--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always controversial, being gay, so…" description: "\"I was always controversial, being gay, so nothing was more controversial than that.\" — Martina Navratilova" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png" --- # I was always controversial, being gay, so nothing was more… ![“I was always controversial, being gay, so nothing was more controversial than that.” quote by Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png) > “I was always controversial, being gay, so nothing was more controversial than that.” [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on being controversial as a gay athlete, noting that her identity was the most contentious aspect. **In simple terms:** Being gay made her most controversial. Key Takeaway Accept and own personal identity despite criticism. Themes identity sports Lroversy Mood courageous defiant Type social personal When to use this quote - athlete activism - public speaking - social media Key Concepts LGBTQ+ representation media perception Questions to Reflect On - How does controversy affect performance? - What can reduce stigma? A Different Perspective Societal bias may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Controversial Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial-gay-4637023/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-controversial-4637022/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) ## Related quotes > [I've been a very effective leader in the gay rights movement, though at times I've been controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-o-leary/i-ve-been-a-very-effective-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-though/) [Jean O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-o-leary/) > [I do get pissed off when I'm at some gay event, and there's a 25-year-old, and he has no idea who I am. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-do-get-pissed-off-when-i-m-at-some-gay-event-and-there-s-a-25-year/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [The more I've been able to learn about gay rights and equal pay and gender equity and racial inequality, the more that it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/the-more-i-ve-been-able-to-learn-about-gay-rights-and-equal-pay-and/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [The thing about gay people is that until we come out of the closet, we're always protecting other people: 'I can't do this, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/the-thing-about-gay-people-is-that-until-we-come-out-of-the-closet-we/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [I used to look at gay men and think, 'I'm not like that, I don't want to be like that, that's not me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/i-used-to-look-at-gay-men-and-think-i-m-not-like-that-i-don-t-want-to/) [Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/) > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [While shooting in Uganda in 2011, the conservative evangelical pastors I was filming - the most ardent supporters of the country's now infamous Anti-Homosexuality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/while-shooting-in-uganda-in-2011-the-conservative-evangelical-pastors/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Really, when it comes to gay rights, there's two wars going on. The first war is political. But the culture war is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/really-when-it-comes-to-gay-rights-there-s-two-wars-going-on-the/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [I didn't want to be gay. I wanted to be... I wanted an easy life. And you know what? I am gay, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/i-didn-t-want-to-be-gay-i-wanted-to-be-i-wanted-an-easy-life-and-you/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) ## More by Martina Navratilova > [The moment of victory is much too short to live for that and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/the-moment-of-victory-is-much-too-short-to-live-for-that-and-nothing/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [Tennis is the purest form of democracy. There was a symbiotic, chicken-and-egg relationship for me between democracy and tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/tennis-is-the-purest-form-of-democracy-there-was-a-symbiotic-chicken/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [What I would tell girls coming up is just be yourself and don't let people get in the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/what-i-would-tell-girls-coming-up-is-just-be-yourself-and-don-t-let/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [You can't live in the past, there's nothing you can do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/you-can-t-live-in-the-past-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-about-it/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [When one man becomes more important than the country he's supposed to be leading, this will always create a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/when-one-man-becomes-more-important-than-the-country-he-s-supposed-to/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [I am not looking for perfection. I look for the best in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-am-not-looking-for-perfection-i-look-for-the-best-in-me/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [I think the key is for women not to set any limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-think-the-key-is-for-women-not-to-set-any-limits/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [The better I get, the more I realize how much better I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/the-better-i-get-the-more-i-realize-how-much-better-i-can-get/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [There was a joke in Czechoslovakia: The Communist Party dance, it's one step forward, two steps backward, and everyone is still clapping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/there-was-a-joke-in-czechoslovakia-the-communist-party-dance-it-s-one/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [The longer I stay in the States, the more I understand how important it is to smile and seem like a nice guy. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/the-longer-i-stay-in-the-states-the-more-i-understand-how-important/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [Just put one foot in front of the other and don't worry about the length of the path. Once you get on that path,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/just-put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other-and-don-t-worry-about-the/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [I can teach many sports, but obviously, tennis is the one. When you do other sports, you see things from different perspectives: different footwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-can-teach-many-sports-but-obviously-tennis-is-the-one-when-you-do/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [Sport doesn't know barriers, really. You are judged on your performance... how far you can jump, how fast you can run, how well you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/sport-doesn-t-know-barriers-really-you-are-judged-on-your-performance/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/the-difference-between-involvement-and-commitment-is-like-ham-and/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [Just go out there and do what you've got to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/just-go-out-there-and-do-what-you-ve-got-to-do/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) [Explore all 126 Martina Navratilova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always controversial, being gay, so nothing was more controversial than that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martina Navratilova" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so-nothing-was-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so-nothing-was-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/martina-navratilova-3608_always_i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so_1357769.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was always controversial, being gay, so nothing was more controversial than that.” — Martina Navratilova", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martina Navratilova", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was always controversial, being gay,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so-nothing-was-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-was-always-controversial-being-gay-so-nothing-was-more/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```