Tennis legend and LGBTQ+ rights activist Billie Jean King has criticized Florida governor Ron DeSantis over the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which bars public schools from teaching about LGBTQ+ topics and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. Speaking at a press conference during the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup, King lambasted the legislation, warning that extending it to all grades, as DeSantis plans to do, would have “horrific consequences” on LGBTQ+ kids who might not be out to their families.
King, who was publicly outed in 1981, became the first prominent female athlete to openly be part of the LGBTQ+ community. At the press conference, she showed off her rainbow-colored watch band and spoke about the importance of inclusion and being one’s authentic self. She urged for diversity on school boards, saying that it’s important to have people who think differently.
DeSantis and other Republicans who support the “Don’t Say Gay” law argue that parents, not educators, should be discussing topics like sexual orientation and gender with their kids. But LGBTQ+ rights advocates and the Biden administration argue that such bills marginalize queer youth as they come to terms with their identity. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called DeSantis’ plan “completely, utterly wrong” and part of a “disturbing and dangerous trend” of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country.
In a nod to DeSantis’ opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, King quipped, “We must be bothering him. I have my rainbow watch on today.” She also condemned the governor’s repeated attacks on trans rights. King’s message of inclusion and authenticity is particularly important for LGBTQ+ youth, who often face discrimination and rejection. By speaking out against harmful legislation and advocating for diversity, King is using her platform to create a more inclusive and accepting society.