A long time ago, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were asked when and if they planned to marry, they answered simply that they would only be doing so when everyone else could, in direct reference to same-gender marriage still not being legal in many states in the US. What many took as a simple joke at the time turns out to be true, as Brad himself repeats for the latest issue of Parade magazine.

The actor is against all types of prejudices, which is why he and longtime partner and mother of his children Angelina have decided not to tie the knot unless everyone else can do the same as well. He has all the love he needs or would have ever wanted in his life right now, the actor adds, so his refusal to marry Jolie is only a symbolic gesture meant to attract attention to Prop 8 and how it’s literally standing in the way of so many people’s happiness.

“I have love in my life, a soul mate – absolutely. When someone asked me why Angie and I don’t get married, I replied, ‘Maybe we’ll get married when it’s legal for everyone else.’ I stand by that, although I took a lot of flak for saying it – hate mail from religious groups. I believe everyone should have the same rights.” Brad says in a lengthy interview with the publication. Proposition 8, as far as he is concerned, is the result of pure hatred mixed with lack of understanding or, perhaps, narrow-mindedness. “I have no understanding of that kind of hatred. Maybe it’s fear of difference or of the unknown. If you feel belittled, maybe you need someone else to belittle to feel powerful. It’s the only way I know how to explain it. You’ve got religion telling you what to think about it.” Pitt attacks.

Fans must know that Brad Pitt is not quite what one may define by a religious person, having repeatedly stated that the only things he believed in were the things he had at the moment: family, friends, love. As regards the right to marry, he blames religion for part of the hatred directed against those who support same-gender marriage, such as was his case too when he first explained why he would not wed Angelina.

“I grew up in a Christian community and for me the positive thing was that once a week, on Sundays, we focused on bigger issues. But the negative to me is that it was very stifling in the end because it was about what you can’t do. Now, Christians will argue, ‘That’s not true.’ To me, I just found Christianity to be, ‘Don’t do this, don’t do that’.” Pitt tells Parade. So, instead of a higher power, the actor believes what we see is what we get so we should not waste the chance we get on Earth and just live life to the fullest.

For the rest of the interview with Parade, as well as for more quotes on where Pitt stands as regards Prop 8, please see here.