Eastwood OK with gay marriage

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood film icon Clint Eastwood says his attitude towards gay marriage falls into the "leave everybody alone" category.

Eastwood, 82, told the openly gay host of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" he defines himself as a libertarian, noting his opinion on marriage equality is "a part of the libertarian idea: Leave everybody alone," The Huffington Post reported Wednesday.

"The condition of society right now, with the high unemployment rates and the tremendous debt we're increasing and the government spending, we'd think there'd be [many more worthy issues] to think about [rather] than worrying about gay marriage," he said.

Eastwood has been on the promotion trail for his new big-screen drama "Trouble with the Curve." He also made headlines last month when he gave a speech at the Republican National Convention and spoke to an empty chair as if he was interviewing President Barack Obama.