Advancement of Women in Tennis & Sports: Billie Jean King Testifies Before U.S. Senate

 "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
-Title IX, of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 USC Section 1681, et. seq.

On the 40th anniversary of Title IX, Billie Jean King, legendary tennis player and trailblazer in advancing the rights of women in tennis and sports in general, testified in Congress in support of this landmark law. 

Most observers believe that no other single piece of legislation in modern times has done more than Title IX to help the cause of gender equality in sports and education in our society.

King has been a vocal and historical voice in support of equal rights, pay and status for women, as well as for lesbians and gays. 

King is only one of two tennis players to ever win our nation's highest honor - the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the other being Arthur Ashe). 

Billie Jean, and other prominent women, spoke to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on June 19, 2012.