Pro-LGBT organizations and individuals have responded to professional tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky's comment that he would not want his daughter to follow in his footsteps because the women's tour reportedly contains a high proportion of lesbian players.
According to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old Ukrainian is quoted by sports website XSport.ua as saying, "On the WTA [Women's Tennis Association] tour, almost every other player is a lesbian. Can you imagine? Half of them. So I, for sure, won't send my daughter to play tennis."
He also said the "backbone" of the top 100 in the men's Association of Tennis Professional ( ATP ) tour features no gay players.
WTA Chairman/Chief Executive Stacey Allaster responded by saying,"It's sad to think in this day and age there are people who are narrow minded and speak derisively about women based on sexual orientation."
Iconic player Martina Navratilova, an out lesbian, confronted Stakhovsky on Twitter. They agreed to meet later to discuss the issue.
In a statement, Athlete Ally ambassador and former pro player James Blake said, "As a former ATP player and father of two amazing daughters, I would be thrilled if they followed in the footsteps of inspirational greats like Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
"Stakhovsky's comments are out of line, out of touch, and stand in opposition to the values that tennis taught me. And Stakhovsky is kidding himself if he believes there are no gay tennis players in the top 100. I hope that if any players inside or outside the top 100 decide to come out, they will be welcomed and supported."
In addition, Athlete Ally Founder/Executive Director Hudson Taylor said, "Sport brings people together. It affirms and unites people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Sergiy Stakhovsky's offensive anti-gay comments are in direct opposition to the tennis community's values of respect and inclusion. LGBT tennis players have, and always will be, a part of the sport. I hope for his daughter's sake, that Stakhovsky takes this opportunity to learn about and appreciate LGBT athletes in tennis and beyond."
The Daily Mail article is at www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-3157739/Sergiy-Stakhovsky-challenged-Martina-Navratilova-anti-gay-rant.html .
