Melbourne Herald Sun (Australia)
Darren Hayes has swipe at Howard
by Cameron Adams
August 14, 2007

Music man: Darren Hayes is in Melbourne to promote his new single On the Verge of Something Wonderful.

DARREN Hayes has hit out at John Howard's stance on gay marriage.

Hayes married Briton Richard Cullen in London last year, but his partner has to travel with him to Australia on a tourist visa.

"It makes me angry and frustrated," the former Savage Garden frontman said yesterday.

"I'm Australian and the way the law sits I can't bring my partner home as my partner.

"That to me is an infringement of my civil rights -- a very un-Australian thing.

"I would never have voted for John Howard and I encourage people not to.

"I don't think he speaks for this country in the same way I don't think George Bush speaks for the US."

Hayes is in Melbourne to promote his new single On the Verge of Something Wonderful, which made its debut at No. 29 in Australia this week and is No. 10 on the UK midweek chart.

His double album, This Delicate Thing We've Made, is to be released on August 20.

"Every time I come home there's this whole kerfuffle," Hayes said.

"We have to get Richard a visa.

"He's my partner, I share my life with him.

"I've inherited all the rights that 'normal' couples have.

"That's my right as a human being. It really annoys me."

Hayes said since coming out last year he has become a default spokesman for gay marriage.

"I love my record, I'd much rather be speaking about my record but at the same time I unwittingly become a spokesperson for something I really do believe in," he said.

"I'm in a loving, stable relationship.

"I love my job more than I ever have, I love my music more than I ever have and it seems to be doing OK at the moment.

Hayes also said he plans to be a father in the future.

"Every day the adoption laws seem to be changed or manipulated to block that dream, but obviously I'd adopt and it won't happen for a while but it's totally going to happen."

Hayes performs at Hamer Hall on October 24.

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