‘Advancing equity’: Billie Jean King marks 50th anniversary of Title IX

Source: AP

The former tennis champion Billie Jean King joined the First Lady, Jill Biden, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The legislation was enacted in 1972 and prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs. It is credited with promoting gender equity in sports and advancing opportunities for millions of American women since then. King pointed out however, that the primary beneficiaries of Title IX have been white suburban girls. She pointed to girls of colour, girls with disabilities, trans athletes, and all LGBTQ+ youth when she spoke of re-energising ‘focus on strengthening and advancing equity and opportunity for all girls and women’.