The Pitt News
T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | june 5, 2019 | Volume 110 | Issue 5
DELTA’S PRIDE OFFERS SPACE FOR LGBTQ EXPRESSION Vaibhav Gupta Staff Writer
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Roaring music, dancing and cheers filled the atmosphere in Downtown on Sunday afternoon as the annual Pittsburgh Pride Equality March passed through the streets, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and its history. This year, the annual Pittsburgh Pride and Equality March, organized by the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, was the largest ever. It took place on June 8 in the heart of Downtown, with hundreds of thousands of Pittsburghers participating. According to James Egan, an assistant professor in the Pitt School of Public Health, Pride is a political action and represents LGBTQ+ individuals seeking societal equality after poor treatment in the 1960s. “For me, the first few Prides in the ’90s [was about] the idea of reclaiming public space and occupying with queer bodies all at once was life changing. Because especially in the ’80s and the ’90s, there wasn’t a lot of positive queer representation in media,” Egan said. “To claim the public space felt like a revolutionary thing.” But some Pittsburghers say that the Foundation has allowed its Pride to stray from its origins and become overrun by corporations and instead marched in the third annual People’s Pride. The first Pride took place the year after the Stonewall Riots, the 1969 series of demonstrations at New York City’s Stonewall Inn that kicked off the modern gay rights movement. There were hurdles along the way, especially during the HIV and AIDS epidemic, which
BIG PRIDE ENERGY
Demonstrators march across the Roberto Clemente Bridge during Sunday’s People’s Pride. Thomas Yang |visual editor
PEOPLE’S PRIDE LIFTS TRANS ACTIVISTS OF COLOR Emily Wolfe
Contributing Editor
Three brown paper-mache figures led the People’s Pride parade as it moved through Downtown Sunday. There was Marsha Johnson, a drag queen and transgender activist known for her involvement in the Stonewall Riots. There was Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, another transgender Stonewall veteran who remains a prominent activist. And there was the “baby of the future.” To the few hundred marchers in People’s Pride, the figures represented the past, present and future of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. And this Pride was more than a joyous affirmation and celebration of identity — though it was that too. It was a conscious See Delta’s Prideon page 2 alternative to the other Pride happening in
Pittsburgh on the same day. “Stand down, Delta,” the marchers chanted. The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh is the organization behind Pittsburgh’s other, larger annual Pride. As the People’s Pride parade marched down the Roberto Clemente Bridge from Downtown to the North Side, the colorful tents and banners of Delta’s Pittsburgh PrideFest were set up on the neighboring Andy Warhol Bridge, just a few hundred feet away. Later in the day, a much larger group of celebrators would gather there for Delta’s Pride. Fifty years have passed since the Stonewall Riots, the 1969 series of demonstrations at New York City’s Stonewall Inn that kicked off the modern gay rights movement.
The first gay pride parade was held one year later in remembrance of the riots, and every year since, there have been more. And since 2017, Pittsburgh has had two competing marches. People’s Pride, organized by the transgender-centered shelter and activist group SisTersPGH, offers a Pride centered on the trans members and members of color of the LGBTQ+ community. Ciora Thomas, the activist behind SisTersPGH, stood on the float at the front of the parade, holding a modernized Pride flag which includes stripes for the transgender community and LGBTQ+ people of color. Delta’s Pride has been criticized by some as a corporatized, whitewashed version of See People’s Pride on page 3
News
2 additional students awarded Fulbrights pittnews.com
Pitt students couch-surfing after SkyVue electrical fire pittnews.com
PHILIPPINE NATIONALITY ROOM OPENS DOORS TO PUBLIC Martha Layne
For The Pitt News Upbeat instrumental music filtered through the Cathedral of Learning Sunday as ceremonial dancers twirled and spun in traditional outfits, celebrating the opening of the new Philippine Nationality Room. After 20 years of planning and fundraising, Pittsburgh’s Filipino community and Pitt administrators held a grand opening for the Nationality Room Sunday. Located in room 313, it is the 31st in Pitt’s collection and sixth Asian-inspired room overall. It is the most recent Nationality Room to open since the Korean room in 2015. Pittsburgh’s Filipino community is not very large and is largely concentrated in the City’s suburbs. The Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh first approached
Pitt in 1998 with the idea to create a Nationality Room focused on Filipino culture. Since then, the group has faced numerous setbacks, including a significant change in the group’s bylaws in 2010. The changed bylaws stated that only FAAP board members could be on the FAAP’s Nationality Room committee, meaning that some committee members could no longer be part of the project. As a result of the changed bylaws and disagreements that followed, the Philippine Nationality Room task force was formed, with representatives from three groups: FAAP, the Philippine American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh, a performing arts group that specializes in promoting Filipino culture through the arts, and the Philippine American Medical Society of Western Pennsylva-
nia, an organization that focuses on annually traveling to the Philippines to provide medical care to the impoverished people there. The task force is chaired by Father Manny Gelido of the Roman Catholic Parish of St. James the Greater in Charles Town, West Virginia. Jaime Abola, a FAAP and task force member as well as a 1974 Pitt graduate, said the room’s architecture and style was based directly off visits to the Philippines. “The committee then traveled to the Philippines, went around, we had a consultant who was a professor of history at one of the universities to help decide,” Abola said. “We finally ended up deciding on this kind of architecture. In our language, it’s ‘Bahay na Bato,’ which means ‘house of stone.’” Bahay na Bato-styled homes feature a
Delta’s Pride, pg. 1 claimed the lives of at least 325,000 LGBTQ+ individuals, according to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. However, attitudes have changed — according to a Pew Reseach Poll, 61% of Americans support same-sex marriage in 2019 compared to the 37% approval in 2009. For some individuals, Pride is a way to reveal their identity without fear of repercussions. Eugene Lin, a second-year student studying prosthetics and orthopedics in the Pitt School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said participating in Pride was an opportunity for him to be part of a larger community. “For me, it is about accepting myself for who I am, accepting what I am, not being afraid of anything, not being intimidated to be truly myself,” Lin said. “LGBT people still need a space and having that space in Pride allows us to be seen and not intimidated.” Some organizations have been working for decades to build such spaces to support LGBTQ+ individuals and welcome the increased
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The Steel City Sisters at Sunday’s Equality March. Thomas Yang |visual editor public attention. Mary Bockovich, a member of Allies for Health and Wellbeing from Washington Landing, said Pride stands for loving each other and embracing inclusivity for all individuals. Allies for Health and Wellbeing was originally founded as the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force more than 35 years ago to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic, which disproportionately impacted LGBTQ+ individuals
at the time. “Simply, what Pride means is love for everyone and the whole world,” Bockovich said. “Pride has grown exponentially since it was first started. Now we have thousands and tens of thousands participating in this event and showing who they are.” Among the attendees at Delta’s Pride were numerous religious groups present to support LGBTQ+ members. Many, but not
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stone foundation, inspired by the Spanish, with a light, wooden upper part to withstand the tropical nature of the country. Filipino culture is heavily influenced by the Spanish, who invaded the islands in the 16th century. The Philippines, which is a string of around 7,100 islands in the Pacific Ocean and has an ethnically diverse population of about 107 million, was also a sovereign territory of the United States before gaining its independence after World War II. The Nationality Room representing the country features a large ornate mirror on one wall, following the Filipino custom to hang a mirror in every home. The back panel of the room’s chairs are made of delicate woven material.
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all, churches have long stood against homosexuality and LGBTQ+ rights, including the Roman Catholic Church, though sentiments have been evolving. Pope Francis said in an April statement that homosexuality tendencies are “not a sin” in the eyes of God. Will Forrest, a church organizer at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church from Crafton Heights, said the church marched in Pride to show support for their fellow members as well as LGBTQ+ individuals, who they believe are also God’s children. “We are here because we believe that everyone is made in God’s image,” Forrest said. “We are here to support our LGBT siblings, whom we accept with open arms.” Egan states that Pride can help reduce stigma by fostering a larger envionment of visibility for the LGBTQ+ community, which has helped to reduce discrimination toward the community. “The visibility is the most important piece for challenging stigma, kind of being open about who you are,” Egan said. “Being a part of Pride is a way to challenge that stigma that is present in society and allow yourself to be part and accepted by a community.”
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People’s Pride, pg. 1 Pride that ignores the movement’s roots. In comparison, the marchers at People’s Pride yelled the story of those roots as they marched through the streets. “First pride was a riot! Queers, don’t deny it!” they chanted. Several elected officials joined the People’s Pride marchers as they moved through the streets, including Mayor Bill Peduto and state Reps. Sara Innamorato and Summer Lee. Pitt’s LGBTQ+ organizations joined the People’s Pride too, including oSTEM, Rainbow Alliance and Pitt Queer Professionals. Briar Sommerville, who passed out Pride-themed Pitt T-shirts at the parade alongside other members of Pitt Queer Professionals, said her group chose People’s Pride over Delta’s for a variety of reasons. The Delta Pride’s ties to corporate interests were one reason, they said. But also, it’s just cheaper to table at the People’s Pride. “It makes more sense for us to hang out with all these lovely small nonprofit groups,” Sommerville said.
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Steel City Roller Derby at Sunday’s People’s Pride. Thomas Yang |visual editor Meredith Donaldson, a Pitt graduate student in the physician assistant’s program, took one of the T-shirts. Donaldson said she hadn’t even known there was a difference between the two Prides, so she didn’t weigh different options when choosing which Pride to go to. But it seemed obvious for her to go to at least one of them, Donaldson said. “I believe that everyone should have equal rights, especially everyone in the
LGBT community. I grew up in a very accepting household,” Donaldson said, adding that her sister and stepsister are both lesbians. “It’s always been pretty common knowledge for us to be accepting of people who are different.” Sylvia Lin, who works in the epidemiology department at Pitt, attended with a group who called themselves “Pittsburgh Taiwanese for Equality.” Holding the Taiwanese flag high, the group wanted to tell
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the march’s attendees and observers something they might not have already known — that in May, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Lin said she hopes other Asian countries will follow in Taiwan’s footsteps and make same-sex marriage legal. “We want people to know that Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage,” Lin said. “We think it’s a really important milestone for Asian countries, and we hope other countries can support same-sex marriage.” Though the People’s Pride march wasn’t as large as Delta’s Pride, the marchers shouted, played instruments and sang loudly to make their presence heard as they marched through the streets. Thomas led them in a traditional labor standard, replacing Malcolm X’s name with the names of trans women of color. “Marsha Johnson was a freedom fighter and she taught us how to fight,” they sang. “What side are you on, my people? What side are you on?” The marchers knew their answer. “We’re on the freedom side!” they shouted.
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Opinions
The ideal way to corporatize LGBTQ+ identity pittnews.com
Editorial: Acknowledge progress and pitfalls during Pride pittnews.com
column
PRIDE: POLITICAL AND A PART Y Julia Kreutzer Staff Columnist
Philadelphia’s largest-ever Pride parade, held on Sunday, featured an array of the city’s most lively and spirited LGBTQ+ citizens and allies. Philadelphians lined the streets honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in 1969. But the parade I took part in was far more lighthearted than the riots it was intended to commemorate. There has been increasing debate within the LGBTQ+ community on the future of Pride parades themselves. Some argue it is a necessary event to champion progress, while others believe it has become a grandiose means for companies to capitalize on support. The very existence of the standard Pride parade is also being threatened. Beirut cancelled what would have been the first Pride parade in the region in 2018, while the Super Happy Fun America Organization is planning its first straight-pride parade in Boston, ironically featuring gay right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos as the grand marshall. Yiannopoulos expressed his excitement to heroically support his straight friends through the perils of oppression that plague heterosexuals in a heteronormative world. “Men, bring your most toxic selves. Women, prepare to burn your briefcases!” Yiannopoulos jeered. “Because it’s great to be straight, and we’re not apologizing for it any more. We’re Here, Not Queer.” As Pride becomes the target of mockery, a controversial event among members of the community themselves or outright prohibited, its future is unclear. While Pride in 2019 is far different than Stonewall, if executed with respect, it can be an incredible time to both toast to how far we’ve come and push for continued progress. It is imperative that members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike push for the continued growth of Pride events in ways that support and include everyone in the community. To be clear, no one is arguing that a celebration of authenticity is a bad thing — instead, we should want to draw attention to the ways our commu-
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nity has been exploited for financial gain or by individuals who want to seem like a courageous activist on social media. Krista Burton, writer for the online magazine Rookie, explains many feel Pride has strayed from its original intention. “It’s yet another place that straight white people now feel 100% welcome, even though they feel perfectly at home in any public space,” Burton wrote. “Having allies is wonderful, but sometimes I wish they could be allies every other day of the year and let us have a party as gay and naked and radical and un-family-friendly as we queers might like. Now it feels like Pride is one long advertisement for which company is the most woke, and this blatant ‘We, too, are so accepting, give us your dollars’ messaging is off-putting.” Her point makes sense. The parade I saw was more of a party than a march. On every corner, one could buy a rainbow flag for $15 while holding a special edition soda can and wearing a shirt that said “If you’re not gay friendly, get your ass home.” I, too, fell into this trap, walking blocks to find the perfect location where I could pose in front of a waving flag and the rainbow-decorated police car. It was far from the riots where, just 50 years ago, queer icons like Marsha P. Johnson and thousands of Stonewallers took an assertive stand for their rights. While Stonewall was no party, some are celebrating it with one. But in the half century since Stonewall, this movement has metamorphosed into a booming societal push for acceptance and already made incredible strides. According to the Pew Research Center, 61% of Americans support gay marriage, while only 31% oppose. The opposite was the case in 2004. Many feel it’s time to celebrate that, at least in our area, the rebellion doesn’t have to be violent anymore, it can be filled with love and dancing and overwhelming pride. Beyond this, Pride broadcasts a powerful and incredibly necessary message: We are here. Casey Given, a contributor for The Washington Examiner, explains that Pride is about so much more than a party. “Pride month is fundamentally a celebration of individual autonomy and the freedom to pursue a happy life according to one’s own terms,”
The Philadelphia Pride flag. image via wikimedia commons Given wrote. “A public celebration of the LGBT community is vital, broadcasting to the world that queer people can find love and acceptance if they have the strength to seek it.” This message is critical for people in desperate need of support. Loneliness has been a critical issue among the LGBTQ+ community for centuries. These parades show queer folk they don’t have to be alone. And even for those with a support system, recent headlines like “Lesbian couple viciously beaten in homophobic attack on London bus” and “Alabama mayor suggested ‘killing out’ gay people” remind us that there is still plenty of reason to fear being a LGBTQ+ member of society. Seeing a tangible example of a blossoming community of fellow queer people normalizes non-heterosexual identities and can literally save lives. What is ultimately necessary is a modernized middle ground between the impassioned fight of Stonewall in 1969 and the sometimes materialistic festivals of today. We can create a celebration of authenticity by committing to a few tangible changes. Purchase your Pride gear from companies that meaningfully partner with organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Buy the “Super Gay” tank from American Eagle, but make sure it actually supports the cause. (Spoiler alert: 100% of the proceeds go to the It Gets Bet-
June 12, 2019
ter Project, which combats suicide in the LGBTQ+ community by instilling hope in struggling queer teens.) If you go to Pride, post as much as you want on Insta but also consider donating to organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, or the Trevor Project, the leading suicide intervention and crisis support provider for LGBTQ+ youth, and resist the urge to show your Facebook friends just how generous you are. If you’re a straight ally, take Pride as an opportunity not just to celebrate your LGBTQ+ friends and family, but to listen to their grievances and concerns as well. Continue to stand up for and behind members of the LGBTQ+ community past the month of June. Pride is a beautiful, complex demonstration of love and support. And while it is absolutely about singing your heart out as a drag queen twerks on top of a moving Kia Soul (which was an incredible start to my Sunday morning), it is so much more. It is for the young kids who saw hundreds of thousands of their neighbors and friends and peers modeling that being fully yourself is possible. It is for the Stonewallers who fought for our chance to eat ice cream in glitter, crop tops and body paint. It’s for the queer people we can see and especially those we can’t. Amidst the party, we must not forget that.
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Culture
Birthing a Movement art exhibit pittnews.com
PRIDE ADVOCATES GATHER ‘RO C K E T M A N ’ ON ANDY WARHOL BRIDGE BLASTS OFF Siddhi Shockey Staff Writer
The Andy Warhol Bridge swarmed with people dressed in an array of glittering, feathered, skin-tight ensembles in every color of the rainbow on Saturday. Some carried flags representing the gay, bisexual, transgender and genderqueer communities. People held hands and kissed and danced through the streets in proud celebration. Pittsburgh PrideFest took place from the afternoon of June 8 until the evening of June 9 on the intersection of the Andy Warhol Bridge and Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Booths sponsored by organizations ranging from UPMC to the Pittsburgh Frontrunners, an LGBTQ+ friendly running group that frequents the Schenley Park trails, were showcased during the two day event celebrating LGBTQ+ pride. The theme for this year’s Pride, which was chosen by the Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ community in the fall via a vote on the Delta Foundation Facebook page, was “We Are One.” Christine Bryan is the director of marketing and development for the Delta Foundation, who organized PrideFest as well as the other Pittsburgh Pride events such as the Equality March. Bryan said she hoped the event would help unite the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike. “I think it talks about the fact that we need to come together as one community regardless of our differences because we are stronger as one voice,” Bryan said. “In order to get to [equality] we need to have a loud and power-
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ful voice.” The theme of unity continued throughout the event by joining together people and organizations from a variety of backgrounds. At different stalls, people could purchase fans, shirts and art designed by members of the community. LGBTQ+-friendly churches, social organizations and advocacy groups like the ACLU also handed out water and fliers to passersby. A highlight of this year’s festival was the Check Your Blindspots Unconscious Bias tour, which made its first appearance at PrideFest this year. Check Your Blindspots is a mobile exhibit housed in a tour bus that aims to help people uncover their own unconscious biases and learn ways to become more inclusive of others in their day to day lives. Created by CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, the exhibit consists of interactive stations, such as the “through a different lens” viewfinder and the “perspective matters” virtual reality experience. The Pittsburgh health care community also rallied together to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community at PrideFest. Allegheny Health Network, Highmark and UPMC brought mobile clinics designed to provide free HIV and STI testing, BMI measurements, blood pressure and blood glucose checks to anyone at the event. Kelly Strong — a Bridgeville resident and head of marketing for Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network — hopes that AHN and memSee Pride Advocates on page 6
Melanie Pantano For The Pitt News
“Rocketman” is the story that Elton John wants us to know. The film, directed by Dexter Fletcher, traces soft-rock superstar Elton John’s (Taron Egerton) rise to fame, beginning in his early childhood and ending during his rehab stint in the 1990s. You can essentially read John’s Wikipedia page while simultaneously playing his greatest hits to get a sense of what the film entails. Do not go into this biopic expecting a gritty rock ‘n’ roll climb to fame. “Rocketman,” released May 31, is a neat and tidy diamond-encrusted Hollywood package delivered conveniently in time for the second leg of John’s ongoing farewell tour. At times it is a little silly, which may usually warrant an eye roll, but in this case it feels like a window into John’s personality. The playful nature and overall positivity show John’s peaceful perspective towards the chaotic moments of his life. His difficulties with addiction and tense relationship with his parents breathes life into the overall story. Although the film boasts an R-rating, it is pretty mellow. Drug use is very much present, though it is never particularly graphic or disturbing. Most of the heavy subject matter (sex, addiction, alcohol abuse) is handled in such a way that neither alienates the audience nor hinders the overall light tone of the film. What is most surprising about this picture is that it actually was more of a musical than a by-the-book documentary of his life. At first, the musical numbers feels slightly absurd, but these moments are also where a lot of creative liberty blossomed, producing a refreshing take on event-inspired storytelling. These efforts create a distinct energy and help separate it from other biopics. As far as the performances go, Egerton
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did a great job becoming John both visually and musically. However, it lacked the effortless power John’s live performances exhibit. When listening to John, there is an organic ease with his vocals. Egerton did well enough in mimcing this, but certain pronunciations and tambers felt contrived. And the instrumental performance at times did not mirror the intricacies that make one go gaga for certain numbers, like the keyboard in “Bennie and the Jets” and la-la-la’s in “Crocodile Rock.” The songs had to be manipulated to fill time constraints, and certain musical elements were changed in service of the scene. However, this is always an issue with a reproduction — it never will truly capture the essence of the real thing. One of the most impressive features of this film is the costuming and close visual attention to the era. Costume designer Julian Day did a spectacular job at recreating almost all of John’s iconic looks while nailing the fashion tropes of the late ’60s and early ’70s. It was pure fun to be reminded of each one of John’s many fantastic outfits, such as his gem-covered Dodgers uniform from his two day sold-out residency at Dodger Stadium and his angel look from an at-home photoshoot in 1974. From the gigantic glasses and the bedazzled platform heels to the kaleidoscopic jackets, Egerton flaunted all of John’s most iconic looks with comfortable panache. After the film addresses John’s humble beginnings, it dips into what is true heart of the film — John’s struggle with being accepted for his sexuality. John came out publicly as bisexual in 1976 and openly gay in 1992. “Rocketman” does a great job at portraying the personal difficulties of coming out and feeling accepted, especially by your loved ones.
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5
Pride Advocates, pg. 5 bers of the LGBTQ+ community can continue to work together to make efforts to achieve equitable healthcare, no matter a person’s sexuality or gender identity. “Everyone needs an honest and good health care and they need providers that they can trust,” Strong said. “The relationship a patient has with their doctor is extremely unique and extremely personal and we have to take their privacy into consideration and care for them as they want to and should be treated.” Whether it was to support local art and Pride culture or uplift those in the community, the thread of unity brought people together in many forms. For Kim and Jay Harrison of Lawrence County, this took shape in the form of hugs, as the couple each wore a shirt saying “Free Mom/Dad Hugs” and welcomed anyone with open embrace. “We’re here because we have friends
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year. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, making Pittsburgh Pride and PrideFest more monumental to many in the LGBTQ+ community. “For some people, it’s a chance to come out and be themselves because maybe they live in a town or live in a family or they may still be questioning,” Bryan said. “For some it’s a time to remember folks that we lost from the HIV/ AIDS crisis. For others, it’s to remember a time when you couldn’t walk down the street, you couldn’t talk about your partner at work or you couldn’t tell your doctor.” Bryan also hopes that this year’s “We Are One” theme will inspire more people to become allies and support change alongside members of the com“Free Mom Hugs” at Sunday’s Equality March. Thomas Yang | visual editor munity. “We like to stand for something, not and family and a lot of people in our family who loves them, we can be their against something,” Bryan said. “So we lives belong to this community, and family.” like to bring people together, start conI just don’t want anybody to not feel For Bryan, this concept is something versations. We believe you can have laws loved ever,” Kim said. “So if there’s that has driven her work with Pittsburgh all you want, but you have to change peoanybody who’s here who doesn’t have a Pride and the Delta Foundation this ple’s hearts.”
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Sports
3 Panthers selected in MLB Draft pittnews.com
column
WOMEN'S TENNIS LEADS THE FIELD ON COMING OUT
Neena Hagen
Senior Staff Writer Australian tennis star Margaret Court made headlines and record books with her U.S. Open win in 1973, when she became the first mother in history to win three of the four Grand Slams, the most prestigious tournaments in tennis. Nearly a quartercentury later, Court made news again, lashing out at women’s players who don’t adhere to her heteronormative, family-centric life on tour. “Tennis is full of lesbians,” Court, now a pastor, said sourly in a 2017 interview. “Everyone knows it’s wrong … [The church] is here to help them overcome [that lifestyle].” Now, tennis legends Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, fittingly Court’s biggest career rivals, are rightly asking that her name be stripped from the Austrialian Open’s arena after her remarks caused an uproar across the tennis tour. Court’s homophobia is appalling, but she’s right about one thing: women’s tennis is indeed replete with lesbians, always has been — and it’s absolutely glorious. The French open last year contained three lesbians in the 128-player draw, for example. Australian pro, Casey Dellacqua, made headlines in 2013 when her female partner had a baby. These storylines are rare in the sporting world. Most professional sports are lucky to have one gay player. The first in the NBA, Jason Collins, didn’t come out until 2013, and football fans had to wait until 2018 for Bradley Kim. Men’s tennis doesn’t even have a single openly gay player. Women’s tennis has broken all trends with LGBTQ+ players in sports, and a cursory glance into its history reveals why. While today’s WTA seems like a beacon of gay pride, we’re actually long past tennis’ golden age of lesbianism, which paved the way for women to acheive equal prize money and en-
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Australia’s Casey Dellacqua returns the ball to USA’s Venus Williams during the Sony Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida, on Sunday, March 23, 2014. david santiago/el nuevo herald/mct joy higher viewing numbers than any other women’s sport. It all started when Billie Jean King burst onto the tennis scene in the 1960s with her mane of dark orange hair and piercing baseline game. But instead of kicking back and enjoying her world number one rank, King led a movement of lower- and mid-ranked women’s players to boycott the U.S. Open in 1973, demanding equal pay for both sexes, an endeavor that immediately succeeded. She famously beat Bobby Riggs in the mostwatched tennis match ever, ‘The Battle of the Sexes,’ after Court lost to Riggs weeks prior in a match colloquially referred to as the Mother’s Day massacre. “Sports are a microcosm of society,” King said. “I wanted to use sports for social change … I used to be told that if I talked about my sexuality in any way we wouldn’t have a tennis tour.” King, who owns 12 Grand Slam titles,
also became the first professional athlete in the world to come out as gay in 1981, when she was unceremoniously outed by a palimony suit from an ex-lover. She subsequently lost all of her endorsements and was forced to prolong her tennis career past age 40, just to afford legal fees. Eighteen-time slam champion Martina Navratilova didn’t fare much better. She was outed by a reporter only months after the King scandal, also losing millions of dollars in endorsements. Together, the tennis legends broke a barrier in sports — they came out decades before any other athlete. “[Tennis] doesn’t know barriers, really,” Navratilova said. “You are judged on your performance … how far you can jump, how fast you can run, how well you can hit a tennis ball.” And this is the way that sports should be. If only it were true in the 1980s. Navratilova
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was perhaps the most gallant volleyer of her time, brandishing her racquet like a magic wand at net. She won more grand slams than anyone of her generation. But despite Navratilova’s success, being a lesbian and a European among Americans made it hard for her to win over fans. Navratilova and King made a sacrifice that their successors on the women’s tour have said they appreciate. Grand Slam champions Amelie Mauresmo and Jana Novotna were able to come out in the 1990s, when most athletes were still in the closet, because their predecessors had already done so. Current players, like Alison Van Uytvanck and Conny Perrin have also cited the two superstars as their inspiration for coming out. But while women’s tennis has several openly gay players, none have since matched King and Navratilova’s star power or dedication to activism. Court’s statements take us backwards in the fight against anti-gay prejudice — not just in sports, but in all veins of public life. King and Navratilova are still involved in activism and, to their credit, have pushed back strongly against Court’s remarks, but where are the modern players speaking up? We shouldn’t need 20th century legends to fight 21st century battles. Professional tennis players, lesbian or otherwise, need to step to the plate — or baseline — and call out behavior that tarnishes the image of professional tennis. Maybe that’s too much to ask for. Maybe the entire tennis universe has been spoiled by having King and Navratilova as the sport’s leading champions. But perhaps a player will come along in the next few years who can match their talent and vigor for both the sport and social issues. Until then, we have history books full of lesbian tennis heroism to keep us inspired.
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Add. + $5.00 + $5.40
(Each Additional Word: $0.10)
Deadline:
Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978
South Oakland 3408 Parkview Ave. Studios, 1‑2‑3 BRS Available June &Aug. Pet Friendly & Park ing. CALL NOW! 412‑455‑5600 LARGE, SOL‑ ID‑BUILD HOUSES FOR 2‑3 PEOPLE, each with spacious kitchen and living room, nice roomy backyard, enjoyable front porch, some recent renovations ‑ starting August 25. Only $365‑$450 per room. Call 412‑692‑1770 to see houses. Off‑Campus 3‑4 BR, private bath furnished apartments. Walking distance. Campus Shuttle. Quiet House. 412‑621‑9034
pittnews.com
June 12, 2019
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