Margaret Court, a tennis legend who has won each of the four major tournaments in the sport and has sparked controversy over her anti-LGBT views, is being honored on Australian Day.
However, the decision to give her the companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia, which is “awarded for outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree in the service of Australia or mankind in general”, has caused a massive setback . The award will be presented on Australian Day on Tuesday.
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The view on the court has changed since her playing days on the tennis courts. Court, now a Pentecostal pastor, has spoken out about her disagreement with LGBT rights and same-sex marriage in Australia. Her criticism has led to an appeal to Australia to rename the Margaret Court Arena, which is one of the venues for the annual Australian Open.
The decision to award the honor to the court on Australian Day has drawn criticism from Australian politicians. Former tennis star Martina Navratilova did not directly criticize the decision, but reiterated the investigation into the court.
“I do not give out the gongs. It is not a matter for me; it is for others. You may want to talk to them about why they think the views, which are shameful, hurtful and cost lives, should be honored, “Victoria Premier Andrew Andrews told The Guardian on Friday.
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Andrews added more in a tweet.
Anthony Albanese, of the Australian Labor Party, also tweeted about the decision.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not comment on the court’s honor.
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“I cannot comment on an award made by an independent process that has not yet been announced, or I have no official knowledge of the matter,” he said.