Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesMacklemore took a stand for gay marriage Sunday in Australia, where a nationwide vote on the subject is currently underway.
The rapper appeared at the National Rugby League Grand Final Sunday in Sydney. According to Billboard, he performed “Same Love,” his marriage equality anthem, during the event, in defiance of a petition calling for him not to.
Macklemore and Mary Lambert, who sings the track’s hook, performed in front of a screen flashing messages such as “We stand for equality” and “We stand for inclusiveness.”
He later tweeted, “Performing Same Love at the #NRLGF was one of the greatest honors of my career. Thank you @NRL for the opportunity & supporting equality.”
Following the performance, “Same Love,” which Macklemore released in 2012 with his musical partner Ryan Lewis, rose to #1 on the Australian iTunes chart. According to Billboard, the rapper has also promised to donate proceeds from sales of the song in Australia to the marriage equality campaign.
In other Macklemore news, his new solo album, Gemini, has debuted at #2 on the Billboard album chart. That matches the highest position that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ Grammy-winning album The Heist reached in 2012. The duo’s last album, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, entered the chart at #4 in 2016.
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