Australian rugby player refuses to wed girlfriend until gay friends have marriage equality

A leading Australian rugby player has made a political stand against his homeland's ban on same-sex marriaqe – by refusing to wed his girlfriend until the law is changed.

A leading Australian rugby player has made a political stand against his homeland's ban on same-sex marriaqe – by refusing to wed his girlfriend until the law is changed.

David Pocock, who is also a Christian, came out in support of marriage equality just days before the World Cup finale against South Africa yesterday.

Speaking to the New Zealand Herald newspaper, Pocock said: “I don't see what the big deal is with the whole gay marriage debate in Australia.

“Being brought up in a Christian home and still identifying as Christian, I get pretty annoyed with the Christian lobbies around the world who say gay marriage destroys the family and all that kind of rubbish.

“They claim to follow someone who always stood up for the oppressed and marginalised.

“I guess it is a fear of the unknown – if you talk to someone who doesn’t like gay people you can almost guarantee that they don't know too many.

“These are the prejudices that you have to challenge and break down.  Emma and I decided not to get legally married until our gay friends could do the same.”

Currently, Australia does not permit same-sex marriage and the motion is opposed by the country's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

Australian Marriage Equality National Convener, Alex Greenwich, welcomed Pocock's support.

“David Pocock’s strong support for equality will have a dramatic impact in a sports-mad nation like Australia,” Greenwich said.

“David’s stance also sends out the message that marriage equality is a reform Christians can and should support.”