“MAGA seems to be pro pedophiles and criminals” – Martina Navratilova condemns Idaho’s controversial parental consent law for 'protecting rapists'

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has taken a strong stance against the Republican Party for endorsing Idaho’s Senate Bill 1329, a law that mandates parental consent for minors seeking rape kit exams. This legislation has sparked widespread concern for potentially shielding sexual predators within the family unit.

The issue at hand is not just a matter of policy but one of fundamental human rights and child safety. The recently enacted legislation, effective since the previous month, mandates that minors cannot undergo medical procedures, such as examinations following sexual assault, without the approval of their parents, unless it is to address a life-threatening situation for the child.

With statistics from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network indicating that a staggering 93% of child sexual abuse perpetrators are known to their victims, and 34% are family members, the law raises serious concerns about the ability of victims to seek help and justice.

Navratilova’s condemnation of the law was voiced on X (formerly Twitter), where she expressed her outrage, stating:

"And this is unconscionable. Protecting the rapists instead of protecting the victims. This is #MAGA for you. Maga seems to be pro pedophiles and criminals- at least that’s the case in Idaho."

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Martina Navratilova opens up about her journey in political activism through social media

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty Images)

Martina Navratilova shared her reasons for being active on social media to address political issues. As a tennis icon and one of the pioneering openly gay international athletes, Navratilova has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights since her public coming out.

Navratilova emphasized her belief in free speech and noted that social media, particularly X, allows her to express her opinions more freely than in some interviews. The Czech-American athlete, who sought refuge in the United States in 1975 to avoid the communist regime of her birthplace, values the uncensored expression that social media affords her.

“Well, I left my country because I couldn't speak my mind. That was one of the reasons I wanted to be free to say what I want. And then I get here and then I say what I want, and then I get excoriated for it for different reasons,” she said on the ‘On with Kara Swisher’ podcast in November 2023.

“Twitter [X] gives you the opportunity to speak your mind, without being censored. Because all the interviews that I've ever done, it was through the lens of that writer. And then they cut out half the stuff that I say. This is a chance to have no filter and no censorship,” she added.

As a Democratic Party supporter, Martina Navratilova has not shied away from criticizing Republican figures, including ex-President Donald Trump, on social media. However, she notes a recent retreat from these online spaces, attributing it to an increase in hostility, particularly following Elon Musk’s takeover and rebranding of Twitter (now X).