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May 13, 2013
World’s best tennis pros: gay player would be ‘no problem’

Roger Federer and Andy Murray, rated two of the world’s best tennis players, say there would be no issue with a tennis pro coming out of the closet

Two of the world’s best tennis players Roger Federer and Andy Murray believe there would be no problem with an out gay tennis player.

According to OutSports.com, the second and third-ranked tennis players in the world were asked at the Italian Open their thoughts on openly gay tennis players in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

‘I think everyone has gotten better at dealing with it,’ Murray said. ‘More and more players have come out and I think there has to be some players that are probably gay.

May 2, 2013
NBA's Jason Collins says Martina Navratilova was his role model for coming out as gay

Tennis legend came out as a lesbian 33 years ago while at the peak of her career

Since no other male professional athlete in the US had come out during their playing careers, NBA player Jason Collins had to look back at a female superstar who did it 33 years ago.

That is Martina Navratilova who in 1981 came out publicly at the age of 23. She had two Wimbledon singles crown to her credit at the time and would go on to win 16 more grand slam singles titles as an openly gay athlete.

April 30, 2013
From Kobe Bryant to Andy Roddick, pro athletes going public as straight allies to gays

Coming out of NBA's Jason Collins has opened floodgate of support

Shortly after NBA player Jason Collins came out publicly as a gay man on Monday (29 April), one of basketball's biggest superstars, Kobe Bryant, took to Twitter to express his support.

'Proud of you,' Bryant wrote of Collins to his nearly 2.5 million followers.

He added: 'Don't suffocate who you are because of the ignorance of others.'

April 29, 2013
NBA player Jason Collins gets high-profile Twitter support after coming out as gay

Gets kudos from Bill Clinton, Martina Navratilova, Kobe Bryant and more

Moments after the news broke that NBA player Jason Collins had come out as gay - the first active male member of a major US pro team sport to do so - Twitter exploded with support.

The messages came far and wide from NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and retired tennis star Martina Navratilova to former President Bill Clinton actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

October 17, 2012
Elton John, Billie Jean King and friends raise $1 million for AIDS charities

Longtime friends preside over 20th annual Smash Hits event

Back in 1973, Elton John and Billie Jean King were at the peak of their powers as rock star and tennis legend, respectively.

And it was that year that they became close friends with Elton going on to write his hit song Philadelphia Freedom about King - the beat is based on the way she stomped around the tennis court.

On Tuesday (16 October), these old friends got together - as they do every year - to preside over their World Team Tennis Smash Hits fundraiser for AIDS charities which raised a record $1 million this year.

August 28, 2012
Novak Djokovic get marriage proposal from boy during US Open practice session

Defending champ laughs, invites boy to court to hit some balls, gives him a hug

Novak Djokovic would seem to have a lot of pressure on him as he begins defense of his US Open crown in New York this week.

But the Serbian superstar, currently ranked number two in the world behind Roger Federer, appeared relaxed and playful during a practice session where he received a marriage proposal from a boy.

'Djokovic! Will you marry me?' the boy shouted from the stands as the player was practicing his serves.

July 27, 2012
Martina Navartilova calls on Olympic athletes to come out

World’s most famous lesbian sportsperson says closeted gay competitors have nothing to lose from being open

Martina Navratilova, the world’s greatest ever female tennis star has told Gay Star News that closeted gay athletes should come out.

The lesbian multiple-Grand Slam champion says LGBT athletes who are not open are just ‘too paranoid’, in an interview released by GSN today (27 July) to mark the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

July 20, 2012
Northern Irish man’s foul gay, racist rant stuns

In a video posted by animal rights activists, a New York horse carriage driver's rant is being criticized by Martina Navratilova

A video of a Northern Irish horse carriage driver’s homophobic and racist rant in New York City has stunned viewers.

It shows a carriage horse driver taunting a small group of female animal rights activists, including senior and African-American volunteers, with racist and homophobic slurs.

The women say they were peacefully handing out flyers during New York’s Pride weekend on 23 June, protesting the New York horse carriage industry which employs are large majority of Irish people.

He says: ‘Are you still bribing the politicians you [expletive]?’

July 17, 2012
Anti-gay, racist tirade by NYC horse-drawn carriage driver captured on video

Martina Navratilova among those condemning the man's behavior during LGBT Pride weekend

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has sent a letter to New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn blasting the city's horse-drawn carriage industry over an incident that occurred during LGBT Pride Weekend last month.

Navratilova, who was recently at Wimbledon as a TV commentator and player in the senior doubles, wrote on behalf of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

July 5, 2012
Martina Navratilova tells GSN who will win Wimbledon

Lesbian tennis hero Navratilova also talks about coming out, homophobia in sport, Margaret Court and global LGBT rights

Lesbian tennis superstar Martina Navratilova has given Gay Star News her prediction of who will win Wimbledon.

We caught up with the greatest female tennis star in history ahead of her appearance at the Out and Equal global LGBT workplace summit in London this morning (5 July).

And before we heard her interview in the conference room about tackling homophobia on the sports field and in the boardroom, we asked the question tennis fans around the world need to know: Who will win Wimbledon this year.

July 5, 2012
Tennis fans complain after hearing 'gay points' at Wimbledon

Misheard words from a Wimbledon commentator have sparked online complaints from David Ferrer and Andy Murray fans

Wimbledon fans are complaining after mistakenly hearing a commentator saying 'gay points' today (5 July). 

Retired tennis professional and current television presenter Andrew Castle was covering the match between David Ferrer and Andy Murray, and is being accused of homophobic comments by viewers. 

After Murray returned a ball into the net, Castle said Ferrer had delivered 'three manly points', and there were now 'a couple of game points, with just a little bit of moisture in the air'. 

March 28, 2012
Martina Navratilova eliminated from Dancing With the Stars

Tennis legend remains upbeat after being first to be voted off

Martina Navratilova will have to be content with her nine Wimbledon singles trophies because she won’t be adding the Dancing With the Starsmirror ball trophy to her collection of prizes.

The tennis icon was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the ABC reality competition after a poor performance of the Jive with professional dance partner Tony Dovolani.

March 8, 2012
Billie Jean King still fighting on behalf of women

Tennis legend urges support of 'One Million Strong Against the Republican War on Women' petition

Billie Jean King is, once again, fighting on behalf of women.

The tennis legend is speaking out against Republicans in the US Congress who she says are waging 'an epic battle' against women’s health care choices.

March 8, 2012
Martina Navratilova dons a dress for DWTS

Tennis legend, who has long favored slacks or shorts, goes glam for show

After it was announced that tennis legend Martina Navratilova would be participating on ABC's Dancing With the Stars this season, outspoken radio personality Howard Stern wondered aloud if she would be wearing dresses while competing.

'What is Martina Navratilova going to wear on Dancing With The Stars? Not a dress!' Stern said on his Sirius show this week. 'I bet you she’s going to wear a pants suit.'

February 28, 2012
Martina Navratilova joins Dancing With the Stars

Champion will try and dominate on dance floor as she did on tennis court

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is among the contestants participating in the new season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars competition which begins on March 19.

Navratilova appeared on ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday (28 February) as part of a splashy announcement.

She will  be paired with dancing professional Tony Dovolani who has danced with such celebrities as Stacy Keibler and Melissa Rycroft.

February 3, 2012
Tennis Australia should join in queer festival next year

CEO of Melbourne's Midsumma queer festival extends invitation to Tennis Australia

The CEO of Midsumma festival celebrating queer culture in Melbourne, which culminates in a march on Sunday, has extended an open invitation to Tennis Australia to join in with the 25th anniversary of the festival next year.

January 27, 2012
Navratilova wonders if Margaret Court has 'feelings for women'

Champ challenges gay marriage foe on statements that sexuality is a choice

The Australian Open may be in its final weekend but the furor over former champion Margaret Court's statements against gay marriage continues to rage on.

January 25, 2012
Rainbow Flags Over Margaret Court Arena accuse Tennis Australia of censoring images

Martina Navratilova wearing a rainbow flag is missing from coverage

Photographs of tennis legend Martina Navratilova wearing a T-shirt with a rainbow trim were mysteriously missing from media coverage, say Rainbow Flags Over Margaret Court Arena. The group, first formed on Facebook, are championing a peaceful protest at the Australian Open against the anti-same-sex marriage statements of former tennis champion Margaret Court.

January 23, 2012
Margaret Court shows up at Australian Open amid backlash

She's concerned by 'amount of hatred' directed at her due to anti-gay views

Margaret Court vowed she wouldn't stay away.

The 11-time Australian Open singles champion arrived in Melbourne Monday (23 January) night despite backlash against her over her outspoken comments against gay marriage.

'I love [gay people], I even work with them,' Court tells the Herald Sun. 'But what concerns me so much is the amount of hatred that has been directed at me.'

January 19, 2012
Billie Jean King says no need to rename Margaret Court Arena

Says she still respects her former rival despite Court's anti-gay views

Margaret Court's outspoken views against gay marriage have led some to call for the renaming the arena named after her at Melbourne Park where the Australian Open is currently underway.

But Court's former rival, openly gay Billie Jean King, is not among them.

January 12, 2012
Ball back in Margaret's court as tennis legend shows support for activists

Tennis champion backs Australian Open protests over Margaret Court's anti-gay stance.

Tennis star Rennae Stubbs has backed gay activists who plan to protest at the Australian Open next week, following homophobic rants from legendary player Margaret Court.

The four-time grand slam doubles champion, who has been out for six years now, said people had the right to show their anger at Court, who sparked outrage from the gay community after claiming same-sex marriage legitimizes 'abominable sexual practices that include sodomy'.

January 12, 2012
More protesters join anti-Margaret Court camp

Gay activist Kerryn Phelps and Facebook campaign join protests against 70s tennis champion Margaret Court's anti-same-sex marriage statements

In growing protests against the anti-same-sex marriage statements of former tennis champion, now pastor, Margaret Court, Dr Kerryn Phelps tweeted today: 'Time to rename Margaret Court Arena'. Dr Phelps is a high-profile advocate of LGBT rights and former president of Australian Medical Association.

December 9, 2011
Tennis legends at odds over gay marriage

Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King slam Margaret Court for her efforts to block same-sex marriage in Australia

Tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King both faced Margaret Court on the opposite side of the net during their playing days and now find themselves opposing the Australian again - this time on the issue of gay marriage.

Court, winner of three Wimbledons and a record 24 grand slam singles titles overall, is senior pastor in Perth’s Victory Life Church and is speaking out against efforts in Australia to legalize same-sex marriage.