Equal rights protesters have blocked the entrances to a Liberal Party fundraiser in Melbourne, where controversial tennis legend Margaret Court was due to speak.

A crowd of around 100 marriage equality activists gathered at the front of the Athenaeum Club on Collins St, chanting a number of slogans condemning Ms Court’s comments against homosexuality.

“Margaret Court you’ve lost the set, your bigotry can’t pass the net,” they shouted.

Protesters told The New Daily they planned to stop Ms Court from entering the fundraiser, and condemned the Liberal Party for hosting “such a bigot”.

“We’re disgusted that the Liberal Party would support such a bigot,” one supporter said.

“Her comments should be condemned not supported.”

The protest escalated just after 6pm, when activists ran from the Collins St main entrance to a back alley where Ms Court was expected to enter.

Protesters holding placards aloft outside the Liberal Party fundraiser. Photo: James Ried

“We believe that Margaret Court is making her entry into the rear of the building and we really want her to know that we stand opposed to her commentary. So we encourage you to join us as we take the protest around to her entrance, around the back,” Equal Love Campaign Manager Anthony Wallace told the crowd.

The New Daily witnessed protesters racing to the side entry, where they were met with riot police guarding the alleyway.

Police were forced to push activists back as they held their line in front of the passageway, but it did not escalate further.

“When queer rights are under attack what do we do? Stand up fight back,” the crowd sung.

“What do we want? Marriage Equality. When do we want it? Yesterday.”

Protesters bomb fundraiser guests with glitter. Photo: James Ried

Parts of Exhibition St and Collins St were blocked off.

By 7pm, Equal Love activists had returned to the Collins St front door, where they bombarded attendees of the function with glitter.

Roughly 10 policemen became visibly concerned as protesters pushed harder against their line, to heckle and throw confetti at guests attempting to sneak in.

“F*** off Liberals, f*** off,” was yelled at innocent patrons.

Despite waiting in vain, marriage equality advocates were met by a Margaret Court impersonator, who lightened the mood before the protest subsided.

“Liberty, equality, fraternity for all.” Photo: James Ried

“Liberty, equality, fraternity for all. not just the privileged few,” read his jacket.

It’s not clear if Ms Court actually addressed the function.

Last month, she was widely condemned after saying homosexuality was an ungodly “lust for the flesh”, and that young LGBT people were “all the devil”.

“You can think ‘I’m a boy’ and it’ll affect your emotions and feelings and everything else, so that’s all the devil. That’s what Hitler did and that’s what communism did – got in the mind of the children – and that’s the whole plot in our nation and in the nations of the world to get in the mind of the children,” she said.

In an open letter to Qantas Airways, Ms Court – who is now a pastor at Victory Life Church in Perth – also declared she would boycott the airline, due to its support of gay marriage.

The comments prompted calls to change the name of Margaret Court Arena.