“Brilliant” Australian Rugby Star David Pocock Says He And Girlfriend Will Not Legally Wed Until Homeland Of Australia Legalizes Same Sex Marriage

Profiled in The New Zealand Herald, 23 year-old Australian rugby union star David Pocock comes out in support of same sex marriage, just as the debate over marriage equality in his homeland reaches a fever pitch. Of Pocock, who plays for the Western Force and the Wallabies, The Herald writes that, “In one of the more aptly descriptive rugby nicknames, Pocock is known as Bam Bam, his squat, powerful physique reminiscent of the super-strong cartoon baby from the Flintstones. He is said to have a major influence within the Wallabies, with players looking to the young forward for opinions at team meetings. His commitment to the cause is such that in his early test career officials would delay taking him to the post-match press conference because he was emotionally and physically spent. Tears of utter frustration have been seen on his cheeks after galling defeats. There is a certain depth of sincerity to Pocock which people gravitate to, and also characteristics that probably set him apart from the pack, or at least the stereotypical pack. For starters, there is his dedication to gay rights and other social and political issues. When he and partner Emma, an Australian, married last December, they used the opportunity to support their gay-marriage beliefs. Pocock says: ‘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.’”