Billie Jean King: Coming out as gay in 1970s would have set back women's pro tennis tour
at 22:09 on August 06, 2013, EDT.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Billie Jean King said Tuesday that she couldn't have revealed herself as being gay in the 1970s because it would have damaged the fledgling women's professional tennis tour.
King became the first prominent female athlete to come out as gay in 1981 after her partner filed a palimony lawsuit against her.
"I don't think it would have helped the situation. I think it would have hurt us more because we were just getting started," she told a Television Critics Association session.