An Australian politician is calling for Serena
Williams to be stripped of the grand slam
title she recently won while
pregnant because, according to him, the
fetus is a person and as such counts as a
double partner.
Claiming “foetal personhood”, Rev. Fred Nile
MP, said Serena playing tennis with another
living being in her body meant she was
unfairly advantaged.
“She was playing doubles in a singles
tournament!” Nile screamed at the ‘Day of
the Unborn Child’ protest.
“I believe that ‘life at conception’ should be
the law, and that clearly means two people
won the Grand Slam. That’s clearly against
the rules!”
A lot of people did not agree with Nile’s
view that pregnancy is a sporting advantage
and argued that his statement shows his
ignorance to the realities facing those who
are pregnant.
“Serena Williams was in control of her own
body during the Grand Slam tournament,
and as such has the right to her title, and
the right, always, to bodily autonomy”, said
Immy Grantson, an outspoken activist
campaigning for progress on women’s
issues.
“Williams, like all people, has the right to
choose what she does with her body:
whether that be powerful backhands, and/or
be pregnant”, said Grantson.
This comes at a crucial time in New South
Wales legislation. Greens MP Mehreen
Faruqi’s End12 Campaign hopes to make it
legal for world class athletes to choose
whether or not they are pregnant.
Advertisements