Tennis Australia And Margaret Court Arena Distance Business From Margaret Court’s Homophobic Slur - Noise11.com
Margaret Court Arena

Tennis Australia And Margaret Court Arena Distance Business From Margaret Court’s Homophobic Slur

by Paul Cashmere on May 26, 2017

in News

Both Tennis Australia and Margaret Court Arena management have issued statements distancing themselves from a homophobic slur by former tennis champion Margaret Court on Thursday.

The Tennis Australia statement reads, “As a legend of the sport, we respect Margaret Court’s achievements in tennis and her unmatched playing record. Her personal views are her own, and do not align with Tennis Australia’s values of equality, inclusion and diversity”.

Unfortunately, Margaret Court decided to rub her antiquated views on marriage equality into everyone’s face yesterday with a letter to the editor of the West Australian newspaper.

In the letter, sent in her current position as Senior Pastor of Victory Life Church in Perth, Court criticised Qantas for being “an active promoter for same-sex marriage”. She ended her rant by saying “I love all people”. Clearly that means all people who agree with her bigoted views.

Management for Margaret Court Arena, named after Court, issued the statement: “Melbourne & Olympic Parks does not support Margaret Court’s comments and we remain an organisation committed to embracing equality, diversity and inclusion; from our fans to our colleagues who deliver the events that people love to attend”.

International rock star Ryan Adams is performing at the venue tonight. He tweeted:

Noise11.com is calling for a name-change to the arena in the event that the venue is a government owned building in a public area for all Australians, not just those who share Court’s divisive beliefs.

Tennis star Martina Navratilova agrees:

The Andrews’ Labor government in Australia has done a remarkable job for equality and human rights, making the state of Victoria the most tolerant state in Australia. While there is no denying Court’s achievements as a sportsperson, it is inappropriate in 2017 to have a major sporting and music venue named after a homophobic sports star. The name Margaret Court Arena must change or forever be tarnished by the prejudices or its namesake.

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Leo Sayer performs at Hamer Hall on Friday 24 June 2016.
Leo Sayer Expands Australian Tour

Leo Sayer has expanded his Australian tour with eight new shows added taking Leo through until the end of October.

1 day ago
Monstr
Jason Singh Puts Together Aussie Supergroup MONSTR For The Best of MTV Unplugged Live Shows

Taxiride’s Jason Singh has recruited some of his musical mates to put together the supergroup MONSTR and take it out for live shows performing The Best of MTV Unplugged.

2 days ago
Songs from the Canyon
Songs From The Canyon To Be Performed Live At The Gardens

‘Songs from the Canyon’, a show featuring the music of Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Carole King, The Doors and many more will be performed at part of the Live at the Gardens series.

3 days ago
Big Noter
Briggs’ Metal Act Big Noter Premieres ‘Talk Straight’

Big Noter, the metal side of Aussie rapper Briggs, has premiered a second song ‘Talk Straight’.

3 days ago
Crowded House perform at Rod Laver Arena 10 December 2024 photo by Winston Robinson
Crowded House Sentenced To One Night At Fremantle Prison

Crowded House are going to prison, Fremantle Prison in Western Australia to be exact.

4 days ago
Glass Animals Heat Waves
ARIA Chart Positions Project A 2025 Australian Artist Chart Disgrace

ARIA’s first six months of published music charts are projecting that Australian artist chart figures for 2025 will be a disaster. All that recent fluff about changing the chart formula looks like just ‘deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic’ based on how Australian artists have performed on the ARIA chart so far in 2025.

6 days ago
Joe Camilleri Black Sorrows
Wilbur Wilde’s Message To The Punks Who Stole Joe Camilleri’s Guitars

Former Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons sax player Wilbur Wilde has a few words for the thieves who broke into the home of Joe Camilleri and stole thousands of dollars of equipment.

July 11, 2025