Tennis great Margaret Court insisted Tuesday she would not give back a high-profile Australian honour after a backlash over her views on the LGBTQ community, claiming she "loves" gay and transgender people.

The 78-year-old, the all-time record holder for Grand Slam titles who is now a church pastor, was elevated to a Companion of the Order of Australia on the country's national day Tuesday.

But news of the award -- Australia's highest honour -- saw Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews slam her "disgraceful" and "hurtful" opinions.

And respected broadcaster Kerry O'Brien rejected his Australia Day gong in protest at the "insensitive" decision to honour Court, while LGBTQ advocate Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo said she would hand back the medal she received in 2016.

Court has attracted controversy over her stance on sexuality and support of gay conversion therapy, drawing condemnation for saying "tennis is full of lesbians" and describing transgender children as "the work of the devil".

She enraged fellow tennis greats including Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova when she announced a boycott of national airline Qantas for its CEO's support of same-sex marriage, which Australia introduced in 2017.

"No," Court said, when asked on Melbourne radio station 3AW if she would return the award.

"Because I loved representing my nation. When I got my AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) it was for my community outreach area, where we put out 75 tonnes of food a week.

"This was for my tennis and I think it was a long time coming and I'm very honoured... We did nothing but play for our nation."

Court, one of only five players to win all four Majors in the same year, refused to be drawn on Andrews' stance, while claiming her previous comments had been misrepresented by the media.

"I don't hate anybody, I love people and I love gay people and transgender people. We get them into our community services, we never turn anybody away," she said.

"I can be bullied, I've been bullied a lot in the last few years and I don't mind, that's all right.

"But if I say anything, then I'm a bigot and I'm everything else and I don't like that and I think the press has caused a lot of that."

Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles has stood since 1973. Serena Williams, one behind on 23, will make her latest attempt to equal Court at next month's Australian Open.

Court said she would not be heading to Melbourne Park this year, where one of the show courts is named after her.

"No, I wasn't invited," she said. "With coronavirus, we've been so busy with our community work. I haven't even thought about it."

Tennis great Margaret Court insisted Tuesday she would not give back a high-profile Australian honour after a backlash over her views on the LGBTQ community, claiming she "loves" gay and transgender people.

Tennis great Margaret Court insisted Tuesday she would not give back a high-profile Australian honour after a backlash over her views on the LGBTQ community, claiming she "loves" gay and transgender people. The 78-year-old, the all-time record holder for Grand Slam titles who is now a church pastor, was elevated to a Companion of the Order of Australia on the country's national day Tuesday. But news of the award -- Australia's highest honour -- saw Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews slam her "disgraceful" and "hurtful" opinions. And respected broadcaster Kerry O'Brien rejected his Australia Day gong in protest at the "insensitive" decision to honour Court, while LGBTQ advocate Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo said she would hand back the medal she received in 2016. Court has attracted controversy over her stance on sexuality and support of gay conversion therapy, drawing condemnation for saying "tennis is full of lesbians" and describing transgender children as "the work of the devil". She enraged fellow tennis greats including Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova when she announced a boycott of national airline Qantas for its CEO's support of same-sex marriage, which Australia introduced in 2017. "No," Court said, when asked on Melbourne radio station 3AW if she would return the award. "Because I loved representing my nation. When I got my AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) it was for my community outreach area, where we put out 75 tonnes of food a week. "This was for my tennis and I think it was a long time coming and I'm very honoured... We did nothing but play for our nation." Court, one of only five players to win all four Majors in the same year, refused to be drawn on Andrews' stance, while claiming her previous comments had been misrepresented by the media. "I don't hate anybody, I love people and I love gay people and transgender people. We get them into our community services, we never turn anybody away," she said. "I can be bullied, I've been bullied a lot in the last few years and I don't mind, that's all right. "But if I say anything, then I'm a bigot and I'm everything else and I don't like that and I think the press has caused a lot of that." Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles has stood since 1973. Serena Williams, one behind on 23, will make her latest attempt to equal Court at next month's Australian Open. Court said she would not be heading to Melbourne Park this year, where one of the show courts is named after her. "No, I wasn't invited," she said. "With coronavirus, we've been so busy with our community work. I haven't even thought about it."

Tennis great Court vows to keep Aussie award despite backlash

Controversy has erupted after it was reported that tennis great Margaret Court is set to be awarded Australia's highest&nbsp;honour&nbsp;next week. Fans criticised&nbsp;the&nbsp;move&nbsp;because of Court's history of anti-gay views.&nbsp;

Court, who won 24 singles Grand Slam titles in her career and 40 doubles Grand Slams, is to be awarded a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia&nbsp;(AC) - the highest category of&nbsp;honour&nbsp;– after previously receiving the laurel in 2007, the media reported.&nbsp; The tennis great ultimately retrained as a Pentecostal pastor.&nbsp;

While Court's award has not been officially confirmed, Victoria state leader Daniel Andrews hinted about it on social media, without naming her as he said he didn't&nbsp;“want to give this person’s disgraceful, bigoted views any oxygen”.&nbsp;

“But when others insist on rewarding them with this country’s highest honor – I think it’s worth saying again: Grand Slam wins don’t give you some right to spew hatred and create division,” Andrews said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ioc-reacts-to-reports-of-tokyo-olympics-getting-cancelled-says-it-is-categorically-untrue-358581" hreflang="en">IOC reacts to reports of Tokyo Olympics getting cancelled, says it is 'categorically untrue'</a>

However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had&nbsp;no “official knowledge” of Court’s award.&nbsp;

“It is a system that&nbsp;recognises&nbsp;the full spectrum of individuals across this country,” Morrison said of the awards.&nbsp;

Court, in 2019, had&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;transgender athletes and called the teaching of LGBT material in schools the work of devil. The tennis great made the comments at the Perth church which she set up decades back and where she is a pastor now.&nbsp;

The 78-year-old was slammed by other tennis greats such as Martina Navratilova&nbsp;and John McEnroe as they said Court's name should be removed from the Melbourne Park&nbsp;showcourt&nbsp;and replaced with that of former world number one, Evonne Goolagong.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-korean-olympic-champion-seeks-heavier-sentence-for-sex-assault-coach-358498" hreflang="en">South Korean Olympic champion seeks heavier sentence for sex-assault coach</a>

“You name buildings after not what people just did on the court, but also off the court, the whole body of work,” Navratilova, an 18-times Grand Slam champion who is openly gay, said on the Tennis Channel at the time.&nbsp;

However, the duo had to apologise for&nbsp;a breach of “protocol” at the Australian Open after being taken to task by tournament organizers for an on-court protest against Court.

Court has maintained that she had been treated unfairly due to her views on&nbsp;“gay marriage and all of those areas”&nbsp;while&nbsp;emphasising&nbsp;that people should focus on her on-court achievements.&nbsp;

Controversy has erupted after it was reported that tennis great Margaret Court is set to be awarded Australia's highest honour next week. Fans criticised the move because of Court's history of anti-gay views.

Controversy has erupted after it was reported that tennis great Margaret Court is set to be awarded Australia's highest honour next week. Fans criticised the move because of Court's history of anti-gay views. Court, who won 24 singles Grand Slam titles in her career and 40 doubles Grand Slams, is to be awarded a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) - the highest category of honour – after previously receiving the laurel in 2007, the media reported. The tennis great ultimately retrained as a Pentecostal pastor. While Court's award has not been officially confirmed, Victoria state leader Daniel Andrews hinted about it on social media, without naming her as he said he didn't “want to give this person’s disgraceful, bigoted views any oxygen”. “But when others insist on rewarding them with this country’s highest honor – I think it’s worth saying again: Grand Slam wins don’t give you some right to spew hatred and create division,” Andrews said. ALSO READ: IOC reacts to reports of Tokyo Olympics getting cancelled, says it is 'categorically untrue' However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had no “official knowledge” of Court’s award. “It is a system that recognises the full spectrum of individuals across this country,” Morrison said of the awards. Court, in 2019, had criticised transgender athletes and called the teaching of LGBT material in schools the work of devil. The tennis great made the comments at the Perth church which she set up decades back and where she is a pastor now. The 78-year-old was slammed by other tennis greats such as Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe as they said Court's name should be removed from the Melbourne Park showcourt and replaced with that of former world number one, Evonne Goolagong. ALSO READ: South Korean Olympic champion seeks heavier sentence for sex-assault coach “You name buildings after not what people just did on the court, but also off the court, the whole body of work,” Navratilova, an 18-times Grand Slam champion who is openly gay, said on the Tennis Channel at the time. However, the duo had to apologise for a breach of “protocol” at the Australian Open after being taken to task by tournament organizers for an on-court protest against Court. Court has maintained that she had been treated unfairly due to her views on “gay marriage and all of those areas” while emphasising that people should focus on her on-court achievements.

Expected Australia Day 2021 honour for Margaret Court stirs controversy

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Tennis great Court vows to keep Aussie award despite backlash

Expected Australia Day 2021 honour for Margaret Court stirs controversy