This week the people of Australia got the opportunity - like Ireland did 28 months ago - to vote on same sex marriage.
The vote is being conducted via a postal survey and sounds like a complete mess. Voting opened on Tuesday and will not close until late next month. People have already reported being able to vote multiple times due to former occupants of their homes not updating their electoral address.
Australian rugby player Israel Folau has been one of those to make public his opinion on the matter. The 28-year-old is a devout Christian. Yesterday, he tweeted that he 'loves and respects all people' but that he opposes a change in the law to allow same-sex couples marry.
I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage.✌❤🙏
— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) September 13, 2017
On Wednesday evening, Cork All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack responded to the 58-cap international. It's nearly eight years since Cusack announced that he is gay.
Cusack's response included a line relating to his distaste for rugby.
— Dónal Óg Cusack (@DonalOgC) September 13, 2017
Though it was indirect, David Pocock's tweet about the vote was surely inspired by that of his Australian teammate.
In the words of one of my heroes, “my humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” #VoteYes #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/VPwuglbhl2
— David Pocock (@pocockdavid) September 13, 2017
Former Wales rugby international Gareth Thomas, who is gay, had a less subtle response to Folau than that of Cusack and Pocock.
I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions, but personally , 🖕 https://t.co/aOvqjsPuLu
— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) September 13, 2017
Picture credit: Sportsfile
