Posted: 7/19/15 at 12:16pm
"Meanwhile Renee Richards sits in her small home in upstate New York at age 80 thinking ESPN FINALLY gives an award for courage to a Transgender and they give it to her? Are you kidding me?"
I've been so reluctant to go there but you nailed it. I vividly recall recall Renee's impact on pro tennis after she was finally admitted into a WTA-sanctioned tournament. A few highly ranked players on the women's tour boycotted the first couple of events that she entered while a couple more of Renee's competitors walked off the court on separate occasions rather than lose to her fairly.
I in no way mean to discount Caitlyn's contribution toward advancing awareness of transgender issues and promoting acceptance of transgender people in general. But, that trail was blazed long before her by none other than Ms. Richards with nary a jot of self-promotion.
Check out the article linked below for a glimpse of what life was like for Renee after her transition. For many Americans, like me at the time, Renne was our first encounter however remotely with a member of the transgender community period. And tennis at the time was the epitome of "establishment".
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