“Margaret Court is Hiding Behind her Bible”: Martina Navratilova

Former World No.1 Martina Navratilova slams Margaret Court’s latest series of controversial comments against the LGBT community. Martina also questions Tennis Australia’s decision to honour Court’s achievement at the Australian Open 2020.

Margaret Court made a series of negative comments at transgender athletes in a fiery sermon at the Pentecostal church in Perth.  The 24-time Grand Slam champion suggested that being gay was a choice and young transgender people are ‘so wrong’.

“Margaret Court is hiding behind the Bible”: Martina Navratilova

Navratilova has labelled Court’s comments as ‘pathetic’ in a Twitter post. The 18-time Grand Slam champion is a spearhead in the gay sports movement after coming out publicly while still playing back in 1981.

“Margaret hasn’t changed her mind on Gays so she sure won’t change it on Trans either- amazing how strong her homophobia truly is.” Navratilova wrote.

Court’s comments come at a time when the Australian Open was preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when she won all four grand slams within the same calendar year.

However, Tennis Australia has distanced itself from her beliefs and explicated that the upcoming celebration would tribute her career in the sport. On the other hand, Navratilova disagrees as she said that Court’s opinion should not be “elevated” by celebrating her success.

“We don’t need to change or rewrite history when it comes to anyone’s accomplishments but we do not need to celebrate them,” she said.
“Margaret Court is hiding behind her Bible as many have done before her and will do after her. Let’s not keep elevating it.”

Margaret Court’s latest comments

Children are making the decision at seven or eight years of age to change their sex … no, just read the first two chapters of Genesis, that’s all I say. Male and female,” the 77-year-old said during her sermon.

She further suggested that it is so wrong at that age because a lot of things are planted in this thought realm at that age, and they start to question ‘what am I’. The Australian explained with that LGBT, they’ll wish they never put the T on the end of it because, particularly in women’s sports, they’re going to have so many problems.

“You have got young people taking hormones and having changes, by the time they are 17 they are thinking, ‘Now I’m a boy and really I was a girl’. Because you know what, God made us that way,” the 77-year-old concluded.