Google Maps is ahead of the curve. The growing calls for the Margaret Court Arena to be renamed in response to the tennis star鈥檚 offensive homophobic comments has resulted in the Melbourne arena the Evonne Goolagong Arena.
Google says the renaming was an error it was 鈥渨orking to fix鈥, but it might find it has to change it back once more if the , that has gathered almost 9000 signatures behind its call to rename the arena, is successful.
The petition calls for renaming the Margaret Court Arena after Aboriginal tennis start Evonne Goolagon. It comes in response to Court鈥檚 widely criticised homophobic comments, including the fundamentalist Christian鈥檚 stated intention to boycott Qantas over its CEO鈥檚 support for marriage equality and claims she is the victim of a 鈥済ay lobby鈥 conspiracy funded from the US.
The petition, directed at Tennis Australia and the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, explains: 鈥淲e think it is unsuitable for your arena to continue to be named in honour of someone who has been consistently outspoken about her opposition to equality, diversity and inclusion.
鈥淓vonne Goolagong, who was Australian of the year in 1971, is also a great Australian tennis champion. She has a reputation for generosity and inclusiveness. She is a far more suitable candidate for the official name of your stadium.鈥
A host of tennis stars, past and present, have lined up to condemn Court鈥檚 stance. Fellow tennis star Martina Navratilova has written slamming Court鈥檚 comments and backing calls to rename the arena.
鈥淚 think the Evonne Goolagong Arena has a great ring to it," Navratilova wrote. 鈥淣ow there is a person we can all celebrate. On every level.鈥