"Christian values taken out of schools" - Margaret Court rails against hormone therapy for transgender kids before puberty

Tennis legend Margaret Court shared her thoughts on youth gender issues and the decline of Christian values. She was upset about the new laws that allowed people to disrespect their religious teachings.

Court is one of the greatest tennis players in history. She captured 24-Grand Slam titles during her career and dominated women's tennis in the 1960s and early 1970s.

In an interview with The Telegraph, the Australian pointed out how raising children today is different from the past. She said it wasn’t right to give kids treatments like hormone therapy before they reach puberty.

“Christian values have been taken out of our schools. Some children don’t even know whether they’re boys or girls any longer. This is where I get upset, because I look back at my life and I was such a tomboy when I was young. I played football and cricket, and I beat all the boys doing it. But I still knew I had two brothers who were different from me," Margaret Court said

"Now you have children saying: ‘I feel like being a boy.’ Giving them hormone replacement before puberty? They end up trapped in their bodies, and they can’t turn back. We don’t even allow them to drive until they’re 17. So why would you do that to another human being? What are we doing to our young people? I cry about that," she added

Margaret Court made history in 1970 by completing the Calendar Grand Slam in singles. She became the second woman to win all four Major tournaments in the same year.

The 83-year-old also said that her comments about hormone-replacement treatments have often been misunderstood. She explained what she really meant and said she felt sad about the false claims made about her.

"This quickly morphed into such lurid headlines as “Court calls trans kids the work of the devil”. “I didn’t say that,” she sighs. “I was answering about something else. I was a bit hurt, because then people formed opinions on the back of that," Margaret Court said

"I simply stood up for some values" - Margaret Court defends her stance on controversial gender-change issues

Court at the 2024 Australian Open - Day 13 - Source: Getty

Margaret Court clinched the US Open in 1973, which was her last significant victory at the Majors. She retired from professional tennis in 1977.

After retiring, Court became an ordained Christian minister and the senior pastor of Perth’s Victory Life Centre. She started the church in 1995 to teach people about Christian values.

The Australian defended her stance on gender issues after being wrongly misinterpreted in the media.

“As a minister, I simply stood up for some values. I have nothing against gay people. I just say what the Bible says: “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Jesus said that in the gospels. I was brought up with this, and I haven’t changed," Margaret Court said

Margaret Court has been married to Barrymore Court since 1967. He is the son of a former Western Australian Minister for Industry. The couple has four children: Daniel, Marika, Teresa, and Lisa.