Google Maps renames arena named after anti-gay tennis legend Margaret Court
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 02: Margaret Court is announced to the crowed on day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The arena named after anti-gay tennis legend Margaret Court has been renamed on Google Maps.
Calls to rename the Margaret Court Arena after she reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage failed earlier this month.
Court, who has won more grand slam titles than any other player, sparked controversy last month when she said she was boycotting Qantas Airways because of its support for same-sex marriage.
Condemnation from lesbian grand slam champion Martina Navratilova, Australian number one Sam Stosur and world number one player Andy Murray has followed, but the legend has not backed down.
But despite calls to rename the arena having failed, someone appears to have taken action into their own hands.
Fairfax Media reported earlier today that on Google Maps, the arena had been renamed the Evonne Goolagong Arena.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley MBE was a top tennis star in Australia in the 1970s and 80s.
While some results still showed the existing name, the new name was displayed on several attempts.
Lesbian tennis star Casey Dellacqua earlier this week weighed in on the controversy, saying that her family life is “normal”.
The star came out as gay back in 2013, at the same time she announced she had become a mother with her partner Amanda.
“Since I’ve had my family, I’ve been asked to do lots of stories. But, to me, I don’t feel like it’s a story because it’s just my family and I’m just like your family,” the 32-year-old now says of the Court controversy.
“I don’t want to stand up and be a poster girl for any of that stuff. That’s the truth. I just feel like an everyday person doing the job that I love and I happen to have a couple of kids and that’s my family — but I’m also extremely proud of my family,” Dellacqua continued.
“I don’t understand why it’s a story. I don’t even understand why people get so fascinated by the ‘thing’.”
“I hope that if there are people out there and they are struggling with those issues, hopefully I can be a role model in that sense and they can see it’s OK to be happy and be loved and in a loving relationship,” Dellacqua adds.
“I don’t mean to normalise it but, to me, it’s just normal.”
Calls to have the Margaret Court Arena renamed following the controversy have resulted in Tennis Australia saying that it will not be.
But she has been defended by the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who says she should be celebrated for her achievements, not attacked for her anti-gay views.
Tennis superstar John McEnroe has since said he will get Elton John to host a mass same-sex wedding on Margaret Court Arena when Australia legalises it.
Since the controversy, Court has said she is being “persecuted” and “bullied” for her views.
