 Billie
Jean King was born in Long Beach, California in 1943. In her early
years she was an exceptional softball player, but her parents
introduced her to tennis, the game that would change her life
forever.
In 1967 Billie Jean was named "Outstanding Female Athlete of
the World". In 1972 Sports Illustrated magazine selected her as
"Sportsperson of the Year", the first woman to be so honored.
Billie Jean was the first female athlete to win over $100,000
prize money in a single season. Billie Jean King spoke out for
women and their right to earn comparable money in tennis and other
sports. Her constant lobbying and commitments have broken many
barriers.
Billie Jean King established the first successful women's
professional tennis tour. She founded tennis clinics for
underprivileged children. For her contributions to tennis as
President of Tennis-America, Billie Jean King was awarded the
National Service Bowl.
In March, 2000, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
[GLAAD] awarded Ms. King the Capitol Award* for her invaluable
service to the LGBT community including "her donation of hundreds
of copies of the acclaimed educational documentary It's
Elementary to the Chicago public school system; her
participation in the making of Out of the Past; and her service on
the boards of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the National AIDS
Fund."
*The Capitol Award is given to an openly lesbian or gay
individual who has achieved excellence in a specific area of media
and furthered the visibility and inclusion of the community
through his/her work.
REFERENCE
GLAAD Media Release, April 26, 2000
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