Billie Jean King stands as one of the most transformative figures in sports history, not only for her tennis achievements but for her relentless fight for equality. Long before it was socially acceptable, she used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility, paving the way for safer, more inclusive environments for athletes worldwide. Her journey—from a private personal struggle to a public crusade—has reshaped how sports organizations approach diversity, mental health, and belonging. This article explores the depth of her contributions, examining how King’s courage, strategic initiatives, and lasting legacy continue to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ athletes in tennis and beyond.

Early Advocacy and Personal Courage

In 1981, Billie Jean King made headlines not for a championship win but for a personal revelation. After a former partner filed a palimony lawsuit, King was forced to publicly acknowledge her relationship with women, effectively coming out as gay. This occurred at a time when LGBTQ+ identities were criminalized, pathologized, and stigmatized. The risk was immense: sponsorships could vanish, endorsements could dry up, and her reputation could be destroyed. Yet King chose honesty over concealment.

Her decision to live openly, even under duress, shattered stereotypes and provided a vital example for countless closeted athletes. King later reflected that the ordeal was painful but ultimately freeing. “It was the worst day of my life,” she told The New York Times in a 2019 interview, “but it also liberated me.” That liberation rippled outward. Other tennis players—including Martina Navratilova, who also came out in the early 1980s—found strength in King’s example. Together, they began to normalize the idea that sexual orientation had no bearing on athletic excellence.

King’s early advocacy was not limited to her own story. She spoke out against homophobic slurs on tour, called for inclusive language in tournament materials, and privately counseled young players grappling with their identities. Her courage in the 1970s and 1980s laid the groundwork for a cultural shift that would eventually see the WTA and other organizations adopt explicit nondiscrimination policies. As historian Susan Cahn notes in her book Coming on Strong: Gender and Sexuality in Women’s Sport, “King’s visibility was a watershed moment that forced sports media and fans to confront the diversity of women in athletics.”

Initiatives in Tennis

Founding the WTA and Embedding Inclusion

When Billie Jean King founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973, her vision extended far beyond equal prize money. She understood that a professional organization must protect all its members—regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. The WTA’s Code of Conduct was among the first in sports to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, a radical provision at the time. King insisted that the WTA be a safe harbor for women who might otherwise face retaliation for being themselves.

This commitment was tested repeatedly. In the 1990s, when anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment surged during the HIV/AIDS crisis, the WTA doubled down on inclusive policies. King worked behind the scenes to ensure that players like Navratilova, who faced hostile media scrutiny, received support from the tour. She also advocated for the inclusion of same-sex partners in player services, such as hotel accommodations, medical benefits, and tournament credentials.

Today, the WTA’s Pride Month celebrations, rainbow-themed events, and partnerships with organizations like Athlete Ally are direct descendants of King’s foundational principles. The tour regularly features programming on LGBTQ+ history and mental health, emphasizing that tennis belongs to everyone. As WTA CEO Steve Simon stated in 2022, “Billie Jean instilled in us a moral responsibility to lead with equity. That legacy is alive in every policy we create.”

Visible Representation and Allyship

King used her platform to champion other LGBTQ+ players, both current and retired. She mentored players like Amélie Mauresmo, who came out as lesbian in 1999 and later praised King for “making it possible to breathe.” When Mauresmo faced homophobic heckling at the 1999 Australian Open, King publicly condemned the abuse and called for zero tolerance. She also supported transgender inclusion, speaking in favor of players like Renée Richards in the 1970s and later advocating for updated policies within the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

In 2016, King launched the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (BJKLI), which focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. While not exclusively sports–focused, the initiative provides resources and speaking platforms for LGBTQ+ athletes. Through BJKLI, King has hosted workshops on creating “psychological safety” in locker rooms and coaching staffs, emphasizing that true inclusion requires active allyship—not just passive tolerance. These workshops have been adopted by several NCAA athletic programs and professional tennis academies.

Creating Supportive Communities

The Billie Jean King Foundation

Recognizing that institutional change is essential for lasting safety, King established the Billie Jean King Foundation in 2014, which specifically supports programs that protect and empower LGBTQ+ youth in sports. The foundation partners with organizations like You Can Play, which works to combat homophobia in athletics, and Athlete Ally, which provides training for teams on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Through these collaborations, King has funded educational materials, crisis hotlines, and leadership retreats for queer athletes.

One of the foundation’s flagship programs is the Safe Spaces Initiative, which provides schools and sports clubs with toolkits for creating affirming locker rooms, team cultures, and event policies. The toolkit includes sample nondiscrimination policies, bystander intervention strategies, and resources for transitioning athletes. Since 2018, over 500 youth sports organizations have adopted the toolkit, and an evaluation study found a 65% reduction in reported homophobic incidents among participating teams.

Building Support Networks at Tournaments

King also influenced the physical environments of tournaments. She pushed for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ resource booths at major events like the US Open and Wimbledon. These booths offer mental health support, legal referrals, and peer connection for athletes, coaches, and fans. Additionally, King helped establish the WTA’s Player Liaison Program, which assigns trained staff to address any discrimination or harassment concerns immediately.

In 2021, the US Open dedicated a Pride Day within its schedule, featuring a rainbow‐themed court, a panel discussion with LGBTQ+ athletes, and a moment of silence for those lost to hate crimes. King participated in the panel, alongside Olympic rower Emma Twigg and former MLB player Billy Bean, emphasizing that visibility is a form of safety. “When young people see someone like me cheering for them from the stands,” King said, “they know they belong.”

Broader Impact on Sports and Society

Cross-Sport Advocacy and Policy Change

King’s influence extends far beyond tennis. She has served on the boards of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition under Barack Obama. In these roles, she championed policies requiring sports organizations to adopt explicit protections for sexual orientation and gender identity before receiving federal funding.

Her advocacy helped shape Title IX interpretations, ensuring that the landmark law covers LGBTQ+ students. In 2016, when the Obama administration issued guidelines protecting transgender students’ access to bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity, King issued a public statement applauding the move. She called it “a victory for common sense and human dignity.” The statement was widely circulated and bolstered the arguments of local activists fighting for trans inclusion in school sports.

Impact on Professional Leagues

King’s model of visible leadership has inspired similar work in other sports. The NBA, WNBA, NFL, and MLB have all created LGBTQ+ fan groups, player resource groups, and inclusion councils—many citing King’s 1970s tennis revolution as a blueprint. For instance, the NFL’s You Can Play partnership, launched in 2014, explicitly references King’s earlier collaboration with the organization. The WNBA, which has the highest percentage of out LGBTQ+ athletes in professional sports, regularly honors King during Pride month and credits her with normalizing open lesbian identities in women’s sports.

King also mentored Megan Rapinoe, the openly gay US Women’s National Soccer Team star, and Sue Bird, the legendary WNBA point guard. Rapinoe has said that King’s example gave her the courage to speak out on police brutality, equal pay, and LGBTQ+ rights. “Billie Jean showed me that being vocal is part of being an athlete,” Rapinoe told Sports Illustrated in 2019. “She proved that our voices can change systems.”

International Reach

King’s work has also taken her to countries where LGBTQ+ rights are under threat. She has met with athletes in Russia, Uganda, and Jamaica, providing private counsel on staying safe while competing. Through her foundation, she has funded emergency relocation grants for LGBTQ+ athletes from regions with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. These grants allow athletes to train or compete in countries with better protections, reducing the risk of violence or arrest.

In 2023, King launched the Global Safe Sport Network with support from the International Tennis Federation. The network connects LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and administrators from 40 countries, sharing best practices for creating inclusive environments. A key component is the anonymous reporting platform where athletes can report discrimination without fear of retaliation. The platform has already received over 2,000 reports since its launch, leading to policy changes in several national tennis federations.

Legacy and Continuing Efforts

Billie Jean King is now in her 80s, but her activism shows no signs of slowing. In 2024, she testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of the Equality Act, a bill that would enshrine federal protections for LGBTQ+ people in housing, employment, and public accommodations—including sports facilities. Her testimony highlighted the real-world harm of discrimination policies, sharing stories of young athletes who were forced to hide their identities or quit sports entirely.

King also launched a new initiative called “Love All, Play All”, a global campaign encouraging tennis clubs to adopt inclusive language in their codes of conduct. The campaign includes a certification program for clubs that meet diversity benchmarks: having at least one LGBTQ+ staff member or board member, creating a gender-neutral changing area, and providing annual LGBTQ+ sensitivity training for coaches. Over 300 clubs worldwide have already earned certification.

Addressing Remaining Gaps

Despite progress, King acknowledges that significant challenges remain. Transgender athletes, especially trans women, face ongoing battles for participation rights. King has been a vocal supporter of trans inclusion, arguing that bans based on gender identity are discriminatory and unscientific. She recently co-signed an open letter with other sports legends, including Serena Williams and Magic Johnson, urging the NCAA to reject blanket bans on transgender athletes.

Additionally, King continues to push for better mental health resources for LGBTQ+ athletes. Her foundation recently partnered with the JED Foundation to create a series of online modules on resilience and identity, specifically tailored for queer teenagers in competitive sports. The modules are used in over 2,000 high schools across the United States.

How to Carry the Torch

King’s work demonstrates that creating safe spaces is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing responsibility. She frequently reminds younger activists that “change requires everyday action.” Fans can support her efforts by amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, donating to the Billie Jean King Foundation, and holding their local sports organizations accountable for inclusive policies. For athletes considering coming out, King advises, “You don’t have to do it alone. Find your allies, start small, and know that your authenticity is your power.”

For more on Billie Jean King’s continuing advocacy, visit the Billie Jean King website, which features her foundation’s resources and upcoming speaking engagements. To read about the WTA’s Pride initiatives, see the WTA’s official inclusion page. For insights on creating inclusive sports environments, the Athlete Ally organization offers free training toolkits.

From the clay courts of Roland Garros to the halls of Congress, Billie Jean King has proven that a single voice can ignite transformation. Her legacy is not just a statue at the US Open or a name on a trophy—it is the living reality of millions of LGBTQ+ athletes who can now step onto the field, court, or pitch knowing they are seen, respected, and safe. And she is far from done.