quite reached the buzziness of other celebrity causes du jour, momentum is growing. "The entertainment industry is obviously an important donor base," said Chad Griffin, a political strategist for the campaign. "It's an industry that's often stood up against discrimination. This particular initiative writes discrimination into the constitution. I think it's something most fair-minded people, celebrities or otherwise, are outraged about."Leading the Hollywood outreach is Oscar-winning producer Bruce Cohen, who has wed art consultant Gabriel Catone. The "American Beauty" and "Pushing Daisies" producer dug deep into his contacts to ask for their support against the initiative. Cohen's biggest get? Steven Spielberg. "Steven's been an incredible supporter of me, both personally and professionally, so I called him and told him how much this has meant to me and Gabe," said Cohen."When he told me that he and Kate Capshaw were giving a $100,000 contribution, I was so moved."Since same-sex marriage became legal in California in June, at least 11,000 couples have exchanged vows statewide, according to the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy based at the University of California, Los Angeles. Among those couples were Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi, who married in August. The talk show host recently made a public service announcement urging voters to oppose the ballot initiative and purchased $100,000 of television commercial time for her ad."I don't know what people are scared of," DeGeneres joked on her show Wednesday. "Maybe they think their children will be influenced (by gay marriage), but I've got to tell you, I was raised by two heterosexuals. Everywhere I looked heterosexuals. And they did not influence me. It's time we love people for who they are and let them love who they want."Stars as big as Brad Pitt and as small as "NCIS" actress Pauley Perrette have also donated their own cash to defeat Proposition 8 in California. "I consider myself a civil rights activist before I consider myself an actress," said Perrette, who donated $3,000. "Before I ever accidentally became an actress, I was a sociology and psychology major, and I've always been very involved in civil rights. I really believe this is the biggest civil rights issue of our generation." Pitt donated $100,000 to fight the ballot initiative. Trevor Neilson, Pitt's political and philanthropic adviser, said the actor continues to be surprised that his colleagues in the entertainment industry have not donated more money to support the battle against Proposition 8."I'm gay, and I have a partner of 17 years," said "The Real World" co-creator and executive producer Jonathan Murray, who donated $10,000 to support gay marriage. "We have a son who's 9. He'll be 10 soon. We believe we have as much right to be married as any other two adults..It's that simple."
