Martina Navratilova Scores Zero Love from Gay Marriage Advocates

The battle continues around the ended relationship of Martina Navratilova and Toni Layton, and things are getting very ugly, as these things tend to do...

Their separation began with Navratilova having Layton forcibly removed from one of the properties they shared. Layton countered by suing Navratilova under Florida's domestic partnership law and Layton's lawyers have threatened to release "dark secrets" from the tennis star's life. This increasingly public legal battle now has gay marriage advocates angered and crying foul.

They object to Navratilova's lawyers stating that this relationship doesn't qualify as a marriage by heterosexual terms and therefore Layton isn't entitled to anything. It seems to be the same tactic that worked in the court battle between another of Martina's ex-lovers -- Judy Nelson. It's not just the lawyers taking this line either...even another ex, Rita Mae Brown, has stated that Navratilova argued that she and Nelson had "a contract for sex" that was "therefore against public policy."

Is all fair in love and war? Is Navratilova exploiting the current status of same-sex marriage for her own personal advantage, or just trying to keep what she feels is rightfully hers? She's done her work for gay rights, even filing a lawsuit in 1992 in Colorado to fight an amendment stopping anti-discrimination rules for gays. Is that enough? Does she need to stay true to the lesbian cause in every aspect of her life or just win a personal fight...

I know I feel bad for both to have such a personal moment dragged through the mud and into the public eye, but I guess that's the price of fame and fortune. What will Martina and Toni's price be for this relationship? I think in the end it will cost them both dearly and only the lawyers will win.