Thorpe slams inaction over gay marriage
SWIMMING great Ian Thorpe has berated Canberra politicians for not “doing their job” when it comes to same-sex marriage.
The Olympian, who came out as gay in 2014, said he feared a “heated” debate in the run-up to a postal plebiscite could force some young people struggling with their sexuality to be pushed further into the closet.
Thorpe yesterday threw his weight behind the campaign for a yes vote for same-sex marriage. Joined by his partner Ryan Channing, he was at Sydney’s City2Surf fun run to encourage people to ensure their details were current on the electoral roll.
The Australian Electoral Commission has given people until August 24 to check they are registered to vote and their address is correct with ballot papers for a postal plebiscite on the issue due to be sent out in September.
“My preference would be for there not to be a vote; it’s not necessary,” he said.
“The goalposts have moved again but we’ll get behind it and I encourage people to vote.”
The postal vote is still not certain to go ahead. The High Court will hear two legal challenges in early September just days before ballot papers are due to hit mailboxes around the country.
Thorpe said the $122 million process was unnecessary.
“We could have had this already if politicians just did their job,” he said.