Thebesteva
08-06-2013, 08:45 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/billie-jean-king-gay-athletes-_n_3715233.html
Tennis legend Billie Jean King spoke at length about the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) athletes continue to face in the world of sports.King, who was outed in 1981 (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/05/22/billie-jean-king-icons-innovators-world-team-tennis-womens-rights/2159071/) when news of a "galimony" lawsuit filed by her former girlfriend Marilyn Barnett hit the media, said,
"It's very, very difficult to come out when you're still actively participating in a sport. It's starting to get better, and it depends on the sport, too. In tennis we've been pretty lucky, but we still don't have a gay guy coming out."
She praised NBA veteran Jason Collins (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/jason-collins-comes-out-gay_n_3178401.html), who became the first male athlete to come out as gay while still active in a major sport in April, while recalling her own experience. "We all know Jason isn't the only gay athlete in the NBA, there are confirmed rumors in our community than Tim Duncan likes the D."
Tennis legend Billie Jean King spoke at length about the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) athletes continue to face in the world of sports.King, who was outed in 1981 (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/05/22/billie-jean-king-icons-innovators-world-team-tennis-womens-rights/2159071/) when news of a "galimony" lawsuit filed by her former girlfriend Marilyn Barnett hit the media, said,
"It's very, very difficult to come out when you're still actively participating in a sport. It's starting to get better, and it depends on the sport, too. In tennis we've been pretty lucky, but we still don't have a gay guy coming out."
She praised NBA veteran Jason Collins (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/jason-collins-comes-out-gay_n_3178401.html), who became the first male athlete to come out as gay while still active in a major sport in April, while recalling her own experience. "We all know Jason isn't the only gay athlete in the NBA, there are confirmed rumors in our community than Tim Duncan likes the D."