Billie Jean King to Receive Congressional Gold Medal

The House voted overwhelmingly to award the Congressional Gold Medal to tennis legend​ and equal rights advocate Billie Jean King, making her the first female⁢ individual athlete to receive the ⁢nation’s highest civilian honor.

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY),⁢ Shelley Moore Capito (WV), and Kyrsten Sinema ⁣(Independent, Arizona) introduced a bill to honor King’s achievements. Last September,⁣ King celebrated​ the 50th anniversary of her 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” victory over Bobby Riggs, still the most-watched tennis match of all time.⁢ That same year, King successfully advocated for equal prize money for men and women in the⁤ US Open and founded the Women’s Tennis Association.

King has spent the past decade working to pass Title IX, the federal civil rights law signed by President Nixon in 1972. The ⁣law prohibits‍ sex discrimination in schools‍ and educational programs that receive government funding. King has recently advocated for the inclusion of⁣ transgender women in women’s sports and ‌opposes state laws that restrict student athletes from competing on teams that match their gender identity.

“From her leadership on‌ equal ‍rights and Title IX to her advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ community, Billie Jean’s life and‌ career is an example of using her⁤ platform and ⁤talent for positive, sustainable change,” ‌Gillibrand said. King, who is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of ​Freedom,⁤ was Gillibrand’s guest at this year’s State of the Union address.

Recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, awarded by Congress for outstanding achievement and contributions to society, include‌ athletes Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, and Arnold Palmer. Anna Bouligny, a hospital volunteer during the Spanish-American War, was the⁣ first woman to receive the award, which she received posthumously in 1938.

The House bill awarding King a medal enjoyed broad bipartisan support, with nearly 300 cosponsors from both parties. “Billie Jean’s influence was transformational, and her advocacy legacy is unparalleled,” said ⁤Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, D-N.J., a Pennsylvania Republican who led the House bill.

King posted on social media, saying she was “deeply humbled and honored” by Tuesday’s House vote. The measure now goes​ to President Biden, who is expected to​ sign it.