Tennis legend Martina Navratilova tells Democrats to ‘grow a spine’ after opposing trans ban law
Former women’s tennis star Martina Navratilova weighed in on Tuesday’s vote in the House of Representatives on the Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act. The Republican majority voted unanimously to approve the bill, but only two Democratic House members voted against it.
Navratilova has taken a strong stance against trans inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports, and has previously criticized Democratic lawmakers for supporting it. That criticism continued in a series of posts on X on Tuesday.
“Shame on the Democrats who don’t care about women, girls and their safety, about equity,” she said in response to the news that only two Democratic members of the House voted in favor of the bill.
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Americans Andrea Jaeger, left, and Martina Navratilova hold bouquets after their women’s singles final at Wimbledon in London. Navratilova won in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. (Bateman via Getty Images)
In another post, Navratilova insisted that there must be more than two Democratic House members who oppose trans inclusion and that those members “grow a spine.”
“More Dems need to stand up here. I know many who agree but are afraid to speak up because of re-election. I say do the right thing. Grow a spine,” she wrote.
This isn’t the first time Navratilova has ripped the left over their differing views on the issue.
In a December post on X The legend of tennis She said she was frustrated that Republicans were more vocal about the controversy at the national level than Democrats.
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Tennis Channel’s Martina Navratilova plays pickleball during a promotional match against PPA player Jay de Villiers of France on Day 13 of the Roland Garros French Open in Paris. (Fred Mullane/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“And I’m so angry that Republicans are taking this issue – shame on all the elected Democrats who are silent on this!” she wrote.
The tennis legend appeared at the Independent Women’s Forum’s “Take Back Title IX” rally in June as she and other prominent female athletes pushed back against the Biden administration. Rewrite Title IX.
There, she shared her experience of being attacked by other liberals for her stance on trans inclusion.
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Martina Navratilova, Czech-American former professional tennis player, with Chris Evert of the USA during a joint press conference at the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun 2023 part of the Hologic WTA Tour November 2, 2023, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (Arthur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Now, ‘Oh, you’re gay.’ Think I’ve been out since ’81, yes, I’m gay. “‘You’re cruel, you’re disgusting, you’re a Nazi, you’re a fascist, you’re a communist, everything and everything in between. And this is coming from the left. It’s me! My people are turning to me, speaking for gender-based rights for women.
Earlier, Navratilova called Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo, who competed as a trans woman in the Paralympics, a “sad cheat”. She entered a plea in March. “Keep women’s sports as women.”
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and Ryan Morick contributed to this report.
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