2017/09: Free speech and community attitudes to homosexuality: should the Margaret Court Arena be renamed?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right:On May 26, 2017, Channel 7 televised a news report dealing with Margaret Court’s proposed boycott of Qantas and calls to have the Margaret Court Arena renamed. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said...
'It is unfortunate that someone with her stature has chosen to propagate discrimination...'
Australian doubles champion and gay rights advocate, Rennae Stubbs, referring to Margaret Court's views on homosexuality
'I have my views and I can express my views just like gay people expressing their views. I think it's important we do have that freedom of speech'
Margaret Court claiming a right to express her opinion
The issue at a glance
On May 25, 2017, a letter was published in the West Australian newspaper from Australian women's tennis champion, Margaret Court.
Court, Australia's most successful tennis player, who retired from competition in 1977 and has since become a Christian minister, stated publicly that she would do her best no longer to fly with Qantas since its CEO had announced the organisation's support for same sex marriage.
Court's comments met with immediate opposition from a range of commentators both within and apart from the gay community.
Czechoslovakian tennis champion and gay activist, Martina Navratilova, was among those who have called for the renaming of the Margaret Court Arena. The arena is part of the National Tennis Centre at Melbourne Park and is also used on occasion as an entertainment venue. Navratilova tweeted, 'Maybe it's time to change the name of the Margaret Court Arena then...'
On May 27, 2017, a petition was posted on Change.org calling for the renaming of the arena. It had attracted 3,767 supporters within two days.
On May 30, Australian grand slam champion, Samantha Stosur, suggested some players might not be prepared to compete on the Margaret Court Arena, stating, 'I guess we'll cross that bridge when we all get down to the Australian Open next year and (see) who wants to play on Margaret Court Arena and who doesn't...' The same day world number one male tennis player, Andy Murray, called on Tennis Australia to resolve the issue, stating, 'If something was to be done, I think it would be a lot more beneficial to do it before the tournament starts.'
The next day Stosur seemed to withdraw the suggestion she might boycott the arena. 'I've never said I was going to boycott or anything like that.'
A range of public figures have opposed the renaming of the arena, including the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull and former Victorian Premiers John Cain and Jeff Kennett. Most have argued that Court's views have no bearing on her sporting achievements, and that it is for the latter that she has been commemorated through the naming of the arena.
Meanwhile, Margaret Court's reported remarks have become more extreme, with her stating on Vision Christian Radio that attitudes towards transgender are a threat and that 'There's a whole plot in our nation and in the nations of the world to get in the minds of the children.'