Dolly Parton backs ‘yes’ campaign in Austrlian same-sex marriage ballot
Dolly Parton (Getty)
Country legend Dolly Parton has spoken out in favour of same-sex marriage in Australia.
The performer was asked about the country’s ballot on the issue while appearing on breakfast TV in the country.
“Why can’t they be as miserable as us heterosexuals in their marriages?” she joked with News Breakfast hosts
Speaking from her home city of Nashville, Tennessee, Dolly, 71, explained: “”Hey, I think love is love and we have no control over that … I think people should be allowed to [marry].”
Australia is currently voting on whether marriage rights should be extended to same-sex couples in a non-binding postal vote.
10 million Australians have already voted on marriage equality, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
62% of Australians have had their say with voting, which is open until 7 November.
The country singer, who features on her god daughter Miley Cyrus’s new album, has been a long-time supporter of LGBT rights.
She previously criticised Christians who espouse anti-gay views.
“I keep saying ‘If you’re the fine Christian that you think you are, why are you judging people?’
“That’s God’s job. We’re not God, we’re not judges, we’re supposed to love one another, we’re supposed to not judge.”
“I’ve got too much work to do in my own to try to do God’s work too,” she said.
“I just think that we should be more loving, more caring. We are who we are.
“If you’re gay, you’re gay. If you’re straight, you’re straight.
“And you should be allowed to be how you are and who you are.”
Polling indicates that the ‘yes’ side is on track to win in the Australian referendum, but whether the government acts on the vote is unclear.
