Australia Supports Marriage Equality by Over 60% } Wallaby’s Marriage Boycott
Taking a stand ... David Pocock and his partner Emma Palandri.
David Sygall, Stephanie Peatling
THE politicians are about to debate same-sex marriage, but rugby union star David Pocock has already made up his mind.
Pocock captained the Wallabies for the first time yesterday, in a Test match against the British Barbarians at Twickenham in London. So strongly does he support the right of all people to marry, he and partner Emma Palandri have refused to seal their relationship legally until their gay friends can do the same.
''More than 60 per cent of Australians are in favour of same-sex marriage, so it just doesn't make sense to stop it from happening,'' Pocock says in an interview in today's Extra. ''For a lot of Christians, it's a big issue and I know there's a lot of people who don't share the same opinion as me. It comes down to equal love. I don't think it's the government's role to tell people that their love is right or wrong.’’
The couple had a wedding ceremony late last year and describe themselves as married. But in solidarity with those excluded from marriage, they opted not to sign the documents confirming their union. Their stance echoes that of high-profile US actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who said they would not marry until all US citizens were granted the same right.
Last week, Pocock was named Western Australia's Young Australian of the Year for his humanitarian and philanthropic work, particularly in helping his former countrymen in Zimbabwe. Pocock's family fled Zimbabwe a decade ago when their farm was confiscated during Robert Mugabe's violent land redistribution program.
''If you're working for the freedom of a certain group of people, you've got to work for the freedom of all people,'' he says.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made it clear she wants a robust, noisy national Labor Party conference next weekend. On that at least, she is sure to get her way. On Saturday, the 400 delegates who shape the party's policies for the next three years will discuss asylum seekers and gay marriage.
The Left will continue to push for a change in the Labor platform to recognise gay marriage, a position that has been articulately prosecuted by the Finance Minister, Penny Wong, who is a lesbian. But it is expected Ms Gillard will get her way and there will instead be a conscience vote in Parliament.
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