Off-Court drama
MARGARET Court has some letters after her name for services to sport and the community. She also has an arena named after her. These are some of the rewards that Margaret has received for what she did on the tennis court.
She is not famous for being a philosopher or a legislator, she got famous for hitting a ball.
Australia is a funny country. We invest so much admiration in our athletes it is frightening. But here’s a funny thing about making a name for yourself out of sport. Eventually your playing days will end. At the conclusion of the ride you have to get a new life, a new career, a new personality. The nation will no longer relate to you through the lens of an outstanding competitor. You will be introduced as a former champion. You will be revered and remembered but you’re not longer in a position of being able to say that you will let your deeds “do the talking”.
Once you’ve walked into retirement, you have to talk for yourself and you have to wear the repercussions of the words that you choose.
Today Court makes her living out of talking about God. She is a preacher in Western Australia with Margaret Court Ministries. Recently she wrote a letter to the paper condemning the prospect of equality in marriage. Court felt moved to take a public stand and incorporate her voice to the public record because she believes there is no room for equality in marriage in this country.
She says marriage is a right that should be reserved for heterosexuals exclusively. Not everybody agrees. She knows this, but she signed the letter with her full name and included her honours, her MBE for her services to sport and her Order of Australia, for her services to tennis and the community.
Not surprisingly this letter has generated headlines.
Marriage equality is a big issue. Court has stepped into the discussion at a point when many in the community feel this debate needs a final resolution.
Her appearance on The Project was a flash point in this dialogue. During a rambling exchange the pastor suggested that her opinion had nothing to do with her tennis.
It’s not this easy. It is impossible for Margaret to divorce herself from her status as a successful sportsperson.
You don’t get to use the MBE and the AO and expect respect and then say the tennis has nothing to do with the prejudice.
The tennis is the career that grew a public platform. The tennis career is the only reason the media or the Twittersphere has thrown light onto this preacher’s view. No- body is quoting Court because she is a pastor with Margaret Court Ministries, they are quoting her because she is an Australian champion with honours and she’s not afraid to use them.
It is no wonder then that current day players are throwing their hands in the air about this one. At least two Australian female players have expressed doubts about wanting to appear on the Arena at the next Australian Open.
“Enough is enough,” tweeted Casey Dellacqua.
Maybe this is because Margaret is using the pulpit to bully her opinion? Maybe it’s because this is not the first time that Margaret Court has come out to attack gay and lesbian people? In 1994 the former tennis champion delivered a speech at a prayer breakfast in Parliament House. During this deliverance she said; “Homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord!” It can be no surprise to Margaret that there are calls to rename our arena. It’s a pretty safe bet that the arena will not be renamed. But this latest round of marriage equality discourse has garnered the former champion a lot more publicity and a lot more detractors. Court has her religion. She has her belief system. She is happily using this system to advocate for the preservation of inequality in our society. It’s an unsustainable position. In the end it will be defeated and when it is overturned and equality is legislated, will Margaret Court return her MBE and Order of Australia? Will she be so disappointed with our country that she changes her name? Probably not. But let’s wait and see. Margaret Court is famous. For being a tennis player. She has received honours for her achievements with a racquet in her hand. This is where her influence in community debate should start and stop. Her opinions were formed in the last century. It’s time we moved forward instead of listening to the shambling past.