Tennis veteran Margaret Court declared tennis was “full of lesbians” in an interview with Vision Christian Radio station, but sports industry professionals said her comments could be detrimental for people just trying to succeed in sports they love.
Don Rose is the president of Australia’s first gay rugby union club, the Sydney Convicts, and said he wouldn't be surprised if people were discouraged from playing sport as a result of Court's comments.
“Margaret has a significant profile and platform and I would understand completely if someone was turned away from sport based on her comments, because it’s evidence that these opinions and this stigma is still active within the sporting community in this country,” he said.
Mr Rose said the comments are particularly "dangerous" for LGBT+ people in sport.
“Margaret is a legend of Australian tennis and sport and what her comments say to LGBTI sports people is simply ‘you’re not welcome here, you should stay out of tennis, you shouldn’t be playing sport’,” he said.
“These type of ignorant and inconsiderate comments not only have the risk of turning a future Casey Dellacqua away from the game, but could have dire consequences on the mental health of a young LGBTI person who is already facing challenging circumstances early in their life.”
Mr Rose said while things are improving, homophobia is still a problem and stigmas around LGBT+ people in sport can affect an athlete's performance.
“Where homophobia or stigma exists, it creates an environment where an athlete cannot perform to their full potential because they cannot be themselves - constantly hiding their true self from their team mates, coach, and from their fans and supporters,” he said.
Former Matildas' captain Melissa Barbieri said Court is simply “out of touch” with today’s sporting world.
“Margaret Court is an older generation athlete who's now assuming what is happening in the tennis world when she hasn't really been a part of it, so how would she actually know?,” she said.
Barbieri said Court’s comments angered her because people’s sexual identity shouldn’t be a factor in sport.
“They’re playing sport, it's got nothing to do with their sexuality,” she said.
Former head of sports psychology at the Australian Institute of Sport, Jeff Bond, said most sports people simply don't care about Margaret Court’s comments.
“I think a lot of female tennis players couldn’t give two hoots about what Margaret Court thinks about the extent of lesbianism in their sport or otherwise - I think they’re mostly concerned with winning their next match,” he said.
“The vast bulk of players will just get on with their business. They are professionals they're out there to make a living and forward their careers.”
Mr Bond said the same goes for most people watching sport.
“I think for most of the sporting public they go to watch athletes, and they don't really care whether they’re gay, lesbian or indifferent," he said. "It doesn't matter, they go to watch the sport.”
