May 1st 1981 : The day Billie Jean Kg publicly me out as gay

Contents:

• MAY 1, 1981: THE DAY BILLIE JEAN KG PUBLICLY ME OUT AS GAY
• THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985
• BILLIE JEAN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}AMERIN TENNIS GREAT BILLIE JEAN KG BROKE DOWN BARRIERS BY PHG FOR EQUAL PRIZE MONEY FOR WOMEN AND BEG ONE OF THE FIRST WELL-KNOWN OPENLY GAY {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: NOV 12, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: NOAM GALAI/GETTY IMAG FOR {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1943-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS BILLIE JEAN KG?BILLIE JEAN KG BEME THE TOP-RANKED WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYER BY 1967. IN 1973, SHE FORMED THE WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATN AND FAMOLY FEATED {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BOBBY RIGGS THE "BATTLE OF THE SEX." THE FIRST PROMENT FEMALE ATHLETE TO ADM HER HOMOSEXUALY, KG NTUED HER WORK AS AN FLUENTIAL SOCIAL ACTIVIST AFTER RETIRG OM TENNIS.ATHLETIC BEGNGSKG WAS BORN BILLIE JEAN MOFFT ON NOVEMBER 22, 1943, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TO PARENTS BILL AND BETTY. THE MOFFTS WERE AN ATHLETIC FAY: BILL WAS OFFERED A TRYOUT FOR AN NBA TEAM BEFORE BEG A FIREFIGHTER, AND BETTY, A HOMEMAKER, WAS AN EXCELLENT SWIMMER. THEIR SEND CHILD, RANDY, BEME A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PCHER.KG'S EARLY SPORT WAS SOFTBALL; AT AGE 10, SHE PLAYED SHORTSTOP ON A TEAM OF 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLD GIRLS THAT WON THE CY CHAMPNSHIP. HOWEVER, HER PARENTS SUGGTED SHE TRY A MORE "LADYLIKE" SPORT, AND AT AGE 11, SHE BEGAN TO PLAY TENNIS ON THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC URTS.EARLY CAREERIN 1958, KG EMERGED AS A TALENT TO WATCH WHEN SHE WON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPNSHIP FOR HER AGE BRACKET, AND 1959, SHE STARTED TO RECEIVE ACHG OM FORMER WOMEN'S TENNIS GREAT ALICE MARBLE. AFTER A SERI OF LOSS TO TOP-SEED PLAYERS VAR PETNS AROUND THE UNTRY, KG MA SPORTS HEADL FOR THE FIRST TIME 1961, WHEN SHE AND KAREN HANTZE SMAN BEME THE YOUNGT PAIR TO W THE WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S DOUBL TLE.WHILE ATTENDG CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSY, LOS ANGEL, OM 1961 TO 1964, KG NTUED TO PETE TOURNAMENTS AND ALSO WORKED AS A TENNIS STCTOR TO MAKE ENDS MEET. HOWEVER, AFTER ACHIEVG MIXED RULTS SEVERAL OF THE PETNS, KG REALIZED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO STEP UP HER PRACTICE SCHLE IF SHE WANTED TO REACH HER FULL POTENTIAL, AND SHE EMBARKED ON AN EXHSTIVE TRAG REGIMEN AND WORKED ON SHARPENG HER FUNDAMENTALS.MAJOR SGL TL AND RISE TO NO. 1AFTER A FEW YEARS OF PROMISG PLAY, KG WON HER FIRST MAJOR SGL CHAMPNSHIP AT WIMBLEDON 1966. SHE WENT ON TO SUCCSFULLY FEND THAT TLE EACH OF THE FOLLOWG TWO YEARS, AND ADD HER FIRST U.S. OPEN SGL CHAMPNSHIP 1967 AND HER ONLY ATRALIAN OPEN TRIUMPH THE FOLLOWG YEAR. IN 1968, HAVG CLAIMED THE WORLD'S NO. 1 RANKG WOMEN'S TENNIS, KG TURNED PROFSNAL.RENOWNED FOR HER SPEED, GAME AND BACKHAND SHOT, KG WAS A REGULAR PRENCE THE WNER'S CIRCLE SGL, DOUBL AND MIXED-DOUBL TOURNAMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. IN 1972, SHE WON THE U.S. OPEN, FRENCH OPEN AND WIMBLEDON TO CLAIM THREE GRAND SLAM TL ONE YEAR.'BATTLE OF THE SEX'FOR ALL HER TENNIS ACPLISHMENTS, BILLIE JEAN KG IS PROBABLY BT KNOWN FOR HER 1973 MATCH AGAST FORMER MEN'S CHAMPN BOBBY RIGGS, DUBBED THE "BATTLE OF THE SEX." THE 55-YEAR-OLD RIGGS HAD ASSUMED AN OVERTLY CHVISTIC PUBLIC PERSONA TO BA THE SPORT’S TOP WOMEN TO PLAYG HIM, AND AFTER HE EASILY FEATED MULTI-TIME CHAMPN MARGARET COURT THE "MOTHER'S DAY MASSACRE" OF MAY 1973, HE SECURED KG AS HIS NEXT OPPONENT.THE MATCH TOOK PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1973, AT THE HOTON ASTRODOME. EMBRACG THE SPECTACLE OF THE EVENT, KG ENTERED THE URT A GOLD LTER RRIED BY FOUR MCULAR MEN, WHILE RIGGS ROLLED ON A RICKSHAW PULLED BY A TEAM OF WOMEN LLED "BOBBY'S BOSOM BUDDI." BUT KG WAS ALL BS ONCE THE MATCH STARTED, AND SHE HANDILY BEAT RIGGS STRAIGHT SETS BEFORE AN TIMATED TELEVISN DIENCE OF 90 LN VIEWERS.AFTERWARD, KG ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRSURE SHE FELT THAT DAY. "I THOUGHT WOULD SET BACK 50 YEARS IF I DIDN'T W THAT MATCH," SHE SAID. "IT WOULD THE WOMEN'S TOUR AND AFFECT ALL WOMEN'S SELF-TEEM."READ MORE: HOW BILLIE JEAN KG MA WOMEN'S SPORTS HISTORY DURG THE 'BATTLE OF THE SEX'EQUAL PAY ACTIVISM, WTA AND WTTNEVER SHY ABOUT SPEAKG HER MD, KG JOLTED THE TENNIS TABLISHMENT WH HER VIEWS THAT THE SPORT NEED TO SHED S UNTRY-CLUB IMAGE AND OFFER EQUAL PAYOUTS TO BOTH GENRS. IN 1970, SHE JOED THE BRAND-NEW VIRGIA SLIMS TOUR FOR WOMEN, AND 1971, SHE BEME THE FIRST FEMALE ATHLETE TO TOP $100,000 PRIZE MONEY A SGLE YEAR. BUT SHE SIMMERED OVER THE SMALLER PAYCHECKS EARNED BY HER PEERS.IN 1973, KG SPEARHEAD THE FORMATN OF THE WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATN (WTA). LEVERAGG HER POSN AS S MOST CELEBRATED PLAYER, SHE THREATENED A BOYTT OF THE 1973 U.S. OPEN IF THE PAY EQUALY WAS NOT ADDRSED. HER MANDS MET, THE U.S. OPEN BEME THE FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT TO OFFER EQUAL PRIZE MONEY TO WOMEN AND MEN.THE FOLLOWG YEAR, KG AND HER HBAND, LARRY KG, FOUND THE WORLD TEAMTENNIS (WTT) -ED CIRCU. AS PLAYER-ACH OF THE PHILALPHIA FREEDOMS, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO ACH PROFSNAL MALE ATHLET.LATER TENNIS CAREER AND RETIREMENTKG ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT OM SGL PLAY AFTER WNG WIMBLEDON 1975, BUT SHE RUMED SGL PETN TWO YEARS LATER AND NTUED THROUGH 1983. IN THE MEANTIME, SHE REMAED A FORCE DOUBL FOR MANY YEARS, WNG WIMBLEDON 1979 AND THE U.S. OPEN 1980. SHE NTUED TO PLAY WTA DOUBL MATCH SPORADILLY, UNTIL RETIRG FOR GOOD 1990.ALTOGETHER, KG WON 39 MAJOR SGL, DOUBL AND MIXED DOUBL CHAMPNSHIPS, CLUDG A RERD 20 AT WIMBLEDON.ACKNOWLEDGG HER SEXUALYTHE BUDDG TENNIS STAR MARRIED LARRY KG 1965 BUT SOON FOUND HERSELF WRTLG WH HER FEELGS FOR OTHER WOMEN. HER PRIVATE AFFAIRS WERE THST TO PUBLIC VIEW WH A LAWSU BROUGHT BY HER FORMER FEMALE PERSONAL ASSISTANT AND LOVER 1981. THE FIRST PROMENT WOMAN ATHLETE TO ADM HER HOMOSEXUALY, KG LOST HER ENDORSEMENTS BUT BEME A TORCHBEARER FOR THE LGBT MUNY. SHE DIVORCED HER HBAND 1987 AND SETTLED TO A LONG-TERM RELATNSHIP WH FORMER PLAYER ILANA KLOSS.TENNIS AND LGBT AMBASSADORNAMED TO THE INTERNATNAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME 1987, KG REMAED CLOSELY TIED TO THE SPORT THROUGHOUT THE 1990S AS A TELEVISN MENTATOR. SHE ALSO SERVED AS PTA OF THE U.S. TEAM AT THE 1996 AND 2000 SUMMER OLYMPICS. IN 2006, THE NEW YORK CY FACILY THAT HOSTS THE U.S. OPEN WAS RENAMED THE USTA BILLIE JEAN KG NATNAL TENNIS CENTER HER HONOR.KG'S ACPLISHMENTS HAVE GONE BEYOND THE WORLD OF TENNIS. SHE HAS BEEN HONORED BY AN ARRAY OF ANIZATNS, NOTABLY EARNG THE PRINTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM 2009. A BOARD MEMBER OF THE WOMEN’S SPORTS FOUNDATN, WHICH SHE FORMED DURG HER PLAYG DAYS, SHE HAS ALSO SERVED AS ACTG DIRECTOR FOR THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATN AND THE NATNAL AIDS FUND.NAMED TO THE U.S. LEGATN TO THE 2014 WTER OLYMPICS SOCHI, RSIA, KG EMBRACED THE SIGNATN THAT BOTH HONORED HER ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND MA A POLIL STATEMENT OPPOSN OF RSIA'S ANTI-GAY LEGISLATN. 'BATTLE OF THE SEX' MOVIETHE STORY OF THE 1973 KG-RIGGS MATCH SPAWNED THE 2017 FEATURE FILM BATTLE OF THE SEX, STARRG EMMA STONE AS KG AND STEVE CARELL AS RIGGS. THE FILM DREW GENERALLY STRONG REVIEWS, WH BOTH STONE AND CARELL EARNG GOLN GLOBE NOMATNS FOR THEIR PERFORMANC.THE SAGA HAD PREVLY BEEN DRAMATIZED THE 2001 TV MOVIE WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY, WHICH FEATURED HOLLY HUNTER AS THE WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMP AND RON SILVER AS HER {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;MARG:0.9375REM 0 0 0.625REM;PADDG:0 0 0 1.25REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:0.9375REM 0;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} LI{PADDG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} LI::MARKER{LOR:#323232;}NAME: BILLIE JEAN KGBIRTH YEAR: 1943BIRTH DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 1943BIRTH STATE: CALIFORNIABIRTH CY: LONG BEACHBIRTH COUNTRY: UNED STATGENR: FEMALEBT KNOWN FOR: AMERIN TENNIS GREAT BILLIE JEAN KG BROKE DOWN BARRIERS BY PHG FOR EQUAL PRIZE MONEY FOR WOMEN AND BEG ONE OF THE FIRST WELL-KNOWN OPENLY GAY ATHLET.INDTRITENNISASTROLOGIL SIGN: SAGTARIFACT CHECK
• BILLIE JEAN KG ON STONEWALL 50 AND LGBT RIGHTS: ‘IT’S CALLED EQUALY, AND WE WANT IT NOW’STONEWALL 50ON STONEWALL 50, BILLIE JEAN KG TELLS THE DAILY BEAST: ‘I WANT EVERYONE—REGARDLS OF RACE, SEXUALY, GENR, ABILY, OR GENR INTY—TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS.’TIM TEEMANSENR EDOR AND WRERUPDATED JUN. 05, 2019 6:50AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUN. 03, 2019 5:15AM EDT EXCLIVEPHOTO ILLTRATN BY SARAH ROGERS/THE DAILY BEAST/PHOTOS GETTYIN THIS SPECIAL SERI, LGBT CELEBRI AND PUBLIC FIGUR TALK TO TIM TEEMAN ABOUT THE STONEWALL RTS AND THEIR LEGACY.TENNIS GREAT BILLIE JEAN KG IS THE FOUNR OF THE BILLIE JEAN KG LEARSHIP INIATIVE. SHE WON 39 GRAND SLAM TL, CLUDG A RERD 20 WIMBLEDON TL. SHE WAS OUTED 1981, AND IS A PASSNATE ADVOTE FOR LGBT EQUALY.WHEN/HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE STONEWALL RTS, AND WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THEM?I WAS NOT AS CLOSELY TUNE WH THE MUNY, OR MYSELF, 1969 AS I AM TODAY. I WAS ENGLAND PLAYG AT WIMBLEDON AND BEG GEOGRAPHILLY REMOVED OM THE NEWS WAS A FACTOR. WHILE THERE WAS SOME LIMED MEDIA VERAGE, THOSE DAYS THE NEWS TRAVELED FASTER BY WORD OF MOUTH AN UNRGROUND MANNER. EVENTUALLY THE STONEWALL UPRISG EVOLVED TO THE ORIG OF THE MORN GAY MOVEMENT.  WHAT IS THE RTS’ SIGNIFINCE FOR YOU?I REMEMBER FEELG JT LIKE THE FAMO LE THE MOVIE, NETWORK—“I’M MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOG TO TAKE ANYMORE!” STANDG UP FOR OUR MUNY AND ADVOTG FOR OURSELV WAS POWERFUL THEN, AND IS POWERFUL NOW. THE STONEWALL RTS GAVE SO MANY THE URAGE TO FALLY BE OUR THENTIC SELV.  “THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ’60S AND ’70S AND TODAY IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE ARE NOW PART OF HISTORY, STEAD OF BEG EXCLUD. WE HAVE MORE RPECT. WE HAVE MORE ACCEPTANCE” HOW FAR HAVE LGBT PEOPLE E SCE 1969?WHEN YOU READ HISTORY, YOU THK THGS MOVE VERY FAST. BUT WHEN YOU LIVE , THGS MOVE VERY SLOW. THE LGBT MUNY IS ONE OF THE BT EXAMPL OF A SUCCSFUL AND STAED GRASSROOTS EFFORT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ’60S AND ’70S AND TODAY IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE ARE NOW PART OF HISTORY, STEAD OF BEG EXCLUD. WE HAVE MORE RPECT. WE HAVE MORE ACCEPTANCE. WE HAVE A FUTURE THAT HAS PROMISE, BEE IS SIMPLY TOO STRSFUL TO HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIV BEG HYPER-VIGILANT.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, LGBT-WISE, THE NEXT 50 YEARS?ONE OF THE CHALLENG WE HAVE IS NOT TO GO BACKWARDS. I WANT EVERYONE—REGARDLS OF RACE, SEXUALY, GENR, ABILY OR GENR INTY—TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS. IT’S ABOUT BEG EQUAL UNR THE LAW AND LIFE. IT’S LLED EQUALITY AND WE WANT NOW. TIM TEEMAN

MAY 1, 1981: THE DAY BILLIE JEAN KG PUBLICLY ME OUT AS GAY

"But the gay rights activist, now 73, admted she didn’t start feelg fortable about beg gay until she was 51 years old, after "tons of therapy.

" She believ this was partly bee of the shame many people — cludg her own parents — associated wh homosexualy, which Kg said “was a big al the '70s. "Dpe that support, Mnen said the uple receive "a lot of hate msag" on social media after some said social media pani "n do a better job" on tacklg discrimatn bee "when you block someone they jt make another acunt and send another msage" there are several openly gay female players on tour, as well as trailblazers like Kg, Navratilova, Amelie Mrmo and the late Jana Novotna, there has never been an openly gay active male player the open Amerin profsnal Brian Vahaly me out as gay after his retirement and Van Uytvanck said they were unsure why there has not been an openly gay active male player but said perhaps the lack of a figure like Kg or Navratilova has ma harr. "Maybe there is a top player who is gay and n e out one day and maybe then the muny will be more acceptg.

On May 1, 1981, Billie Jean Kg, driven by circumstanc, beme the first proment profsnal female athlete to publicly e out about her homosexualy. Bart’s lawyers thought this prciple uld also apply a homosexual relatnship and sought half of Billie Jean Kg’s earngs throughout the seven-year perd. Over the years, beme more mon for female athlet to be open about their homosexualy.

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

She knew she was gay.

In the 70s, homosexualy was still crimalized many stat and close iends disuraged her om g out, pecially as her reer was boomg.

Although Billie had officially been out of the closet for 13 years, she didn’t tell her mother she was gay until she was 51. Kg didn't realize she was gay until 1968 at age 25, after she had already married her llege boyiend, Larry Kg. In 2009, she was award the Printial Medal of Freedom by Print Barack Obama for her work advotg for the rights of women and the lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr muny.

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IN 1973, SHE FORMED THE WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATN AND FAMOLY FEATED {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BOBBY RIGGS THE "BATTLE OF THE SEX." THE FIRST PROMENT FEMALE ATHLETE TO ADM HER HOMOSEXUALY, KG NTUED HER WORK AS AN FLUENTIAL SOCIAL ACTIVIST AFTER RETIRG OM TENNIS.ATHLETIC BEGNGSKG WAS BORN BILLIE JEAN MOFFT ON NOVEMBER 22, 1943, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TO PARENTS BILL AND BETTY. THE MOFFTS WERE AN ATHLETIC FAY: BILL WAS OFFERED A TRYOUT FOR AN NBA TEAM BEFORE BEG A FIREFIGHTER, AND BETTY, A HOMEMAKER, WAS AN EXCELLENT SWIMMER. THEIR SEND CHILD, RANDY, BEME A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PCHER.KG'S EARLY SPORT WAS SOFTBALL; AT AGE 10, SHE PLAYED SHORTSTOP ON A TEAM OF 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLD GIRLS THAT WON THE CY CHAMPNSHIP. HOWEVER, HER PARENTS SUGGTED SHE TRY A MORE "LADYLIKE" SPORT, AND AT AGE 11, SHE BEGAN TO PLAY TENNIS ON THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC URTS.EARLY CAREERIN 1958, KG EMERGED AS A TALENT TO WATCH WHEN SHE WON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPNSHIP FOR HER AGE BRACKET, AND 1959, SHE STARTED TO RECEIVE ACHG OM FORMER WOMEN'S TENNIS GREAT ALICE MARBLE. AFTER A SERI OF LOSS TO TOP-SEED PLAYERS VAR PETNS AROUND THE UNTRY, KG MA SPORTS HEADL FOR THE FIRST TIME 1961, WHEN SHE AND KAREN HANTZE SMAN BEME THE YOUNGT PAIR TO W THE WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S DOUBL TLE.WHILE ATTENDG CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSY, LOS ANGEL, OM 1961 TO 1964, KG NTUED TO PETE TOURNAMENTS AND ALSO WORKED AS A TENNIS STCTOR TO MAKE ENDS MEET. HOWEVER, AFTER ACHIEVG MIXED RULTS SEVERAL OF THE PETNS, KG REALIZED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO STEP UP HER PRACTICE SCHLE IF SHE WANTED TO REACH HER FULL POTENTIAL, AND SHE EMBARKED ON AN EXHSTIVE TRAG REGIMEN AND WORKED ON SHARPENG HER FUNDAMENTALS.MAJOR SGL TL AND RISE TO NO. 1AFTER A FEW YEARS OF PROMISG PLAY, KG WON HER FIRST MAJOR SGL CHAMPNSHIP AT WIMBLEDON 1966. SHE WENT ON TO SUCCSFULLY FEND THAT TLE EACH OF THE FOLLOWG TWO YEARS, AND ADD HER FIRST U.S. OPEN SGL CHAMPNSHIP 1967 AND HER ONLY ATRALIAN OPEN TRIUMPH THE FOLLOWG YEAR. IN 1968, HAVG CLAIMED THE WORLD'S NO. 1 RANKG WOMEN'S TENNIS, KG TURNED PROFSNAL.RENOWNED FOR HER SPEED, GAME AND BACKHAND SHOT, KG WAS A REGULAR PRENCE THE WNER'S CIRCLE SGL, DOUBL AND MIXED-DOUBL TOURNAMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. IN 1972, SHE WON THE U.S. OPEN, FRENCH OPEN AND WIMBLEDON TO CLAIM THREE GRAND SLAM TL ONE YEAR.'BATTLE OF THE SEX'FOR ALL HER TENNIS ACPLISHMENTS, BILLIE JEAN KG IS PROBABLY BT KNOWN FOR HER 1973 MATCH AGAST FORMER MEN'S CHAMPN BOBBY RIGGS, DUBBED THE "BATTLE OF THE SEX." THE 55-YEAR-OLD RIGGS HAD ASSUMED AN OVERTLY CHVISTIC PUBLIC PERSONA TO BA THE SPORT’S TOP WOMEN TO PLAYG HIM, AND AFTER HE EASILY FEATED MULTI-TIME CHAMPN MARGARET COURT THE "MOTHER'S DAY MASSACRE" OF MAY 1973, HE SECURED KG AS HIS NEXT OPPONENT.THE MATCH TOOK PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1973, AT THE HOTON ASTRODOME. EMBRACG THE SPECTACLE OF THE EVENT, KG ENTERED THE URT A GOLD LTER RRIED BY FOUR MCULAR MEN, WHILE RIGGS ROLLED ON A RICKSHAW PULLED BY A TEAM OF WOMEN LLED "BOBBY'S BOSOM BUDDI." BUT KG WAS ALL BS ONCE THE MATCH STARTED, AND SHE HANDILY BEAT RIGGS STRAIGHT SETS BEFORE AN TIMATED TELEVISN DIENCE OF 90 LN VIEWERS.AFTERWARD, KG ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRSURE SHE FELT THAT DAY. "I THOUGHT WOULD SET BACK 50 YEARS IF I DIDN'T W THAT MATCH," SHE SAID. "IT WOULD THE WOMEN'S TOUR AND AFFECT ALL WOMEN'S SELF-TEEM."READ MORE: HOW BILLIE JEAN KG MA WOMEN'S SPORTS HISTORY DURG THE 'BATTLE OF THE SEX'EQUAL PAY ACTIVISM, WTA AND WTTNEVER SHY ABOUT SPEAKG HER MD, KG JOLTED THE TENNIS TABLISHMENT WH HER VIEWS THAT THE SPORT NEED TO SHED S UNTRY-CLUB IMAGE AND OFFER EQUAL PAYOUTS TO BOTH GENRS. IN 1970, SHE JOED THE BRAND-NEW VIRGIA SLIMS TOUR FOR WOMEN, AND 1971, SHE BEME THE FIRST FEMALE ATHLETE TO TOP $100,000 PRIZE MONEY A SGLE YEAR. BUT SHE SIMMERED OVER THE SMALLER PAYCHECKS EARNED BY HER PEERS.IN 1973, KG SPEARHEAD THE FORMATN OF THE WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATN (WTA). LEVERAGG HER POSN AS S MOST CELEBRATED PLAYER, SHE THREATENED A BOYTT OF THE 1973 U.S. OPEN IF THE PAY EQUALY WAS NOT ADDRSED. HER MANDS MET, THE U.S. OPEN BEME THE FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT TO OFFER EQUAL PRIZE MONEY TO WOMEN AND MEN.THE FOLLOWG YEAR, KG AND HER HBAND, LARRY KG, FOUND THE WORLD TEAMTENNIS (WTT) -ED CIRCU. AS PLAYER-ACH OF THE PHILALPHIA FREEDOMS, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO ACH PROFSNAL MALE ATHLET.LATER TENNIS CAREER AND RETIREMENTKG ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT OM SGL PLAY AFTER WNG WIMBLEDON 1975, BUT SHE RUMED SGL PETN TWO YEARS LATER AND NTUED THROUGH 1983. IN THE MEANTIME, SHE REMAED A FORCE DOUBL FOR MANY YEARS, WNG WIMBLEDON 1979 AND THE U.S. OPEN 1980. SHE NTUED TO PLAY WTA DOUBL MATCH SPORADILLY, UNTIL RETIRG FOR GOOD 1990.ALTOGETHER, KG WON 39 MAJOR SGL, DOUBL AND MIXED DOUBL CHAMPNSHIPS, CLUDG A RERD 20 AT WIMBLEDON.ACKNOWLEDGG HER SEXUALYTHE BUDDG TENNIS STAR MARRIED LARRY KG 1965 BUT SOON FOUND HERSELF WRTLG WH HER FEELGS FOR OTHER WOMEN. HER PRIVATE AFFAIRS WERE THST TO PUBLIC VIEW WH A LAWSU BROUGHT BY HER FORMER FEMALE PERSONAL ASSISTANT AND LOVER 1981. THE FIRST PROMENT WOMAN ATHLETE TO ADM HER HOMOSEXUALY, KG LOST HER ENDORSEMENTS BUT BEME A TORCHBEARER FOR THE LGBT MUNY. SHE DIVORCED HER HBAND 1987 AND SETTLED TO A LONG-TERM RELATNSHIP WH FORMER PLAYER ILANA KLOSS.TENNIS AND LGBT AMBASSADORNAMED TO THE INTERNATNAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME 1987, KG REMAED CLOSELY TIED TO THE SPORT THROUGHOUT THE 1990S AS A TELEVISN MENTATOR. SHE ALSO SERVED AS PTA OF THE U.S. TEAM AT THE 1996 AND 2000 SUMMER OLYMPICS. IN 2006, THE NEW YORK CY FACILY THAT HOSTS THE U.S. OPEN WAS RENAMED THE USTA BILLIE JEAN KG NATNAL TENNIS CENTER HER HONOR.KG'S ACPLISHMENTS HAVE GONE BEYOND THE WORLD OF TENNIS. SHE HAS BEEN HONORED BY AN ARRAY OF ANIZATNS, NOTABLY EARNG THE PRINTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM 2009. A BOARD MEMBER OF THE WOMEN’S SPORTS FOUNDATN, WHICH SHE FORMED DURG HER PLAYG DAYS, SHE HAS ALSO SERVED AS ACTG DIRECTOR FOR THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATN AND THE NATNAL AIDS FUND.NAMED TO THE U.S. LEGATN TO THE 2014 WTER OLYMPICS SOCHI, RSIA, KG EMBRACED THE SIGNATN THAT BOTH HONORED HER ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND MA A POLIL STATEMENT OPPOSN OF RSIA'S ANTI-GAY LEGISLATN. 'BATTLE OF THE SEX' MOVIETHE STORY OF THE 1973 KG-RIGGS MATCH SPAWNED THE 2017 FEATURE FILM BATTLE OF THE SEX, STARRG EMMA STONE AS KG AND STEVE CARELL AS RIGGS. THE FILM DREW GENERALLY STRONG REVIEWS, WH BOTH STONE AND CARELL EARNG GOLN GLOBE NOMATNS FOR THEIR PERFORMANC.THE SAGA HAD PREVLY BEEN DRAMATIZED THE 2001 TV MOVIE WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY, WHICH FEATURED HOLLY HUNTER AS THE WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMP AND RON SILVER AS HER {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;MARG:0.9375REM 0 0 0.625REM;PADDG:0 0 0 1.25REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:0.9375REM 0;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} LI{PADDG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} LI::MARKER{LOR:#323232;}NAME: BILLIE JEAN KGBIRTH YEAR: 1943BIRTH DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 1943BIRTH STATE: CALIFORNIABIRTH CY: LONG BEACHBIRTH COUNTRY: UNED STATGENR: FEMALEBT KNOWN FOR: AMERIN TENNIS GREAT BILLIE JEAN KG BROKE DOWN BARRIERS BY PHG FOR EQUAL PRIZE MONEY FOR WOMEN AND BEG ONE OF THE FIRST WELL-KNOWN OPENLY GAY ATHLET.INDTRITENNISASTROLOGIL SIGN: SAGTARIFACT CHECK

Her lawyer and PR told her she shouldn’t adm the tth, but she refed to ny her sexual orientatn as tellg the tth was tennis legend regrets not g out earlier, but she only began feelg fortable about when she was 51 years old and after a lot of of her issu me om the shame people – cludg her parents – associated wh beg gay the 70s.

Wright, her cisn now go to the school board, which will discs the book challenge at s Monday meetg agenda and vote on a cisn on Tallahassee mom who submted the challenge, Katie Lyons, said her dghter, then a send grar at a lol elementary school, brought home the children's book about Kg, a tennis legend who is gay — and also brought qutns to her mother about a page regardg Kg's sexual orientatn. “It is important that be ma clear that this book was challenged not bee the book mentns Billie Jean Kg is gay, ” Lyons told the school board at a meetg last week. Regardls of orientatn, homosexual or heterosexual, the topic of sexual orientatn is not age-appropriate or velopmentally-appropriate for elementary stunts.

BILLIE JEAN KG ON STONEWALL 50 AND LGBT RIGHTS: ‘IT’S CALLED EQUALY, AND WE WANT IT NOW’STONEWALL 50ON STONEWALL 50, BILLIE JEAN KG TELLS THE DAILY BEAST: ‘I WANT EVERYONE—REGARDLS OF RACE, SEXUALY, GENR, ABILY, OR GENR INTY—TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS.’TIM TEEMANSENR EDOR AND WRERUPDATED JUN. 05, 2019 6:50AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUN. 03, 2019 5:15AM EDT EXCLIVEPHOTO ILLTRATN BY SARAH ROGERS/THE DAILY BEAST/PHOTOS GETTYIN THIS SPECIAL SERI, LGBT CELEBRI AND PUBLIC FIGUR TALK TO TIM TEEMAN ABOUT THE STONEWALL RTS AND THEIR LEGACY.TENNIS GREAT BILLIE JEAN KG IS THE FOUNR OF THE BILLIE JEAN KG LEARSHIP INIATIVE. SHE WON 39 GRAND SLAM TL, CLUDG A RERD 20 WIMBLEDON TL. SHE WAS OUTED 1981, AND IS A PASSNATE ADVOTE FOR LGBT EQUALY.WHEN/HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE STONEWALL RTS, AND WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THEM?I WAS NOT AS CLOSELY TUNE WH THE MUNY, OR MYSELF, 1969 AS I AM TODAY. I WAS ENGLAND PLAYG AT WIMBLEDON AND BEG GEOGRAPHILLY REMOVED OM THE NEWS WAS A FACTOR. WHILE THERE WAS SOME LIMED MEDIA VERAGE, THOSE DAYS THE NEWS TRAVELED FASTER BY WORD OF MOUTH AN UNRGROUND MANNER. EVENTUALLY THE STONEWALL UPRISG EVOLVED TO THE ORIG OF THE MORN GAY MOVEMENT.  WHAT IS THE RTS’ SIGNIFINCE FOR YOU?I REMEMBER FEELG JT LIKE THE FAMO LE THE MOVIE, NETWORK—“I’M MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOG TO TAKE ANYMORE!” STANDG UP FOR OUR MUNY AND ADVOTG FOR OURSELV WAS POWERFUL THEN, AND IS POWERFUL NOW. THE STONEWALL RTS GAVE SO MANY THE URAGE TO FALLY BE OUR THENTIC SELV.  “THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ’60S AND ’70S AND TODAY IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE ARE NOW PART OF HISTORY, STEAD OF BEG EXCLUD. WE HAVE MORE RPECT. WE HAVE MORE ACCEPTANCE” HOW FAR HAVE LGBT PEOPLE E SCE 1969?WHEN YOU READ HISTORY, YOU THK THGS MOVE VERY FAST. BUT WHEN YOU LIVE , THGS MOVE VERY SLOW. THE LGBT MUNY IS ONE OF THE BT EXAMPL OF A SUCCSFUL AND STAED GRASSROOTS EFFORT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ’60S AND ’70S AND TODAY IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE ARE NOW PART OF HISTORY, STEAD OF BEG EXCLUD. WE HAVE MORE RPECT. WE HAVE MORE ACCEPTANCE. WE HAVE A FUTURE THAT HAS PROMISE, BEE IS SIMPLY TOO STRSFUL TO HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIV BEG HYPER-VIGILANT.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, LGBT-WISE, THE NEXT 50 YEARS?ONE OF THE CHALLENG WE HAVE IS NOT TO GO BACKWARDS. I WANT EVERYONE—REGARDLS OF RACE, SEXUALY, GENR, ABILY OR GENR INTY—TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS. IT’S ABOUT BEG EQUAL UNR THE LAW AND LIFE. IT’S LLED EQUALITY AND WE WANT NOW. TIM TEEMAN

"I object to material that discs beg gay and what means to be gay, " wrote page drawg the challenge reads: "Around this time, I realized I was gay. Beg gay means that if you're a girl, you love and have romantic feelgs for other girls — and if you're a boy, you love and have romantic feelgs for other boys.

"Lyons matas the book is ntrary to state law, largely cg the Parental Rights Edutn Act, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by crics, which prohibs stctn on sexual orientatn or genr inty book challenge law:Florida schools stggle to apply new book law which even Shakpeare is 'spect'Why 's beg challenged:Tallahassee mom mak se that 'I am Billie Jean Kg' book 'g' on parents' rightsWright, her July 10 remendatn, unters that the book isn’t ed as “stctn” and poted to a clarifitn the Florida Department of Edutn issued statg that "cintal referenc" books to LGBTQ people are not also said a new law, HB 1069, directed each school district to adopt procs allowg parents to lim their child’s accs to library material. "The excln of one of the profil jt bee of the intifitn of the ma subject as homosexual is not the tentn of any law or statute passed by the Florida Legislature, " Syett Lyons said the parental book review procs is not enough to screen qutnable materials accsible to their stunts.