Robson Wants it Known That She is for Equal Rights

Written by: Staff on 17th January 2012

Robson Wants it Known That She is for Equal Rights |

Laura Robson can officially vote at home in Britain once she turns 18 years old on Saturday but the former Wimbledon girls champion chose to court controversy in her brief appearance at the 2012 Australian Open by wearing a small rainbow-colored hair band to express her belief in ‘equal rights’.

Robson was acutely aware her discreet gesture would be noticed as she was playing former world no.1 Jelena Jankovic on Margaret Court Arena and the Australian tennis legend had promoted rumors of a protest from gay rights campaigners during the first day of the tournament after making her controversial view public on the subject of same sex marriages.

Robson was insistent her actions were nothing to do with any wider movement. “I didn’t see anything about a protest today,” she said. “I wore it because I believe in equal rights for everyone, that’s it. It is not a protest, it’s just a hair band.”

Last week, Perth-based Court, aged 69, reportedly said: “Politically correct education has masterfully escorted homosexuality out from behind closed doors, into the community openly and now is aggressively demanding marriage rights that are not theirs to take.

“The fact that the homosexual cry is, `We can’t help it, as we were born this way,’ as the cause behind their own personal choice is cause for concern.”

She has previously been criticized by her fellow female tennis stars Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, who are both gay, while Kerryn Phelps, former president of the Australian Medical Association, called on Tennis Australia to rename the Margaret Court Arena.

Asked whether she was aware of Court’s comments, Robson said: “It’s always through newspapers and things like that. I never saw a direct quote from her. So I don’t really want to comment on something if I haven’t actually spoken to her.

“Obviously I’m going to be asked about it and I was expecting that and I’ve given my answer. I believe in equal rights for everyone, so that’s why I wore it.”

Topics: Equality, Laura Robson