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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The Margaret Court Controversy

8 replies

Terfing · 03/06/2017 07:10

A quick summary: Court is a very successful female tennis player who has broken many world records. Sadly, she is vocally anti-LGBT and has made some appalling statements about lesbians.

However, what I want to discuss here is this bizarre Guardian opinion piece on the subject: www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/02/yes-margaret-court-lesbians-can-rise-to-the-top-in-tennis-other-sports-too

It seems to confirm that gender and biological sex are not synonymous, but in the same breath supports the transgender ideology? The article is trying to be everything to everyone, but failing miserably? Or is it just me?

In other words, Court being a tomboy was OK on account of the fact that she remained certain of her core “nature” as a woman. For her, this is symbolised by her desire to wear dresses as well as shorts – or the fact that she was feminine even though she had a “masculine” prowess for sport. But, she fears, with anti-bullying programs such as Safe Schools (singled out for condemnation as the work of the “devil”), children may no longer be so assured of their “rightful” gender identities – and by extension, their sexualities.

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DJBaggySmalls · 03/06/2017 08:12

The article takes her comments against lesbians and tries to turn it into an article about bullying trans kids. Thats why its so clumsily written. Lesbians are not trans.

Martina Navratilova (and Billie Jean King) has spoken out against Court and this article makes more sense;
www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/01/this-is-not-ok-martina-navratilova-repeats-call-to-rename-margaret-court-arena

''Court, who won a record 24 singles championships at grand slam tournaments and is now an ultra-conservative church minister in Perth, recently said she would not fly on Qantas “where possible” in protest at its support of same-sex marriage. This week she told Vision Christian Radio station that an Australian programme tackling homophobic bullying in schools was the work of a “gay lobby” that was trying to “get [into] the minds of children”.''

Court is a really awful, homophobic person, and she is a public figure. When she speaks out against trans politics then it will be appropriate to write and article about that.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 03/06/2017 09:07

I agree with Navratilova that changing the name to honour Evonne Goolagong is the right thing to do.

M0stlyBowlingHedgehog · 03/06/2017 09:43

Margaret Court has held vile views on many things for years - during the 70s at the height of the debate on whether sportspeople should boycott South Africa or not, she not merely came out against the boycott, but came out in favour of apartheid.

Evonne Goolagong was wonderful to watch, a really amazing player - I remember watching her play when I was a small kid.

Terfing · 03/06/2017 10:08

I agree, the less said about Court, the better. It's just odd that transgender issues are being thrown into this argument!

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TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 03/06/2017 10:26

That Guardian article is horrible to read. There was no need for all that virtue-signalling hand wringing about trans kids, or all of the pseudo-sociological jargon either.

Margaret Court is homophobic and deeply out of touch with the modern world to boot. Fortunately, that breed of judgemental Christianity is deeply uncool, and she had just made herself look like the idiot she obviously is. Everyone knows that there are lesbian tennis players. It is not news and no longer controversial or interesting. (Incidentally, my mum was convinced until very recently that Margaret herself was gay.)

"The Evonne Goolagong Arena" has an excellent ring to it.

HmmOkay · 03/06/2017 11:47

"Court... recently said she would not fly on Qantas “where possible” in protest at its support of same-sex marriage"

That made me laugh a bit. Court is saying that she has principles but she will renounce those principles if it causes her inconvenience. Grin

YetAnotherSpartacus · 04/06/2017 14:00

How many places are named after men who are / were misogynistic or sexist and can we change those names too please?

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