Rugby player Israel Folau comes out against marriage equality
Image: Israel Folau on the cover of Star Observer's August 2014 issue.
Rugby star and player for the Wallabies Israel Folau has come out against same-sex marriage, expressing his opposition on social media yesterday.
“I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions,” he tweeted.
“But personally, I will not support gay marriage.”
His statement follows a recent decision by the Australian Rugby Union to publicly support marriage equality, joining Cricket Australia, the Football Federation Australia, and the NRL, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
Folau is one of Australia’s most prolific athletes, having played at the highest level in rugby union, rugby league, and Australian football.
Perhaps most interestingly about Folau’s vocal opposition to same-sex marriage, is the fact that as recently as three years ago he graced the cover of the Star Observer for an article on eradicating homophobia in sport.
In the piece, a spokesperson for the Bingham Cup said Folau was a strong advocate for ending all forms of discrimination in sport.
“He does a lot of work in that space,” the spokesperson said.
Work that doesn’t include advocating for the equal rights of LGBTI people, it seems.
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
Israel, mate, remember that time you graced the cover of @star_observer? https://t.co/kTb2fMCScs It's a shame you're not an ally after all. https://t.co/n8SqrX1Jqr
— Elias Jahshan | الياس جهشان (@Elias_Jahshan) September 13, 2017
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I wonder if the Koran has anything about marking your body with ink in it?
Is he using his religion as a cover for being homophobic?
Clearly been pressured by his church to use his position to advocate for opposition.
He’s just another hypocrite who would spout such inanities as “Love the Sinner but Hate the Sin” and will come out against anything if it attracts some fans. Celebrities come and Celebrities go almost as quickly and are forgotten even more quickly.
The man has his right to oppose Equality if he wants to BUT he is practising the very Discrimination he once claimed he was opposed to.
Discrimination is a Multi-lane Highway not a One way Street in which people can pick and choose what they discriminate against.
Got my Survey on Thursday morning. Ticked “Yes” and posted back on Thursday Afternoon.
Oh great, another one of the “Just because I don’t support marriage equality doesn’t mean I’m homophobic.” Yeah, it does. It’s like “I’m not a racist, I just don’t like black people.” I don’t know why people in this country treat sports players like major celebrities when they prove by their behaviour and their statements that they don’t have a brain in their head.. and a complete lack of ethics and morals.
His position is almost certainly based on religious dogma and cannot be regarded as an opinion, has absolutely no place in this dehumanising debate and therefore has no right to express it.
I would add that he is likely a “soft” no and someone should pass onto him and other “soft” no’s the tragic story of Ben Jago of Hobart to drive home why marriage equality is needed. The majority of people reading that heart wrenching story would change to a yes vote I’m sure.
Well he’s a footballer so you can’t expect too much lol
Shame!! Folau. Equal means equal for all. You cant cherry pick Hypocrite!!
Sure the guy’s a celebrity and a role model in that capacity, and yes it’s not cool that he’s come out as No but not even tried to offer an explanation, but the guy’s a sportsman who gets paid because he slams into other dudes very hard and he’s known to be a fundamentalist Christian from the Taliban end of the religious spectrum. So he’s under massive pressure from his family and community to say No. I feel pity for him.