Weeks before she is set to receive a special tribute at the Australian Open, Margaret Court is embroiled in fresh controversy after delivering a sermon that hit out at members of the LGBT community.
Court, who became a Christian pastor after retiring from tennis, told her church in Perth that transgender youth was ‘so wrong’ and causes many problems in women’s sports. In recent months there have been debates concerning transgender athletes and if they have any advantage over those born female. Court argues that nobody should change their sex because ‘god made us that way.’
“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.
“It’s 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’.
“And you know 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 24-time grand slam champion is no stranger to causing controversy for her views and has hit out at the LGBT community numerous times before. She once said that the women’s tour was ‘full of lesbians‘ and during her playing career described rival Martina Navratilova as a ‘bad role model’ due to her sexuality. Court has also boycotted Qantas airlines due to their support of marriage equality and publicly criticised former player Casey Dellacqua for having a baby with her same-sex partner.
Nevertheless, Court is staying defiant despite her critics. Saying she finds it hard to openly discuss her religious views because ‘the devil’ has control over both the Australian media and government.
“The devil gets in and the media and the political, the education, TV — he wants to control a nation so he can affect people’s minds and mouths,” Court said.
“I can go on television and if I say, ‘well, this is what the Bible says’, well, it’s like opening a can of worms.
“My goodness, you’ve let a torpedo off or something. No it’s true, because they hate the word of God.”
Elsewhere, the former tennis star also took a swipe at the LGBT education at schools. Claiming it is also the work of the devil and not God.
The comments come just days before the start of the 2020 tennis season. At the Australian Open, Court has received an invitation to mark the 50th anniversary of her grand slam sweep where she won all four major titles in the same year. However, some have argued that there should be no celebration taking place due to her views. Tennis Australia, who runs the grand slam tournament, has also distanced themselves from Court.
“Tennis Australia respects Margaret’s unmatched tennis career and welcomes her to the Australian Open, particularly in this milestone anniversary year,” a statement said.
“As often stated, Tennis Australia does not agree with Margaret’s personal views, which have demeaned and hurt many in our community over a number of years. They do not align with our values of equality, diversity and inclusion.
“Our sport welcomes everyone, no matter what gender, ability, race, religion or sexuality, and we will continue to actively promote inclusion initiatives widely at all levels of the sport.”
Court currently holds the record for most grand slam singles title ever won. 13 out of her 24 major trophies was won before the start of the Open Era in 1969.
