Cara Delevingne issues equal marriage plea to Australian PM
By Will Stroude
Cara Delevingne has implored Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to keep up with the rest of the world and throw his support behind same-sex marriage.
The bisexual model and actress, who is currently in a relationship with singer St Vincent, said that in the wake of the Irish referendum and US Supreme Court ruling legalising equal marriage in recent weeks, it was time for the Australia to follow suit.
“Tony Abbott you better listen to the rest of the world and carry on. Go with it,” Delevingne told the Daily Mail Australia at the Aussie premiere of her new film Paper Towns.
The 22-year-old went on to say she thought it was “wonderful” that the world is becoming more accepting of same-sex marriage.
“I’ve been pretty open about myself from the beginning. I think it’s wonderful that you know, it’s being accepted more and more,” she said.
“And I think everyone has a right to be whoever they want to be. So I’m just very happy.”
Delevingne’s plea comes after the Australian National Rugby League became the latest group to throw their weight behind equality over the weekend (July 4).
Australia is now the only major developed English-speaking nation not to allow same-sex marriage. A cross party marriage equality bill is set to go before the Australian parliament next month, according to reports, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose Liberal Party remains divided over the issue, is facing increased pressure to publicly back equality.
Same-sex couples are prevented from marrying in Australia due to a ban on same-sex marriage contained within the federal Marriage Act (1961), amended in 2004. Many states grant same-sex couples rights through domestic and civil partnerhsip laws.
While polls have indicated that a majority of Australians support marriage equality, but many politicians – like Liberal backbencher Dennis Jensen, who last week asked whether he should be able to marry his own children if same-sex marriage was introduced – remain opposed.
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