The NRL has backed marriage equality in Australia, with one of its stars saying "It's ignorant and old-fashioned [to think] if you're male you can only love a female." Tom Burgess says people just need to "get over it" South Sydney Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess has told the Sydney Morning Herald how growing up his parents were good friends with a lesbian couple whom he saw so often he and his brothers called them "aunties". "They were really helpful in our growing up and we loved them." The Englishman has backed the NRL in its move to formally support same-sex marriage in Australia. "It's ignorant and old-fashioned [to think] if you're male you can only love a female," he says. "Nowadays, anyone can love anyone. And people just need to get over it." The NRL, Football Federation of Australia and the AFL are among 400 organisations which have signed a letter in support of same-sex marriage. “One of the NRL’s core values is inclusiveness and we have put in place practices and policies to support and recognise the rights of our LGBTI community. Accordingly, the NRL supports marriage equality,” says NRL Chief Operating Officer Suzanne Young. Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, is applauding the NRL for its principled stand. "The NRL's stance reflects growing momentum for marriage equality across all sections of Australian society."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 6th July 2015 - 8:39am