Margaret Court is a former Australian tennis star once ranked the top female player in the world for spurts in the 1960s and 70s. She’s so famous in her home country that they named an arena after her.
But she’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons this week after writing a letter to the editor of The West Australian newspaper blasting Qantas airlines, whose CEO Alan Joyce was recently in the news for supporting marriage equality in the country.
The full letter states:
I write this as an open letter to the Qantas board and Alan Joyce as the Senior Pastor of Victory Life Church in Perth.
As you will know, I have represented Australia many times and have the proud record of never losing a tennis match while playing for my country.
I am disappointed that Qantas has become an active promoter for same-sex marriage.
I believe in marriage between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible.
Your statement leaves me no option but to use other airlines where possible for my extensive travelling.
How proud I was to promote the kangaroo tail throughout the world from the Constellation days to the 380s. But unfortunately no more.
I love all people and will be pleased to talk to your board at any time. But it won’t be in the Qantas lounge.
God bless.
Margaret Court, AO, MBE, Sydney
She forgot the asterisk after “I love all people.”
The beautiful thing about this story, though, is how people have responded. Tennis players have criticized her. Other celebrities have criticized her. Even her own arena has said they don’t support her Christian hate.
@John__Donegan @GregBaum Maybe it's time to change the name of the Margaret Court Arena then… and I guess Margaret will be taking the boat on her next trip?:)
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 25, 2017
@Rebelstorm @MomentsAU @Qantas thank you Qantas for your support. And Margaret – you have gone too far. Shame on you…#wrongsideofhistory
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 25, 2017
Margaret. Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/Cl1DtC4aSL
— caseydellacqua (@caseydellacqua) May 25, 2017
It's time Margaret Court up with the times. Imagine if only mixed doubles partners could win grand slams…You'd be outraged. #loveislove pic.twitter.com/uhvKkD1Ldk
— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) May 25, 2017
— Margaret Court Arena (@MCourtArena) May 25, 2017
Our statement regarding #MargaretCourt pic.twitter.com/XMxkxwIDrJ
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) May 25, 2017
Hey #MargaretCourt , A PAGAN who STRONGLY SUPPORTS #MarriageEquality ( get a pre-nup tho ) will play the arena named for you tomorrow
; ) pic.twitter.com/lc4GFCkGuF— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) May 25, 2017
There are commenters across various news websites defending Court, saying she has every right to speak her mind. But that’s not the issue here. No one’s saying she can’t voice her opinion. She just can’t be protected from the consequences of her faith-based bigotry.
Court now says she’s being “persecuted” for her beliefs. But no one’s stopping her from getting married to the love of her life. She’s just another Christian oppressing other people while whining, wrongly, about being oppressed herself.
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