The day after Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman married in Big Sur, I wrote it up. I was pleased at the time that some of our photo agencies had gotten some grainy photos of Anne in her dress (and her enormous headpiece/veil/head injury bandages) – I’m including a couple more shots in this post. It’s always nice when we have some kind of wedding-y photos to go with the wedding story, and I was pleased that Anne’s wedding security was so lax as to allow the paparazzi to get somewhat decent shots. But here’s the question: are these the only wedding photos we’re going to get from Anne’s wedding? And did Annie actually arrange for the paparazzi to get those shots? Because Anne is now claiming that she “sold” her wedding photos and that she donated money from the sales to Freedom to Marry, a pro-gay-marriage organization:
When Anne Hathaway married Adam Shulman last September, every entertainment magazine in the country wanted the pictures. Now, according to Adam Polaski at Freedom to Marry, “Hathaway is doing her part to ensure that same-sex couples across the country can enjoy a fairytale wedding like hers; this week, she announced that she’ll be donating some of the sales from her wedding photographs to non-profits advocating for marriage for same-sex couples, including Freedom to Marry.”
While she may be splitting the proceeds between Freedom to Marry and other charities (includng the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Girl Effect), Polaski says the donation to Freedom to Marry is just the “latest way that Hathaway has taken a stand for the freedom to marry. In 2008, she talked publicly for the first time about her brother, who is gay, and explained that their relationship has compelled her to advocate as an ally to the LGBT community.”
When the actress (who will be seen next in Les Misérables) was given an Human Rights Campaign Ally Award in 2008, says Polaski, she spoke passionately about the rights of LGBT people. She said, “I don’t consider myself just an ally to the LGBT community, I consider myself your family. And so, I’m doing what we should all do with our families — I’m loving you, I support you, I completely accept you as you are, as I hope you do me, and if anyone ever tries to hurt you, I’m going to give them hell.”
Once again, I need to ask: are we going to see better quality wedding photos at some point? Will she sell them to People Mag or Us Weekly exclusively? I don’t know. I would love to see some high-quality images of that headpiece and of her gown, which was reportedly partly pink. So, I hope she does sell them to a magazine. As for Annie and how she’s pro-marriage rights… good for her. I always forget that her brother is gay, but she has talked about him from time to time in the past.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, WENN.
I didn’t know her brother was gay. You learn something every day 🙂 I think giving the proceeds to charity is a very sweet thing to do.
Out of interest, what’s the general consensus on gay marriage Stateside at the moment?
General consensus is hard for me to say due to anecdotal evidence that seems to point to the contrary. However, according to some polls it’s about 50-50.
It’s a civil rights issue and it makes me sick we are in the position we are in.
Its pretty much state by state and regional….as a New Yorker ill say that since we’ve legalized it there has been a little backlash but nothing major. Of course the LGBT community is strong in the city but there are ton of rural and conservative people upstate. There were a few officials who quit rather than perform ceremonies etc but besides that people see that the sky hasnt caved in. I think conservatives have realized that as a social issue in this election it works against them with certain demographics so you dont have as much blatant homophobic rhetoric as in the last election.
I don’t get the big appeal for marriage. I’m not into any organised religions, so I admit I have a bias against it on that front, but the fact that marriage is seemingly held above the heads of homosexual couples as something they aren’t to have makes me sick. If anything, I’d have a commitment ceremony or a civil union. If a civil union is supposed to be the ‘good enough’ crumb tossed to the LGBT community, then I’m all for embracing it. It would be great to see more high-profile couples shunning marriage in favour of civil unions and removing the religious argument altogether. The christian god doesn’t approve of my lifestyle choices either. Pfft, meh, whatevs and who cares.
Sure over time after getting the right to marry gay couples will probably go the way of heterosexuals and go civil unions by choice. That’s all they want is the choice that Heteros have and the right to be treated equally.
Which they should ABSOLUTELY have, no question. It is beyond sick that their is a second-class system in play here.
If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t have one. EURGH.
I probably shouldn’t have started on this thread, ’cause I get all rage-y about this topic.
Marriage comes with thousands of rights not afforded to couples who file for civil unions including inheritance rights,social security, pension benefits, etc
My point being, until it is offered up to everyone, I don’t want to give it any…support. The main sticking-point seems to be for the religious purposes yadda yadda, so take those all out completely and stuff the anti-marriage equality campaigners. Also, I don’t know what the different countries/states or whatever have for their civil union rights allowances, so if it isn’t considered ‘legally the same’ in some places, I’m not up-to-date with all of that. Where I have been, it’s been offered up as an alternative.
I’m not saying I agree with that, because clearly I don’t and I think that everyone should have the right to choose if they want a ‘marriage’ a ‘civil union’ a ‘commitment ceremony’ or whatever, but if other ‘acceptable’ couples started embracing the alternatives and shunning marriage, I think it would be a nice message.
Civil unions dobt offer anywhere near the same protection or benefits under the law thar marriage does, regardless of what politicians claim.
The whole idea should be criminal. I hope by the time my children are grown, they will be in shock at the idea that there was ever a class system on love.
good on her, that’s really nice..
Marriage equality is a cause that’s hugely important to me. Seeing that Hathaway is an advocate for marriage rights raises her considerably in my esteem (not that I ever had any problem with her to begin with).
That was such a sweet thing to do! Makes me respect her all the more for it. Maybe she can be a trendsetter & inspire others to make donations as well.
I don’t think I ever heard that her brother was gay. It looks like the issue of gay marriage means a lot to her.
@Amelia – I just replied (before I saw other comments) & we worded things almost exactly the same way xD
Great minds, Hakura, great minds 🙂
Good for her. Bravo.
Not impressed, with so many more causes in need out there, why give money to something that is in the process ofeventually sorting itself out.
There is always something worse, but who are you to judge, who suffers and who doesn’t.
A very ignorant comment.
No offense I’m all for marriage equality but I think it’s obvious that a person suffering from lack of food is suffering more than a person suffering from lack of marriage.
Christina – sure, I’d agree that starvation is worse than being denied marriage equality. And if you feel very strongly about that, then I hope you’re giving every penny you can toward eradicating it. Here’s the thing – I used to get on a soap box about things like, oh, adopting from other countries when there are kids here, etc. And then I realized that charities are very personal and people give because they are moved to do so. I give to more animal charities than “people” charities because that’s what moves me. I also realized that when I was critical of how people gave, I really wasn’t doing all that much to help anyone or anything myself so it was pretty hypocritical of me. Bottom line – if someone is compelled to donate to a charity that moves them, let’s support that rather than judge it. And dammit, I don’t like Hathaway and now I have to appreciate her. ARGH! Sorry…that was long!! 🙂
@Christina
You can lessen every tragedy with that argument.
Ming – You’re the one judging and insulting and perhaps a bit angry, I was merely pointing out something out about priorities. PamSpam, fair enough, it is personal choice, whatever makes you feel good. Christina – a simple “thanks”.
How do you figure it is sorting itself out when States are still passing laws to prevent gay marriage from ever being legal. Don’t judge what someone’s charity of choice is.
I agree that this was an ignorant comment. The issue of gay rights is every bit as deserving as any other charity, & it’s a cause very close to home for Anne, with a brother who’s gay (thus he suffers because of these issues that need to be rectified.)
Yeah but when you give money to other charities at least there’s a reason they need the money (food, shelter, etc…) How does giving your money to that charity help marriage equality? To help marriage equality some people would just have to change their mentality, which is free.
not to mention, it’s very ‘a propos’. I would think that as someone who is vocal about being personally affected by the issue, it may have been difficult for her to reconcile her own desire to get married with her politics and opinions regarding joining an institution that rejects her brother. there is something somewhat poetic about using the proceeds from the wedding photos to support a cause that may help her brother (and many others) gain access to that same right in the near future.
EDIT: @Christina I think you’d be surprised how much of a difference money can make in political issues. When you have a majority voting on the civil rights of a minority, education and outreach are absolutely necessary. If you look at the political ads and the financial backing of both sides of the prop 8 issue in California, you will see how much of a difference money can make for marriage equality issues.
Also, if you want to consider the individual impact of legalizing same-sex marriage, consider a hypothetical lesbian couple – two women who are likely earning 75% of what a man would make doing the same job – now consider that there are financial benefits unavailable to them, such as extending health coverage or sharing tax credits. Think of how much more food they could put on the table or how much more necessary preventative care could be available to them and their children if they had the same rights as their straight neighbours. (same goes for gay male couples of course, it’s just even more dire when you consider the gender inequalities in pay that are basically doubled in a lesbian relationship). There are plenty of families living in poverty in the US who could greatly benefit from marriage equality in ways that are incredible far-reaching.
It’s something she believes in and wants to support, and it’s her money.
Did you see the part where it said that she did that too?
Top of the second paragraph there in the inset box:
“While she may be splitting the proceeds between Freedom to Marry and other charities (includng the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Girl Effect)”
Not to mention what everyone else said about your ignorant comment and this being important to people, the rights movement in general, etc.
I think because this is a cause very dear to her heart and she is making a statement with her own wedding about her brother’s inability to legally marry. Her entire family converted from Catholicism to the Episcopalian church because of the right to marry.
Could be considered Oscar campaigning, but as a smart man said:
I don’t care why someone helps me, I don’t care why someone kills me.
Good. It may be a win-win for her, but there is still a win for someone else than her, so good.
Jewish people advocating gay marriage. Now whats the point of religion again….
???????????
I’d sure like to understand your comment …
Last time I checked,Anne and her family had left Catholicism because of her brother (I know that her husband Adam is Jewish).Also,since you make a ‘religious’ inference,I’ll have you know that Israel has since approved the ordination of gay rabbis!Obviously you aren’t aware of the magnitude of religious tolerance……
Yes, it is NOW. The history of many religions in general do not support homosexuality so the thinking of times (now) is acceptance based on a spiritual perspective and common sense. My original post was not a slight. If anything it should highlight the distance of religion in the true sense as it centers more on spirituality. What we have NOW, are jews and christians that focus more on the ceremonial aspects of their beliefs and not the original foundation of the history.
Super observation, Kellie, and great point.
Ladies and Gentlemen, what Kellie was trying to get across is that religion is useless and should have become obsolete by now.
Glad to help.
I think that’s such a worthy cause. I strongly support marriage equality. Just because I’m straight doesn’t mean my love is valid, then a gay person.
I support gay marriage and think her heart is in the right place but it’s kind of a crappy gesture. “Hi, I know you can’t get married but here is a ton of money from MY wedding.”
Maybe I’m completely dense, but could someone please tell me how donating money to a marriage equality (which I completely support) charity actually helps gay marriage become legalized? What is the money used for?
Selling the photo is always a little weird to me, but if you’re going to do it, donating the proceeds is a good way to go and I’m sure the various charities are grateful for the support.
Agreed.
I’m all for fighting for equal right for gays (I left the Catholic Church, just like Anne, over the issue in 2008), but there’s a part of me that thinks there are other causes right now that are in dire need of more help. I truly don’t mean to offend gays by saying that…I think some of them would agree.
But bravo, Anne. Admirable.
I’m not an Anne Fan as far as her acting goes, but I do love this and who she is. Bravo Anne.
That’s really nice of her, but she’s still getting on my nerves.
My grandparents donated money to NAACP in the fifties to help end school segregation. The money was used by NAACP lawyers as they prepared their case Brown v Board of Education . Marriage Equality charities hire attornies,lobbyists, workers to get out to vote in places like Maine.Maine will vote on marriage equality next month.
I like her alot, but i think she doesn’t chose men well. Hope She did this time.
Well, she looked…badly at the wedding-but wish her well.
D’awwwww! <3 …If you ever feel like taking the time to watch the Brokeback Mountain special features, and especially if you can find the Oprah interview with the 4 main stars, you really get a feel for how Anne, like Jake and Heath, connected with the larger message of love (and probably, by extension, consensual sex) not ever being wrong. (Michelle talked about it less; I think she was very preoccupied with being a new young mom and batsh*t crazy in love.) So I'm not that surprised about this. But it's a great gesture nonetheless.