Dear Margaret,
You and I have more in common than you would probably like to think. You are an Australian icon, I am the daughter of one.
My mother Julie Anthony sang the National Anthem at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, the largest gathering of athletes from all nationalities, races, sexualities, shapes and sizes in the world. She sang the anthem for them and for everyone, regardless of what flag they marched under or what suburb they drove from to get there that night.
Like you, she has carried the hopes and admirations of this country on her shoulders throughout her career.
Unlike you, she doesn't care that I am gay.
In fact, she looks forward to meeting her grandchildren in the very near future.
My mother, Mrs Court, made a choice. When I told her that I was in love with a woman, she told me that it was wonderful and suggested we go and watch Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a show about a transgender cabaret singer from the Eastern Bloc. She loved the music.
This November 18th, she will be standing proudly by my side as I marry the love of my life. Also by my side will be my sister, who happens to be straight and marrying a man on the same day. That’s right, a double wedding with my heteronormative sister, with whom I am splitting the costs of the event equally because, well, we are.
LISTEN: Penny Wong talks about same sex marriage. (Post continues after audio.)
My life has been charmed in many ways, but mostly because my mother has never let me, or anybody else in this country who looks up to her, down. She has always made it very clear that the responsibility of an icon is to attend to the quality of being an icon, not to comment on the quality of the people you represent. You, Margaret, have let us down.
Top Comments
Margaret Court has not let you down. She has a right to her opinion. Just because she is not accepting of your lifestyle, does not mean you cannot get on with your life. Life does not stop just because Margaret Court is not in favour of your lifestyle.
Great response.
Im so sick of the religious arguing that the bible is the reason that there should be no SSM. This is not about religion, this is about the law. The church and the State are separate in this country, last time I looked.
What IS the law is that all people are equal under the law regardless of gender, race and sexual orientation. Right now the Marriage Act is contrary to the law. Im not sure what the hell is holding up parliament fixing this. Oh that's right...religion.
The church can continue to break the law if it must, but all people should be able to have a legal marriage under the law.
As a married, heterosexual mother of two who considers herself a Christian, I just want Malcolm Turnbull to get on with it.
Actually, this article mostly refers to the fact that she's a tennis legend and that that seems to give Margaret Court certain responsibilities to various interest groups in the eyes of the author.
I disagree. Excellence in one field and a public profile doesn't mean you have to toe any line, unless you're specifically representing a group or cause. There's no contract that in return for fame you have to speak out for or against social issues. Margaret Court spoke in her capacity as a minister, but got the attention because of her previous career in tennis. She's obviously using that profile to further her opinions, which all sorts of celebrities do. High profile people have passion projects or causes and they use their position all the time to get their message out.
I don't agree with her at all, but her being famous doesn't mean she has to agree with socially progressive ideas or that she has some responsibility to a certain group of people.