The Australian Government has decided to recognize the former tennis player Margaret Court with a special award for his career, which has caused a certain controversy in the run-up to the first major of the season.
In recent years, Court has stirred controversy due to its views on issues LGBTQ +
. and has been shown to be a vehement opponent of same-sex marriage.
Court, who has served as a Pentecostal minister since her retirement from tennis, will receive the award Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest category of honor awarded, as part of the Australia Day honors.
The news was under a strict media embargo, but it has come to light on social networks and has caused different reactions, say media in the state of Victoria.
Thus, the leader of the federal opposition, Anthony Albanese, noted that Court had already been honored by the Council of the Order of Australia for her successes in tennis, when she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, a minor honor, in 2007.
“I think it is clear to everyone to see that making her a Companion of the Order of Australia has nothing to do with tennis,” Albanese said.
The first Minister, Scott Morrison, has declined to comment on Court’s honor. “I can not comment on an award that is made through an independent process that has not been announced or I do not have official knowledge of those things,” he settled in this regard.
The Margaret Court ArenaOne of the most important courts in the Australian Open Melbourne Park tennis center, it was named to honor the 24-time Grand Slam winner, although this decision also raised problems.
After news of his award leaked Friday, Court said, “I’ve had those views all my life and I was just saying what the Bible says.”
“I have nothing against people, I love people. We make them come to our community services, of all kinds, be they gay, transgender, whatever,” he added.
“We never reject a person and I think there has been an attempt to show that I am someone that I really am not. And I think it is very sad,” Court said.
–
