They’re both among the greatest tennis players of all time, but it’s what divides these two champions that’s making headlines.
Andy Murray, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, has fired back against homophobic comments made by fellow titleholder, Margaret Court. And like most great rivalries, it all started with a pie in the face.
Well, sort of.
Alan Joyce is the CEO of Australian airline Qantas. He’s also gay, a fierce advocate for marriage equality, and a recent victim of antigay harassment in the form a pie to the face. Some people truly have a regrettable lack of chill.
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Among that group is Margaret Court, who made it clear last week she would not be flying with Qantas in light of Joyce’s position on marriage equality.
In a letter published by The Australian, Court said “I believe in marriage as a union 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.”
This week, Murray issued a response in The Sun: “I don’t see why anyone has a problem with two people who love each other getting married. You know, if it’s two men, two women, that’s great. I don’t see why it should matter. It’s not anyone else’s business. Everyone should have, in my opinion, the same rights.”
We’re just going to go ahead and call that love-15.
Out tennis player Richel Hogenkamp has also spoken publicly about Court’s remarks, and is asking the Australian Open to consider changing the name of the stadium that currently bears Court’s name.
“I don’t think you should be that outspoken,” she told ENCA.com. “I have a girlfriend myself. I don’t agree with what she’s saying.
“So I think it would be a good thing to see if Australian Open can maybe change the name of the stadium, because I think if you’re in that kind of position, maybe some players they don’t feel so comfortable playing in a stadium named after Margaret Court.”
Xzamilloh
Ugh, as if I didn’t have another reason to love that man… but that beautiful backside of his is reason enough.
Donston
Me, you and Kevin Spacey are in the same boat with this dude. I just can’t help finding him sexually appealing despite not being a conventional hottie. I’ve always had a thing for tall, lean white dudes. But his scruffiness, the juxtaposition of his on court and off court personality and his legs and ass takes him to another level.
jasentylar
Rafa, Fabio Fognini, and Feliciano Lopez do it for me…..every time.
Chris
A bit ironic that a lesbian (Billie Jean King) had to step in when Court lost her “battle of the sexes” tennis match to Bobbie Riggs.
Herman75
Australia reminds me of Louisiana.
Jack Meoff
In what way?
DavidIntl
As a resident of Australia, I unfortunately am inclined to agree – though it is Texas that the country most resembles in my opinion. The odd thing, though, is that – on LGBT issues and others – the populace is way out in front of its leaders. There is very strong acceptance of difference from most people, even in generally conservative areas. But the resistance from the old guard (which includes quite a bit of the political class) is surprisingly tough.
OzJosh
Judging Australia by the comments of Margaret Court is as daft as judging all of the US by the lunatic ravings of Pat Robertson. Court is the pastor of an extreme right evangelical church that in no way represents the feelings or attitudes of most Australians. We also happen to have a right-wing government right now – just like the US – that is not supportive of LBGT rights. But recent polls show that between 70 and 80% of Australians support equal marriage (a rather higher percentage than in the US). I’ve lived in the US and Australia, and Australia is by far the more gay-friendly society. There may be rural backwaters that could rival Texas or Louisiana in their bigotry, but since more than 90% of the country is urban, those backwaters are tiny and pretty much irrelevant.
JessPH
Sign the Petition to rename the stadium named after this bigot:
https://www.change.org/p/melbourne-and-olympic-parks-trust-rename-the-margaret-court-arena-the-evonne-goolagong-arena
DCguy
Sounds like Margaret is STILL fighting the closet monster.
pattygale
Never ceases to amaze me the number of people who feel the need to judge who other people love. I’m a straight grandmother and ex high school teacher, no gay kids or grandkids, just worldview that so much heartache could be prevented if people minded their own business, not everyone else’s. I don’t go much for causes, but this is one that is worth my time.
Rangerboy
Everybody is entitled to their own opinions and views! Actually it also is good if they express it – not in a hateful way – and we should all respect it. But as soon as it goes into hatred or like in this case, a boycott of a product which promotes or supports open mindedness and tolerance, then it goes a bit too far. Margaret Court has every right to hold to her views and I think it is fine that she expresses them openly. BUT: she cannot show her hatred towards people or products promoting something she does not agree with! Especially when it concerns LGBT matters, where it is none of her business what two consenting adults do with each other!!
kurtle
Hypocrisy alert!! Andy, lovely to have your support but don’t see you boycotting Doha where the attitude to homosexuality is pretty grim, or all the players who play in Dubai – including Samantha Stosur (again, another horror spot for us LGBQTI folk). Yes, Margaret Court’s attitudes are awful but the tennis venue wasn’t named after her because she is a bigoted, fundamentalist grandmother. It was named after her because she played awesome tennis and holds an unbeaten record for grand slam titles – 24! If we are going to start unpicking famous peoples’ attitudes there are going to be thousands of statues, streets and stadia either re-named or removed (including some dedicated to our own folk). Let they who are without (whatever) cast the first stone…and let’s get the revisionists to back off and focus on problems of more importance, like climate change and world hunger!
Richard 55
Andy Murray played in Abu Dhabi a few months ago. It’s a place where they castrate men for having homosexual relations.
Richard 55
Australia has many conservatives. However, the worst thing is the useless homosexual community in Australia. It’s been hijacked by women, drag queens and transgenders.
Gay-identifying men seem more interested in dance parties and going to a bar in Oxford St than in removing the undue influence of women etc.