Rugby star Israel Folau stands by vote No tweet
Image: Israel Folau on the cover of Star Observer's August 2014 issue.
Footballer Israel Folau has said he stands by his tweet against marriage equality, which is at odds with Australian Rugby Union’s pro-equality position.
He said that he and fellow rugby player David Pocock, who is an advocate for marriage equality, have spoken and there are no hard feelings, according to .
Folau last month tweeted, 鈥淚 love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. But personally, I will not support gay marriage.鈥�
Pocock, who refuses to marry fianc茅e Emma Palandri until marriage equality passes, responded by tweeting, 鈥淲hen my survey arrives I鈥檒l vote yes for justice and love.鈥�
The two players spoke after the exchange to express mutual respect for their differing opinions.
鈥淚鈥檝e spoken to Dave briefly during that week,鈥� said Folau.
鈥淲e both respect each other and it was nice for me to hear a message from Dave.
鈥淥utside of that I respect everyone鈥檚 opinions. But for me, Dave鈥檚 a teammate of mine and I really enjoy playing alongside him.
鈥淭hose things aside, it鈥檚 not judgemental or anything, it doesn鈥檛 affect me. Everything is all good from my end.鈥�
Asked again about his opinion on marriage equality, Folau said he stands by what he tweeted.
鈥淚 stand alongside what I said on that time and I鈥檝e left it there,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 stay true to myself and what I believe in.
鈥淚 thought about all the things that could happen afterwards, and that鈥檚 fine for me, I respect everyone and everyone鈥檚 opinions which is all good.鈥�
Folau conceded that marriage equality won鈥檛 affect his relationship with fianc茅e Maria Tutaia.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 really affected me at all,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat won鈥檛 change too much for me. I鈥檓 just really enjoying playing my rugby and life outside that.鈥�
