200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

Spinsters, confirmed bachelors, and LGBTQ collecting

Why this source is used

Smithsonian museum article noting Billie Jean King was outed in 1981 and situating her tennis dress within LGBTQ+ collecting and sports history.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer How did LGBTQ+ athletes change sport visibility? LGBTQ+ athletes changed sport visibility by coming out publicly, challenging homophobia in elite sport, supporting inclusion campaigns, and exposing discriminatory eligibility rules. Read the topic guide LGBTQ+ Sport Visibility and Inclusion LGBTQ+ sport visibility developed through athletes coming out, campaigns against homophobia, and legal battles over who is allowed to compete.

Source Status

Publisher
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Type
archive
Reliability
high
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/spinsters-confirmed-bachelors-and-lgbtq-collecting Accessed 2 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/spinsters-confirmed-bachelors-and-lgbtq-collecting

Used by Topics

LGBTQ+ Sport Visibility and Inclusion

Used by Questions

How did LGBTQ+ athletes change sport visibility?

Used by Timeline Events

1 May 1981 CulturalDiscrimination

Billie Jean King Becomes First Major Female Athlete Outed as Gay

Following a palimony lawsuit by former partner Marilyn Barnett, tennis champion Billie Jean King held a press conference acknowledging their seven-year relationship, becoming the first prominent female professional athlete to publicly address her homosexuality. King lost all her endorsements within 24 hours, estimated at $2 million. Despite the personal cost, her visibility paved the way for future LGBTQ+ athletes.