Billie Jean King: "You do have to live your truth..."

The photo (right) of tennis legend Billie Jean King was taken at Wimbledon in 1982. She was 38 years old and a year earlier, had been outed by her former female lover who was suing her for palimony. King, with her then-husband Larry and her parents at her side, had at an emotional press conference and bravely acknowledged the relationship which had taken place for several years in the mid-1970s. What I find amazing was that when all of this became public, Billie Jean's career was thought to be all but over. But she got herself into shape, went back on tour, and upset reigning U.S. open champion Tracy Austin to make it to the Wimbledon semifinals. She may have lost a close three-setter to Chris Evert in the semis, but she reminded the world that she was still a great player. Billie Jean was back in the top 10, won some tournaments and made it to the semis again at Wimbledon (where she held a record 20 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles) again in 1983 before retiring.
Billie Jean, long one of my great personal heroes, recently talked to The Advocate about that time in her life, about former doubles partner Martina Navratilova's coming out, and about Renee Richards who became the first transsexual to play on the women's tour.
On Renee Richards, who has a new memoir out: "No Way Renee: The Second Half of My Notorious Life": "I think she should be so proud. Every generation passes the baton to the next. It had to be horrible for her. But you do have to live your truth; that's what Renee did."
On being outed: "Both Martina and I were still closeted at the time. Martina told me, 'I knew when I was born I was gay.' I said, 'What?' You did?' I didn't know at all; I didn't have a clue. Martina and I were both going to be outed. I was outed, but she was going to be, and that's the reason she came forward. She was not going to do it otherwise, believe me. It was really rough times for us."
On athletes coming out: "It's the gay guys that have it even rougher. We need quarterbacks of football teams stepping up and saying, 'This guy's gay, suck it up, get over it.' I saw [former NFL commisioner] Paul Tagliabue at a Patriots game and he said: "Guess what? My son's going to be head of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.' He was so excited, so sweet. One person at a time. Little steps. Little shifts."