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Sydney - The politicians are about to debate same-sex marriage, but star Wallaby flank David Pocock has already made up his mind.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald website, Pocock, who captained the Wallabies for the first time in last Saturday's Test against the Barbarians at Twickenham in London, supports the right of all people to marry so strongly that he and partner Emma Palandri have refused to seal their relationship legally until their gay friends can do the same.
''More than 60 percent of Australians are in favour of same-sex marriage, so it just doesn't make sense to stop it from happening,'' Pocock said. ''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 programme.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald website, Pocock, who captained the Wallabies for the first time in last Saturday's Test against the Barbarians at Twickenham in London, supports the right of all people to marry so strongly that he and partner Emma Palandri have refused to seal their relationship legally until their gay friends can do the same.
''More than 60 percent of Australians are in favour of same-sex marriage, so it just doesn't make sense to stop it from happening,'' Pocock said. ''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 programme.
