"I just say what the Bible says" - Margaret Court makes her feelings clear on 'gay people' after facing criticism

Margaret Court stated that she has nothing against gay people, but that her beliefs stem from her religious convictions based on the Bible. The former No. 1, a Christian minister, has often come under backlash and has even been treated as an outcast in her own country.

Margaret Court amassed 24 singles titles and a total of 64 Grand Slam titles, the most in tennis history. She became one of three players to achieve the ‘Boxed Set’ and is the only player to complete the ‘Doubles Boxed Set’, in addition to earning a double Career Grand Slam in two disciplines. Court redefined women’s tennis, paving the way for future generations, and is often labeled as one of the greatest in history, with many of her records still unmatched.

Besides that, the 83-year-old has long been a critic of same-sex marriage and has even come under fire from luminaries such as Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, and others. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, the Australian former player and current Pentecostal pastor explained why she has remained firm in her beliefs, but maintained that she has nothing against gay people.

“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," she said.

“It can turn people against you. But you know what? When you know the peace of God, when you help people and see their lives change, that’s all that matters," she added.

Court became a Christian minister in 1991 and later established the Margaret Court Ministries.

Margaret Court once received heavy backlash from fellow ex-player Martina Navratilova

Court at the Championships - Wimbledon 2013: Day Twelve - Source: Getty

Margaret Court never shied away from representing herself in all honesty. She once discussed how tennis has filled up with 'lesbians' and equated the LGBTQ community with communism, devil and the Nazis.

"I mean, tennis is full of lesbians, because even when I was playing, there was only a couple there, but those couple that led took young ones into parties and things. That's all the devil... but that's what Hitler did and that's what communism did - got the mind of the children. And there's a whole plot in our nation, and in the nations of the world to get the minds of the children," the Aussie said in a 2017 interview.

In response, Martina Navratilova called out her fellow tennis legend for 'demonizing' the LGBTQ community and called her a 'racist' and a homophobe.

"It is now clear exactly who Court is: an amazing tennis player, and a racist and a homophobe. Her vitriol is not just an opinion. She is actively trying to keep LGBT people from getting equal rights. She is demonizing trans kids and trans adults everywhere."

Court and Navratilova have competed against each other and the latter leads their head-to-head 5-2.