Former tennis star Margaret Court has doubled down on her views about the LGBTI community, accusing the Safe Schools program of promoting a "gay agenda" and declaring she feels "sad" for transgender people.
But the Australian sporting great has hit back at her critics – including retired champion Martina Navratilova – saying it would be unfair if Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena was renamed as a result of this week's controversy.
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Margaret Court: Tennis is full of lesbians
Saying modern society causes gender confusion while referencing Hitler and communism, Margaret Court talks on Christian radio.
"I think I've won more grand slams than any man or woman and if it is, I don't believe I deserve it," she told 3AW on Friday morning.
"I think there's been a lot of bullying from the other way. We should be able to have free speech."
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Ms Court's comments come days after announced she would boycott Qantas because of the airline's support for same sex marriage.
Soon after that, she came under fire again for suggesting tennis is full of lesbians, and that transgender people are influenced by the devil.
However, she sought to clarify her comments on Friday, saying her concerns about transgender children related to the Safe Schools program, which is currently being rolled out across the public education system by the Andrews government.
"A lot of that program ... is all gay-agenda based, and it's about the child at the age of five or six – they're told they can be an 'it' or a 'they'. Well God made it a 'he' or a 'she'.
"That's what I'm saying – children in this nation, in that Safe Schools program, would not know what they are," she said.
"We need a program but I don't believe we need that program."
Asked if she accepted transgender people, Ms Court replied: "That's their choice what they do with their life, but I think it's very sad for people in that area, that they feel that is right."
She also suggested that the gay lobby was getting money from the US to target her.
"They could probably get a hundred thousand petitions because that's how they work. They have a lot of money behind it, and it's coming from America," she said.
"Because of what I stand for, a lot of nations have gone to gay marriage.
"This nation, I don't believe needs to go that way.
"I think we need to stand our ground."
The latest comments are likely to inflame the controversy engulfing the 74-year-old, with pressure mounting for Margaret Court Arena to be renamed ahead of next year's Australian Open.
Asked if he believed a name change was necessary, Premier Daniel Andrews declined to answer, other than to say through a spokesperson: "Margaret Court's comments are offensive and wrong. Victoria prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming place – and nothing will change that."
But in an open letter to the arena on Thursday, Ms Navratilova – an openly gay, 18-time grand slam singles title holder – branded Ms Court a homophobe and called for the arena to be renamed the Evonne Goolagong Arena.
She also claimed the Aussie star had made "unabashed racist statements" in the 1970s about apartheid.
However, Ms Court denied this, declaring: "Martina needs to look at her own country, not our country".
Meanwhile, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan hit out at Ms Court's comments, but added that he was reluctant to weigh in to the debate about the arena's name.
"Her comments this week are very different and on another level. They're clearly homophobic as opposed to having a personal view on same sex marriage," he said.
"I think that's a real problem for tennis, but that's their problem, not mine."
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