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Mrs King Offers To Resign (Press, 5 May 1981)

This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.

Summary: Mrs King Offers To Resign (Press, 5 May 1981)

Billie Jean King, the renowned tennis player and president of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), has made headlines following her admission of a lesbian relationship with her former secretary. In a recent interview with the New York Times, the 37-year-old King expressed her willingness to step down from her leadership position with the WTA, stating her desire not to hurt the players in the organisation. She also offered to withdraw as the doubles partner to 15-year-old aspiring tennis star Andrea Jaeger for an upcoming tournament in Tokyo, which has a prize purse of $150,000. King explained that she informed Jaeger and her family that they were not obligated to compete together if they felt uncomfortable due to the situation. However, the Jaegers expressed their strong commitment to have Andrea participate, prompting King to prepare for the event. This revelation comes amidst ongoing discussions about love, commitment, and the complexities of King’s marriage to sports promoter Larry King. At a press conference held in Los Angeles, Larry acknowledged that their relationship has often been marked by long separations and described it as "very unusual" by conventional standards. He stated his perspective on love as an ability to share and support rather than possess. The admission by King has sparked considerable attention and conversation within and beyond the world of tennis, as it touches on issues of sexuality and the personal lives of public figures in sports. King, known for her advocacy for gender equality in sports and her trailblazing career, finds herself at a significant crossroads, weighing her personal life against her professional responsibilities.

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Publish Date:5th May 1981
URL:https://www.pridenz.com/paperspast_chp19810505_2_129.html