Marta McBri on Gay Communy: 'I Believe Acceptance'

Contents:

• MARTA NAVRATILOVA: LIVG AS AN OPENLY GAY SUPERSTAR SET ME EE
• MARTA NAVRATILOVA MENTS ON THE ILLIVE GAY MALE TENNIS PLAYER
• THE SANE GAY BACKLASH AGAST MARTA NAVRATILOVA
• MARTA {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}CZECH TENNIS STAR MARTA NAVRATILOVA WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP TENNIS PLAYERS THE 1970S AND {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAR 30, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: JASON KOERNER/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1956-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS MARTA NAVRATILOVA?MARTA NAVRATILOVA BEGAN PLAYG TENNIS AT A YOUNG AGE AND WAS ONE OF THE TOP FEMALE TENNIS PLAYERS THE WORLD THE LATE 1970S AND EARLY 1980S. LATER LIFE, SHE THORED A SERI OF FICTN BOOKS AND WAS ACTIVE THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT.EARLY YEARSNAVRATILOVA WAS BORN AS MARTA SUBERTOVA ON OCTOBER 18, 1956, PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA (NOW KNOWN AS THE CZECH REPUBLIC). HER PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN SHE WAS THREE, AND NAVRATILOVA AND HER MOTHER, JANA, RELOTED OM A SKI LODGE THE KRKONOSE MOUNTAS FOR A NEW LIFE JT OUTSI OF PRAGUE. AS A RULT, NAVRATILOVA NEVER GREW CLOSE TO HER FATHER, MIROSLAV SUBERT, A PLITED MAN WHO SUFFERED OM PRSN AND LATER KILLED HIMSELF AFTER THE MISE OF HIS SEND MARRIAGE.IN 1962, NAVRATILOVA'S MOTHER REMARRIED, TO A MAN NAMED MIREK NAVRáTIL. NAVRATILOVA EVENTUALLY TOOK HER STEPFATHER'S LAST NAME, TWEAKG SLIGHTLY BY ADDG A FEME "OVA" AT THE END. NAVRATILOVA AND HER NEW FATHER GREW CLOSE, WH MIREK BEG HER FIRST TENNIS ACH.THE GAME WAS CERTALY NAVRATILOVA'S BLOOD. HER GRANDMOTHER HAD BEEN AN TERNATNAL PLAYER WHO HAD UPSET THE MOTHER OF VERA SOVA, A 1962 WIMBLEDON FALIST, A NATNAL TOURNAMENT. NAVRATILOVA'S OWN TENNIS STCTS WERE UPLED WH A PASSN FOR IMPROVEMENT. AT THE AGE OF FOUR, SHE WAS HTG TENNIS BALLS OFF OF A CEMENT WALL. BY AGE SEVEN, SHE WAS PLAYG REGULARLY, WORKG WH MIREK AND SPENDG HOURS ON THE URT EACH DAY, WORKG ON HER STROK AND FOOTWORK. AT AGE NE, NAVRATILOVA BEGAN TAKG LSONS OM CZECH CHAMPN GEE PARMA, WHO FURTHER REFED THE YOUNG PLAYER'S GAME. AT AGE 15, SHE WON THE CZECH NATNAL CHAMPNSHIP. IN 1973, AT 16, SHE TURNED PRO AND BEGAN PETG THE UNED STAT.PRO SUCCSNAVRATILOVA KNEW THAT STAYG HER HOME UNTRY MIGHT LIM HER CHANC ON THE PROFSNAL CIRCU. WH CZECHOSLOVAKIA SQUARELY UNR SOVIET NTROL, 18-YEAR-OLD NAVRATILOVA FECTED TO THE UNED STAT AT THE 1975 U.S. OPEN. THE CISN MEANT SHE'D BE CUT OFF OM HER FAY FOR YEARS, BUT ALSO SET HER REER UP FOR AN UNPRECENTED LEVEL OF SUCCS. IN 1978, SHE WON HER FIRST GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT WH A VICTORY OVER AMERIN CHRIS EVERT AT WIMBLEDON. NAVRATILOVA FEND HER WIMBLEDON TLE THE FOLLOWG YEAR, ONCE AGA BEATG EVERT THE FALS, AND THEN WON A THIRD GRAND SLAM VICTORY AT THE 1981 ATRALIAN OPEN. BY THE EARLY 1980S, NAVRATILOVA WAS THE MOST DOMANT PLAYER WOMEN'S TENNIS. IN 1982, NAVRATILOVA PTURED BOTH THE WIMBLEDON AND THE FRENCH OPEN CROWNS, AND WOULD GO ON TO LOSE ONLY SIX MATCH OM 1982 TO 1984. IN ALL, SHE WON 18 GRAND SLAM SGL TL, 31 GRAND SLAM WOMEN'S DOUBL CHAMPNSHIPS AND 10 GRAND SLAM MIXED DOUBL. HER GREATT SUCCS ME AT WIMBLEDON, WHERE SHE ADVANCED TO 12 SGL FALS, WNG NE TL. NAVRATILOVA RETIRED OM SGL PLAY 1994, BUT NTUED TO PLAY DOUBL MATCH. IN 2003, SHE WON THE MIXED DOUBL CHAMPNSHIP AT WIMBLEDON. THREE YEARS LATER, SHE REPEATED THE ACPLISHMENT WH A W AT THE U.S. OPEN. COUPLED WH NAVRATILOVA'S ON-URT SUCCS ME HER OPENNS ABOUT HER SEXUAL ORIENTATN. "I NEVER THOUGHT THERE WAS ANYTHG STRANGE ABOUT BEG GAY," SHE WROTE HER 1985 TOBGRAPHY, MARTA. SHE PROPOSED TO HER GIRLIEND JULIA LEMIA ON THE BIG SCREEN AT ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM DURG THE 2014 U.S. OPEN. THE UPLE WED ON DECEMBER 15, 2014, NEW YORK CY.RECENT YEARSIN APRIL 2010, NAVRATILOVA REVEALED THAT SHE HAD BREAST NCER. AFTER SIX MONTHS OF TREATMENT, SHE BEME NCER-EE. IN RETIREMENT, NAVRATILOVA HASN'T PLETELY STAYED OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. IN MARCH 2012, SHE MA HER BUT ON DANCG WH THE STARS. SHE'S ALSO NTUED TO REMA ACTIVE. NAVRATILOVA STILL REGULARLY PLAYS TENNIS AND PET TRIATHLONS. ADDNALLY, SHE HAS SERVED AS A FNS AMBASSADOR FOR THE AMERIN ASSOCIATN OF RETIRED PERSONS. IN 2008, NAVRATILOVA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO OPEN AN AMY FOR YOUNG TENNIS PLAYERS HER HOME UNTRY, THE CZECH {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• MARTA MCBRI SUPPORTS THE GAY COMMUNY: ‘I BELIEVE ACCEPTANCE’

MARTA NAVRATILOVA: LIVG AS AN OPENLY GAY SUPERSTAR SET ME EE

Advotg for the ‘gay muny’ the 1990s. The semal moment Marta’s life as a gay woman and advote me 1993: the March on Washgton for Lbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberatn. Yet even wh her succs, and her Cold War hero stat as a fector, some Amerins still booed her as the AIDS crisis built to a enzy of homophobia the Uned Stat.

Marchg the streets wh an overwhelmg number of gay people like her, Marta felt fortable that April day like never before. Marta Navratilova returned to Washgton, DC, for a send gay rights march, April 2000.

MARTA NAVRATILOVA MENTS ON THE ILLIVE GAY MALE TENNIS PLAYER

Sce g out 1981, she has nsistently ed her voice and her visibily to shift how people view gays and lbians, never shy to speak up and have her voice heard. At a time when gay men and lbians were most heavily unr attack — the 1980s wh the AIDS crisis and the 1990s wh marriage bans and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell — Marta raised her hand and entered the fight, even before many of today’s LGBTQ athlet were born.

But a young wars has no ia she had served a tuna-salad platter wh a si of asparag to someone who, four s ago, was workg to bee the mol for the morn, socially aware Navratilova’s heyday, the 1980s, the world did not have much appete for an outspoken, openly gay woman whose romantic partners sat urtsi while she domated her sport as no one else had – wng 18 Grand Slam sgl tl and 59 all, the last g 2006, when she was 49. Defectg om Czechoslovakia at 18 saved her soul, she says, and livg as an openly gay superstar athlete set her ee. Beg an openly gay superstar?

THE SANE GAY BACKLASH AGAST MARTA NAVRATILOVA

She qutned why gay people wh Aids did not receive siar sympathy, addg that if a woman ught the disease om beg wh hundreds of men, "they'd ll her a whore and a slut, and the rporatns would drop her like a lead balloon".

She said Print Bill Clton had wimped out wh his "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays the ary. She add, “Marta is gay. Marta Navratilova ments on the illive gay male tennis player.

MARTA {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}CZECH TENNIS STAR MARTA NAVRATILOVA WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP TENNIS PLAYERS THE 1970S AND {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAR 30, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: JASON KOERNER/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1956-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS MARTA NAVRATILOVA?MARTA NAVRATILOVA BEGAN PLAYG TENNIS AT A YOUNG AGE AND WAS ONE OF THE TOP FEMALE TENNIS PLAYERS THE WORLD THE LATE 1970S AND EARLY 1980S. LATER LIFE, SHE THORED A SERI OF FICTN BOOKS AND WAS ACTIVE THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT.EARLY YEARSNAVRATILOVA WAS BORN AS MARTA SUBERTOVA ON OCTOBER 18, 1956, PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA (NOW KNOWN AS THE CZECH REPUBLIC). HER PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN SHE WAS THREE, AND NAVRATILOVA AND HER MOTHER, JANA, RELOTED OM A SKI LODGE THE KRKONOSE MOUNTAS FOR A NEW LIFE JT OUTSI OF PRAGUE. AS A RULT, NAVRATILOVA NEVER GREW CLOSE TO HER FATHER, MIROSLAV SUBERT, A PLITED MAN WHO SUFFERED OM PRSN AND LATER KILLED HIMSELF AFTER THE MISE OF HIS SEND MARRIAGE.IN 1962, NAVRATILOVA'S MOTHER REMARRIED, TO A MAN NAMED MIREK NAVRáTIL. NAVRATILOVA EVENTUALLY TOOK HER STEPFATHER'S LAST NAME, TWEAKG SLIGHTLY BY ADDG A FEME "OVA" AT THE END. NAVRATILOVA AND HER NEW FATHER GREW CLOSE, WH MIREK BEG HER FIRST TENNIS ACH.THE GAME WAS CERTALY NAVRATILOVA'S BLOOD. HER GRANDMOTHER HAD BEEN AN TERNATNAL PLAYER WHO HAD UPSET THE MOTHER OF VERA SOVA, A 1962 WIMBLEDON FALIST, A NATNAL TOURNAMENT. NAVRATILOVA'S OWN TENNIS STCTS WERE UPLED WH A PASSN FOR IMPROVEMENT. AT THE AGE OF FOUR, SHE WAS HTG TENNIS BALLS OFF OF A CEMENT WALL. BY AGE SEVEN, SHE WAS PLAYG REGULARLY, WORKG WH MIREK AND SPENDG HOURS ON THE URT EACH DAY, WORKG ON HER STROK AND FOOTWORK. AT AGE NE, NAVRATILOVA BEGAN TAKG LSONS OM CZECH CHAMPN GEE PARMA, WHO FURTHER REFED THE YOUNG PLAYER'S GAME. AT AGE 15, SHE WON THE CZECH NATNAL CHAMPNSHIP. IN 1973, AT 16, SHE TURNED PRO AND BEGAN PETG THE UNED STAT.PRO SUCCSNAVRATILOVA KNEW THAT STAYG HER HOME UNTRY MIGHT LIM HER CHANC ON THE PROFSNAL CIRCU. WH CZECHOSLOVAKIA SQUARELY UNR SOVIET NTROL, 18-YEAR-OLD NAVRATILOVA FECTED TO THE UNED STAT AT THE 1975 U.S. OPEN. THE CISN MEANT SHE'D BE CUT OFF OM HER FAY FOR YEARS, BUT ALSO SET HER REER UP FOR AN UNPRECENTED LEVEL OF SUCCS. IN 1978, SHE WON HER FIRST GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT WH A VICTORY OVER AMERIN CHRIS EVERT AT WIMBLEDON. NAVRATILOVA FEND HER WIMBLEDON TLE THE FOLLOWG YEAR, ONCE AGA BEATG EVERT THE FALS, AND THEN WON A THIRD GRAND SLAM VICTORY AT THE 1981 ATRALIAN OPEN. BY THE EARLY 1980S, NAVRATILOVA WAS THE MOST DOMANT PLAYER WOMEN'S TENNIS. IN 1982, NAVRATILOVA PTURED BOTH THE WIMBLEDON AND THE FRENCH OPEN CROWNS, AND WOULD GO ON TO LOSE ONLY SIX MATCH OM 1982 TO 1984. IN ALL, SHE WON 18 GRAND SLAM SGL TL, 31 GRAND SLAM WOMEN'S DOUBL CHAMPNSHIPS AND 10 GRAND SLAM MIXED DOUBL. HER GREATT SUCCS ME AT WIMBLEDON, WHERE SHE ADVANCED TO 12 SGL FALS, WNG NE TL. NAVRATILOVA RETIRED OM SGL PLAY 1994, BUT NTUED TO PLAY DOUBL MATCH. IN 2003, SHE WON THE MIXED DOUBL CHAMPNSHIP AT WIMBLEDON. THREE YEARS LATER, SHE REPEATED THE ACPLISHMENT WH A W AT THE U.S. OPEN. COUPLED WH NAVRATILOVA'S ON-URT SUCCS ME HER OPENNS ABOUT HER SEXUAL ORIENTATN. "I NEVER THOUGHT THERE WAS ANYTHG STRANGE ABOUT BEG GAY," SHE WROTE HER 1985 TOBGRAPHY, MARTA. SHE PROPOSED TO HER GIRLIEND JULIA LEMIA ON THE BIG SCREEN AT ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM DURG THE 2014 U.S. OPEN. THE UPLE WED ON DECEMBER 15, 2014, NEW YORK CY.RECENT YEARSIN APRIL 2010, NAVRATILOVA REVEALED THAT SHE HAD BREAST NCER. AFTER SIX MONTHS OF TREATMENT, SHE BEME NCER-EE. IN RETIREMENT, NAVRATILOVA HASN'T PLETELY STAYED OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. IN MARCH 2012, SHE MA HER BUT ON DANCG WH THE STARS. SHE'S ALSO NTUED TO REMA ACTIVE. NAVRATILOVA STILL REGULARLY PLAYS TENNIS AND PET TRIATHLONS. ADDNALLY, SHE HAS SERVED AS A FNS AMBASSADOR FOR THE AMERIN ASSOCIATN OF RETIRED PERSONS. IN 2008, NAVRATILOVA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO OPEN AN AMY FOR YOUNG TENNIS PLAYERS HER HOME UNTRY, THE CZECH {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

It is a topic that has been bated equently over the years as both the media and tennis fans search for the first high profile player the men's game to e out as gay. Meanwhile, on the men's tour there currently isn't an openly gay player (that we know of).

Navratilova, an Lrs World Sports Amy Member and gay rights advote, said that she would like to see openly gay players tennis and spoke about her surprise that no male player has taken the brave step to e out.

Marta Navratilova isn’t jt one of the greatt tennis players ever; she also pneered the way for all gay athlet when she me out 1981.

MARTA MCBRI SUPPORTS THE GAY COMMUNY: ‘I BELIEVE ACCEPTANCE’

Yet she’s now beg monized by gay groups for publicly statg an obv tth: Transgenr women athlet have “unfair physil advantag.

Which led Athlete Ally, a nonprof out to “end rampant homophobia” sports, to slam her as “transphobic, ” ax her as s ambassador and expel her om s advisory board. So now this longtime gay in is beg ostracized for her heterodoxy by those she so vigoroly champned when was profsnally risky. Later life, she thored a seri of fictn books and was active the gay rights YearsNavratilova was born as Marta Subertova on October 18, 1956, Prague, Czechoslovakia (now known as the Czech Republic).