More about: Elton John

Sir Elton John has called upon Australians to vote in favour of groundbreaking gay marriage legislation in an emotional Instagram post.

The singer, who married female German recording engineer Renate Blauel at a lavish ceremony in Sydney in 1984 before coming out as gay four years later, said "I love Australia. I love its spirit, it’s lack of pretence, it’s passion. I hope it can embrace the honesty and courage that sees gay marriage as an expression not of desire but of love."

 

I'm so excited to be back in Australia for a series of shows. Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration. I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret. To be worthy of someone's love, you have to be brave enough and clear eyed enough to be honest with yourself and your partner. Almost 24 years ago, I met the person with whom I could be fully myself. When we married in 2014, it felt like that fact was accepted by the world. For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another, and for that to be recognised and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living. That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible and productive members of society, as well as the best parents, that we can be. I love Australia. I love its spirit, it's lack of pretence, it's passion. I hope it can embrace the honesty and courage that seeks gay marriage as an expression not of desire but of love. #loveislove #marriageequality @davidfurnish

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Sep 21, 2017 at 1:53am PDT

John, real name Reginald Dwight, is currently touring in Australia, and confessed online his ‘guilt and regret’ about witholding his true sexuality for so long.

"I denied who I really was."

Reaffirming his love for the country, which is currently in the middle of a postal-voting referendum process set to release results on 14 November and hopefully settle the gay marriage question once and for all, John gushed: "Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration.

"I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret.

"To be worthy of someone’s love, you have to be brave enough and clear eyed enough to be honest with yourself and your partner."

The ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Your Song’ star, who has sold over 300 million record in a career spanning six decades, married his current partner David Furnish in 2014, the year gay marriage became legal in the UK. They met in 1993.

"When we married in 2014, it felt like that fact was accepted by the world. For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another, and for that to be recognised and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living.

That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible and productive members of society, as well as the best parents, that we can be."

His Australian tour concludes on 1 October.

More about: Elton John