In an interview with the Times, singer Dolly Parton said that she believes "gay rights are human rights".

Ms Parton told the Times:
"I'm not a poster child for gay rights by any means.

"But I have so many gay and lesbian friends and they’re just so pure and so true. That's not politics to me. That's human rights."

Last November the singer came out in support of gay marriage. When asked if she was in favour of same-sex marriage she replied:
“I always say, ‘Sure, why can’t they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do.'"