Tennis Icon Martina Navratilova Says She Was ‘Jettisoned’ By LGBTQ Community Over Opposition To Trans Athletes Competing In Women’s Sports

Former Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova says she feels “jettisoned” by the LGBTQ community due to her stance on transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Wimbledon championships, the 67-year-old tennis icon expressed her belief that she’s “on the right side of history” despite facing criticism from LGBTQ groups.

“I’ve been speaking my mind for a long time. I’m not going to change that,” Navratilova said. The openly lesbian athlete has been a vocal opponent of trans inclusion in women’s sports, arguing that it comes at the expense of cisgender female athletes.

Navratilova argues that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports effectively excludes cisgender women. “Women are asked to be kind and be inclusive, yet by including transgender-identified males in women’s sports, you’re excluding women,” she stated.

The tennis star’s comments have drawn criticism from various quarters within the LGBTQ community. Navratilova has previously clashed with supporters of trans rights, including actor Daniel Radcliffe, whom she advised to “be quiet” after he voiced support for the trans community.

Despite the backlash, Navratilova remains firm in her stance. “Yes, it’s been pretty rough. But I know I’m on the right side of history. I’m right on most people’s opinion about women’s sex-based spaces, and especially sports. They need to stay female,” she asserted.

The press conference, which also featured former rival Chris Evert, was held to promote a new documentary the pair are working on together. Navratilova and Evert shared that their friendship deepened after both were diagnosed with cancer around the same time.

“Cancer brought us much closer together, which is kind of ironic that something like that would be kind of a blessing in a way,” Navratilova reflected.

The tennis legend’s comments come amid ongoing debates about transgender participation in sports, with various sporting bodies grappling with how to balance inclusivity and competitive fairness.