Married At First Sight: Outrage over inclusion of gay couple

CHANNEL Nine’s big hit Married At First Sight is under fire — but the outrage is not coming from who you would expect.

CHANNEL Nine’s Married At First Sight is under fire for including a gay couple in the upcoming season, with calls for the network to shelve the show.

The outrage isn’t coming from those opposed to same-sex marriage, but instead from within the LGBTI community.

Those unhappy with the decision have flooded the show’s Facebook site with complaints, arguing the inclusion of a gay couple sends the wrong message.

“I’ve been in a relationship with my fiance for 9 years,” wrote one person on the Married At First Sight Facebook page.

“Nothing would make us and our loved ones happier than to walk down the aisle. Legally. With all the ramifications and responsibilities and commitment that comes with a marriage.

“We don’t want to ‘play’ at getting married. Marriage isn’t a game, and it’s not a show. This ‘reality’ show sends a message to Australia that gay people are OK at playing marriage, and we’re content with pretending. Take it from me, we are 100% not OK with this.”

Channel Nine has heavily promoted it’s first Married At First Sight gay wedding.

Another person wrote: “Thank you for reducing same sex marriage to a cheap gimmick for ratings. Years and years of fighting for this, and you’ve effectively cheapened the entire marriage equality movement. Thank you, Channel 9. Really. Thank you.”

Another person urged Channel Nine to shelve the show until next year.

“This has outraged the gay community. Pull this off before it’s too late. Do it after Australia votes on this issue. You are making people very upset.”

One of the gay contestants from the upcoming third season of the show, 40-year-old Andy, appeared on the Today show this morning to defend his role in the program.

“There’s been backlash from series one and two because they didn’t have a same-sex couple and now that there is one in series three, no one’s happy about that as well,” he said.

“I think you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.”

The British man, who has lived in Sydney for the past five years, said he joined the show mainly to meet his soulmate rather than to make a statement about marriage equality.

Andy (far right) said the backlash has been disappointing.

“Nobody would sign up for Married At First Sight just to get married on tele,” Andy said.

“For me, the marriage bit wasn’t important ... but it is really an experiment to pull two people together. And I’m lucky to have been chosen to go through the experience, to have three or four experts in Australia match me to the guy that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.”

And from the sounds of it, Andy struck gold on the reality show. He was wearing a wedding band on Today and told co-host Karl Stefanovic that his new husband is almost perfect.

“He could do with your hair,” Andy joked to Stefanovic.

Earlier this year Dr Kerryn Phelps blasted the Channel Nine show on Facebook, writing: “What a bloody insult to those of us in committed long term same sex marriages who are not recognised under Australian law”.

And her opinion hasn’t changed now that a gay couple will feature on the program.

“I actually don’t think it’s relevant who the couples are,” Dr Phelps said to news.com.au, “I think the fundamental issue is that it trivialises the important decision that marriage represents”.

Dr Phelps also questioned the show’s motives for including a homosexual couple.

“I don’t think it’s been done for the right reasons. I think the motivation is probably more salacious than a political statement of inclusiveness.”

Married At First Sight will air on Channel Nine next Monday at 8.40pm