Margaret Court was a legendary tennis player, is an unrepentant homophobe and also has no idea how viruses spread, given the reasons she has for not closing her Victory Life Center church in Australia due to the coronavirus.
“We are in agreement that this COVID-19 will not come near our dwelling or our church family,” says an announcement on the church’s website where Court is the pastor. “We are praying daily for for you, knowing that we are all protected by the Blood of Jesus.
“For your convenience, hand sanitizer readily available at all our sites.”
For the record, neither the blood of Jesus nor anyone else will prevent someone from contracting COVID-19, though having hand sanitizer on hand is a smart move. But having any gathering where large numbers of people congregate in a small space is a bad idea and goes against the recommendations for people to practice social distancing.
We have long documented Court’s homophobia and transphobia as well as the objections many players, past and present, both LGBTQ and allies, have over her name adorning the main facility where the Australian Open is held each year.
I am not wishing the coronavirus on Court or anyone else, but her promise to her church that they are somehow immune is reckless and irresponsible.
