Watch Ian Thorpe and his almost naked boyfriend call for marriage equality in cute new video
Australia’s most-decorated Olympian has recorded a new video arguing for marriage equality.
Ian Thorpe, the five-times gold medal winning swimmer, is calling on marriage equality backers to get registered ahead of the plebiscite.
The deeply private athlete came out as gay in 2014, following years of speculation about his sexuality.
All Australians will have the chance to vote on same-sex marriage by post, in a non-binding ballot to advise the government.
In the video, Thorpe explains that it is so easy to register to vote in the plebiscite, he can do it quicker than boyfriend Ryan Channing can swim 100m.
Channing, wearing just swimming pants, then dives into the water in a bid to meet the challenge.
“If you support marriage equality you need to enrol to vote or update your details by August 24 and you can do that online,” Thorpe says in the video.
“Enrol to vote or update your details today at www.aec.gov.au“
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The usually very private athlete has recently spoken out several times to back the ‘yes’ side of the campaign.
Thorpe criticised the Australian government for its stance over same-sex marriage in a live television interview this month, saying gay couples should not be left waiting so long.
He called on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to hurry up and approve the measure.
Appearing on the Morning Show with his partner, Thorpe said: “We don’t have the right to get married which is quite apparent at this stage…
“I find what’s going on in this marriage equality debate – it is disappointing,” he told the show.
