Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has vehemently responded to Republican Congressman Tim Walberg’s endorsement of Uganda’s severe anti-homosexuality law, which includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. Navratilova, a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, expressed her disdain on social media, challenging Walberg’s controversial statements made during a speech in Uganda.
Walberg’s remarks, delivered at the National Prayer Breakfast in Uganda, urged the country to stand firm against global criticism of its anti-LGBTQ+ law. This law has triggered widespread international condemnation, including actions from the World Bank and the European Union, which have ceased lending and openly denounced the legislation, respectively.
Navratilova, who publicly came out as bisexual in 1981 and later identified as a lesbian, has been a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights in sports. Her reaction reflects the broader disapproval of Walberg’s stance within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, as many continue to advocate for global human rights and equality.