Country music star Beccy Cole has invited Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to her same-sex wedding.
Cole plans to marry her partner, cabaret singer Libby O’Donovan, if the law is changed to allow same-sex unions.
“It’s one thing to turn up at Mardi Gras as Prime Minister, but let’s get it right, let’s turn up to my wedding — you’re invited,” she said in a comment directed at Mr Turnbull, who attended this year’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney.
The winner of nine Golden Guitar awards, Cole said she never intended to be a political flag-waver, but is now keen to add her voice to the campaign for same-sex marriage
“When it’s something that you really believe in and something that affects you directly and you can see it affecting people within your community, then I think there is a time to stand up and say, ‘Come on, let’s get this right’,” she told Australian Story.
“The law as it stands I think is silly and it’s not fair. It’s not equal, and that’s all we want, to be recognised as equals.”
The couple would like to have the marriage ceremony performed by O’Donovan’s parents, both of whom are ministers in the Anglican Church.
O’Donovan’s father, Reverend Bart O’Donovan, is in favour of changing the law to allow same-sex marriage.
But even if the law is changed, he would be unable to perform same-sex weddings until the Anglican Church changes its policy.
“Once the law allows the marriage of gay people, eventually the church will catch up,” he said.
“If we were in America, Canada and other parts of the world, the Anglican Church has already done that.”
‘Big gay Brady Bunch’ family
Cole and O’Donovan met at a gay pride event in Adelaide, just weeks after Cole revealed she was a lesbian on Australian Story in 2012.
Cole had been married to musician Mick Albeck but the marriage lasted only 18 months. They have a son, Ricky, who is now 17.
O’Donovan has a daughter from a previous gay relationship.
Within a year of meeting, they had set up a blended home together, likening themselves to a “big, gay Brady Bunch”.
“When people asked what the family situation was, I’d just say ‘we’re living with mum’s girlfriend and sometimes her little girl comes over’,” Ricky said.