“We are not asking for your approval,” Martina Navratilova rejects gay rights activist Peter Tatchell’s validation of trans and ciswomen in gay bars

Martina Navratilova fires a shot at an X user on his opinion on inclusion of trans women.

“We are not asking for your approval,” Martina Navratilova rejects gay rights activist Peter Tatchell’s validation of trans and ciswomen in gay bars

Martina Navratilova (via Imago)

Martina Navratilova, a retired tennis champion and an LGBTQ rights activist, often expresses her opinions on X. Over recent months, the 67-year-old has been accused of betraying the LGBTQ+ community for her stand against trans-women inclusion. 

On another field day, the former tennis player fired shots at an X user, who commented on the opening of a new lesbian bar in London. A bar named L community is set to open only for the cis women. It is set up by Jenny Watson, a campaigner against the inclusion of trans women in lesbian speed dating. 

YouTube video

Watson said via The Telegraph:

FS Video
It will be for biological females only and this is why we’re making it a members-only club so we can legally restrict it to women.
Jenny Watson said

Commenting on this was an X user, who expressed his views on the opening of the L community. The X user wrote: 

Lesbians are attracted to women of same sex. They shouldn't be expected/pressured to have sex with trans women, or anyone else unless they want to.
The user wrote on X

Furthermore, he shared his opinion of allowing straight women in gay bars. 

This opinion was met with Navratilova’s comments, who did not hesitate to shut the user down. Navratilova savagely posted on X:

We are not asking for your approval, Peter. Thank you.
Navratilova responded on X

She has always been in support of the exclusion of trans women, whether it is in the field of sports, or generally. Despite the hate she receives, the 67-year-old continues expressing her opinion and taking her stand on this matter. 

Martina Navratilova against trans women competing at all in women’s sports

Over the last few months, there have been many instances where trans women have set multiple records in women’s sports, triggering responses from many public figures, including Martina Navratilova. 

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova (via Imago)

Recently, she gave insights on the inclusion of trans women in women’s tournaments. In a podcast episode with Kara Swisher, the former tennis player shared her opinion on this matter. She said that it is unfair for trans women to compete in women’s sports as they have an added advantage due to their bodies. 

However, Navratilova also reckoned that trans women should be able to compete in the men’s tournament but should not compete at all in the women’s. Navratilova said in the podcast:

No, there are too many winning across the level, across sports, and they should not be competing at all.
Martina Navratilova said

This debate will continue for a long time, but no official rule has been decided to exclude trans women from women’s sports. 

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