Furore over homophobic comments made by WA Victory Life pastor and former Tennis Champion Margaret Court is refusing to die down with the CEO of headspace, Chris Tanti, joining the fray to deplore the impact of the public airing of her views.
Court has been particularly critical of the push for gay marriage, saying;
‘Politically correct education has masterfully escorted homosexuality out from behind closed doors, into the community openly and now is aggressively demanding marriage rights that are not theirs to take’.
She has also commented that she feels she has no issues with homosexuals;
‘I love them (the gays), I even work with them. I love my nation and I don’t like seeing it in moral decline. I pray for it, I love it and I want to protect the young of the future. My heart is for the next generation . . . Gays and lesbians could lead their life without touching marriage as ordained by God’.
In a blog post on the headspace website Chris Tanti ripped back at Court’s comments saying;
‘…if she was so concerned about protecting the young of the future that she take a deep breath and understand the impact her words have on those very same people she is trying to “protect”. The continued scorn and humiliation being heaped on young people is having a devastating effect on their lives. As is being told by our churches, politicians and sections of the community that while it’s okay to be gay, you’re actually not quite as equal as everybody else. Or having Court say that Martina Navratilova is not a good role model for girls because she is a lesbian.’
‘We need to hear the voices of people who understand that while it’s reasonable for someone to have a personal view on an issue, it’s not acceptable if that view perpetuates bigotry, inequality, fear and violence. This is about human rights.’
‘She is only a great tennis player, which doesn’t excuse her from using and abusing that position in a sports mad culture like our own to do more harm to a young population that is arguably the most at risk in our community.’
OIP Staff
