Margaret Court Riles Up Martina Navratilova and Jean King

Written by: Staff on 12th December 2011

Margaret Court Riles Up Martina Navratilova and Jean King

epa00759609 (L-R) Tennis legends Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Steffi Graf Margaret Court and Maria Bueno in the Royal Box on Centre Court after receiving crystal bowls in recognition of their successes at the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships, Saturday 01 July 2006. EPA/GERRY PENNY |

(Above: (L-R) Tennis legends Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Steffi Graf Margaret Court and Maria Bueno )

Margaret Court has angered two of her fellow female tennis legends, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, by urging Australians to make a stand against same-sex marriage, saying no human law could ever change God’s divine laws.

Court, founder and senior pastor at Victory Life Church in Perth, Western Australia, has a history of making anti-gay comments and previously riled Navratilova by accusing her of setting a bad example to young players, accusing lesbians of ruining women’s tennis.

Speaking to The Western Australian newspaper insisted same-sex marriages were “alternative, unhealthy, unnatural unions”. She added: “To dismantle this sole definition of marriage and try to legitimize what God calls abominable sexual practices that include sodomy, reveals our ignorance as to the ills that come when society is forced to accept law that violates their very own God-given nature of what is right and what is wrong.”

Predictably a fierce backlash came from Navratilova and King. Navratilova said: “Seems to me a lot of people have evolved as has the Bible. Unfortunately Margaret Court has not.

“Her myopic view is truly frightening as well as damaging to the thousands of children already living in same gender families.”

Navratilova insisted she had tried to talk to Court on the issue but to no avail. “To say she’s completely close-minded on the issue is an understatement,” she said. “Here is hoping Australia will be on the right side of history and human rights, and become yet another democracy granting equal rights to all her citizens.”

King added: “I respectfully disagree with Margaret’s position on gay marriage. We have to commit to eliminating homophobia because everyone is entitled to the same rights, opportunities and protection.

“The more we talk openly about issues like gay marriage, the more we learn about each other. It is a blessing the people of Australia can live freely and express their own opinions because we need open dialogue to help us move forward.

“We have to commit to eliminating homophobia because everyone is entitled to the same rights, opportunities and protection.”

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