A lot has changed since Billie Jean King hoisted a trophy in victory over her head on September 20, 1973 after a historic “Battle of the Sexes” against Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome. Some things haven’t changed enough.
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is an iconic tennis player, famous for her legendary prowess on the court and her advocacy for equal treatment of women in sports. One of the first openly LGBTQ+ women athletes, she came out as lesbian in 1981 after a lawsuit publicly outed her sexuality. She won 39 Grand Slam titles by her retirement at age 40 and was well-known for her victory in the “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs in 1973, widely considered a win for the legitimization of women’s tennis in mainstream media. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 for her dedication to civil rights and gender equity. King was also a signatory on Ms.‘s “We have had abortions” list, published as a statement of solidarity in 1972.