Margaret Court is an Australian and international sporting legend – winner of 62 Grand Slam tennis titles, a former world number one and regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players in history. It’s an amazing achievement that demands respect from all of us.
But Court’s record has been overshadowed in recent weeks by her comments on homosexuality and equal marriage. Her views are strongly entwined in her religious beliefs (Court is a senior pastor at the evangelical Victory Life Centre in Perth).
Let me be clear: No-one has the right to dictate to Court what her personal values and politics should be.
However, what has struck me about her now very public views on homosexuality and equal marriage is that she has very little understanding about the impact these have on thousands of young GLBTI Australians and their families.
I’m troubled when I hear that our centres and our on-line counsellors are seeing young people walk through their doors or log on who are struggling with their sexuality – but not because they are ashamed to be who they are. They are feeling the pressure to pretend to be someone else; they don’t want to disappoint their parents and friends; they think they will get bullied or isolated; they are worried about being different.
It’s 2012 and it beggars belief that in this day and age sexuality is still such a controversial issue. But then I read comments from people such as Court and I realise that we really haven’t come that far at all.
Consider this from Court:
“Politically correct education has masterfully escorted homosexuality out from behind closed doors, into the community openly and now is aggressively demanding marriage rights that are not theirs to take”.
Or this, again touching on marriage equality:
“I love them (the gays), I even work with them. I love my nation and I don’t like seeing it in moral decline. I pray for it, I love it and I want to protect the young of the future. My heart is for the next generation . . . Gays and lesbians could lead their life without touching marriage as ordained by God”.
Really? I would suggest to Court that if she was so concerned about protecting the young of the future that she take a deep breath and understand the impact her words have on those very same people she is trying to “protect”. The continued scorn and humiliation being heaped on young people is having a devastating effect on their lives. As is being told by our churches, politicians and sections of the community that while it’s okay to be gay, you’re actually not quite as equal as everybody else. Or having Court say that Martina Navratilova is not a good role model for girls because she is a lesbian.
Here is a reality that Court and others are either ignorant of or don’t feel is important: Young GLBTI people in Australia are three to four times more likely to take their own lives. That is a disgraceful statistic in a supposedly progressive society.
headspace has a number of quality high profile individuals who have chosen to back the work we do and in turn support thousands of young people across the country. Last year, three AFL footballers and headspace ambassadors – Bob Murphy, Dan Jackson and Nick Duigan – worked with us to stand up for the rights of young GLBTI people on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).
Another young footballer, Simon Hogan, who bravely told his story of his battle with depression, is also now an ambassador for headspace, as is Gus Johnston, the former hockey player whose video detailing his journey as a gay man has gone viral. These men, along with the wonderful Ruby Rose, are proud to support headspace and we’re proud to have them in our corner. We will be making an announcement shortly about the other men and women who are joining forces with headspace for 2012 and beyond.
We need to hear the voices of people who understand that while it’s reasonable for someone to have a personal view on an issue, it’s not acceptable if that view perpetuates bigotry, inequality, fear and violence. This is about human rights.
Today the brilliant Australian author Christos Tsiolkas said about Court: “She’s a great tennis player but that doesn’t excuse hate”.
I’d go further. She is only a great tennis player, which doesn’t excuse her from using and abusing that position in a sports mad culture like our own to do more harm to a young population that is arguably the most at risk in our community.
Rainbow flags at Margaret Court Stadium – drape the whole tennis centre I say.
