Icelandic rock band Sigur Rós has pledged their support for marriage equality in an open letter to Melbourne ahead of their show at Margaret Court Arena next month.
“Our fans and friends have made us aware of recent comments by Margaret Court regarding her opposition to Qantas’s support of same-sex marriage in Australia, and her wider views on race and sexuality,” the band said.
“We know Margaret Court’s opinions are not shared by the majority of Australians. We want to add our voice to the call for marriage equality in Australia – right here on Margaret Court Arena itself.
“Australia should be a country that celebrates positivity and inclusion, as well as achievement on the sporting field.”
Sigur Rós (pictured below) said they’ll sell a special t-shirt at their Melbourne show, with proceeds donated to The Equality Campaign.
“Let’s make July 27th Margaret Court Arena’s most inclusive night ever and call for every Australian to have the same dignity and respect right here on centre court,” the band wrote.
The Equality Campaign executive director Tiernan Brady said he was incredibly grateful for the band’s support.
“Their respectful words are based on their own firsthand experiences of how positive marriage equality is for society,” he said.
In Iceland, same-sex partnerships have been recognised since 1996 and in 2010 the country’s parliament legislated for marriage equality.
Former Icelandic prime minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was the world’s first openly gay PM, and one of the first Icelanders to get married under the laws.
Read the band’s letter below:
