Yes Clare, there is “same-sex marriage” on Married at First Sight (just not yet)

A contestant in the upcoming Nine series Married at First Sight says she went on the show to highlight marriage equality and would never have agreed to appear on it if the weddings were legal.

According to News Corp, Clare Verrall is one of the four ‘brides’ in the upcoming second season, which puts strangers together in simulated wedding and honeymoon scenarios. One of the couples featured last year remains in a relationship.

On her Facebook page, Verrall was challenged on her participation in the series by a gay friend.

“I am amazed you signed up for this,” Anthony Wiseman wrote.

“Intelligent I thought you were. I find this program makes a mockery of marriage. I can’t marry my partner of 6 years because our governments won’t pass legislation claiming it is breaking down the importance of marriage, yet shows like this can allow a person to potentially marry someone they meet after just a few short months.”

Verrall replied that she believed the show would include a same-sex couple.

“Firstly, the ‘weddings’ on MAFS are not legally binding marriages,” wrote Verrall.

“However, the reason I ended up accepting (to) do the show was I was told they were very keen to have a gay couple on our season which I was elated by & was what got me across the line agreeing to go ahead with the show.

“That didn’t end up being the case this season which was disappointing, however maybe next season so if you are a single homosexual person willing to take a MASSIVE risk on love, apply!

“If this was a legal wedding there is NO WAY I would have done it.”

As previously noted, producers were indeed keen to include a same-sex couple. Application forms for the second season asked participants to indicate their preferred gender with this in mind.

But like any Reality casting show, a final decision all comes down to who applied. So while Season Two, premiering next month, does not include a same-sex couple, Season Three airing later this year does.

Nine’s Managing Director of Programming & Production Andrew Backwell says the series will  highlight the differences in marriage equality.

“We have same-sex marriage in the show and, as I promised, we will send the couple to New Zealand to highlight the fact there is no same-sex marriage in Australia –which I’m delighted about because I think it is an important issue,” he told TV Tonight.

“It will be fascinating to see how it all plays out.”

Married At First Sight returns on April 4.