The Australian Open is about to start where the main arena is named after Court.
For decades, Margaret Court has been the pride of Australia.
In her 17 years on the professional tennis court, the now 78-year-old has broken a record of 24 Grand Slam titles, making her the most successful female tennis player in Australian history.
But the legacy of the court has been deeply affected in recent years by a slew of homophobic comments.
Court – now a Christian pastor – is an outspoken critic of transgender athletes and once called the teaching of LGBTQ content in schools the work “of the devil”.
Court, which collected her record series of Grand Slam victories between 1961 and 1975, wrote an open letter in 2017 in which she said she would boycott the airline Qantas over same-sex marriage support. That same year, she said tennis is ‘full of lesbians’.
These comments over the years have lost her respect among the Australian public and led to the avalanche of anger that erupted after it was leaked that the court awarded the highest possible honor to the public service, the Companion of the Order of Australia. would be.
The court was already recognized in 1967 with an order from the British Empire and in 2007 another Australian service delivery, and she now received the best praise on Tuesday, Australian Day, in recognition of her ‘outstanding achievement and service’.
However, rights groups and the country’s political opposition have expressed outrage over the expected appointment, and it has even prompted a Canberra doctor to return her own award in protest.
Dr. Clara Tuck Meng Soo, a trans woman, says the decision to honor the Australian court promotes discrimination against LGBTQ people. Meanwhile, Australian journalist Kerry O’Brien rejected the honor he was due to receive on Tuesday for the ‘deeply insensitive and divisive decision’.
The Victorian head of state, Prime Minister Andrew Andrews, said: ‘I do not believe she has views that are consistent with the vast majority of people in our country who consider people, especially from the LGBTQ community, to be equal and worthy of dignity, respect and safety not. ”
Without naming names, Andrews also did so on Twitter, saying he did not want to give oxygen to the person’s disgraceful, grandiose view. “
His comments come when Victoria is going to host the Australian Open in Melbourne Park, where the main arena is named after Court.
Other tennis stars have asked for her name to be removed from the venue, including John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova – who said it should be replaced with that of indigenous champion Evonne Goolagong.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to enter the debate, saying: ‘This is an announcement that will be made on the day. It is a system that recognizes the full spectrum of individuals across the country. ‘
The court spoke to local reporters on Friday, insisting that its critics had unfairly bullied:
Court said, ‘Always remember that I am a minister of the gospel and have been for the past thirty years. I always say what the Bible says. ‘