By ALEX VAUGHN
Renée Richards was an American ophthalmologist, author and former professional tennis player. In 1975, Richards underwent sex reassignment surgery.
She is famously known for initially being denied entry into the 1976 US Open by the United States Tennis Association, citing an unprecedented women-born-women policy. She disputed the ban and, in a landmark 1977 decision for transgender rights, the New York Supreme Court ruled in her favor. The USTA was forbidden from forcing her to submit to chromosal testing before allowing her to play.
Richards, who is Jewish, was born in New York City and named Richard Raskind, and raised, in her own words, as “a nice Jewish boy”. Raskind reached the final of the men’s national 35-and-over tennis championships in 1972. Raskind was referred to surgeon Roberto C. Granato, Sr. by Harry Benjamin and successfully transitioned in 1975.
Richards played from 1977 to 1981. She was ranked as high as 20th overall (February 1979), and her highest ranking at the end of a year was 22nd (1977). In her first professional event as a female, she was a finalist in women’s doubles (with Betty Ann Stuart, 1977) and continued to have a successful career afterward.
She later coached Martina Navratilova to two Wimbledon wins and was inducted into the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.
Agenda sat down with Renée to discuss her life on the cusp of the premiere of the most comprehensive documentary about her to date, entitled simply, Renée. The film is one of the anchor films of the 2011 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, where it will have its world premiere in April.
There has been a misconception that you had your sex change so that you could play women’s professional tennis. If that’s not the case, could you explain further what changed your mind about being an eye doctor and instead going on to the women’s professional tour, and eventually the US Open?
Do you think anyone in their right or wrong mind would have a sex change just to be a tennis player! I played tennis successfully before the sex change. In fact, in my younger days I was the quintessential amateur sportsman.I had the sex change because I was compelled to do so. There were many factors: Nurture, nature, hormones and genetics. There were all kinds of influences.
Was there a point at which you decided to become a pioneer, or did it evolve and eventually become a passion?
In spite of my efforts after my sex change to live a quiet normal life in Newport, California, I got found out because I played some tennis at my Country Club. I was warned to stay off the courts! Though I didn’t see the need to avoid my passion – I couldn’t help my identity.
I suppose I became a pioneer when I decided to fight, a lot of people told me to go ahead, as I was representing not just transsexuals but those facing any kind of discrimination.
Do you still feel that passion?
Yes, I don’t regret my decision to have the sex change. However, it did change my life. I was on my way to ‘woodworking’ into my new life. Nowadays woodworking [blending into society] is not necessary, as there are so many transsexuals going on TV.
Once I was found out, I knew I had a choice: Continue my practice or play
tennis.
Who did you lean on during this time? Who supported you?
I had a lot of support from within the tennis community. Jean from Tennis Week arranged the infamous Orange Court Tournament. They even had a special tournament for me in Hawaii.
Billy Jean King was instrumental in helping me win my case. She provided an Affidavit that I believe sealed the deal. She said she saw no reason why I
shouldn’t be allowed to play, that I was a woman in my mind and body and that she had played a couple of doubles with me. We were in the courtroom and the judge was wading through the affidavits from the other side. He asked my lawyers if they had any. We said, ‘yes, from Billy Jean King’. He nearly jumped out of his seat.
Martina Navratilova said to me after she beat me at a match, “Renée, keep up the fight. You are going to make it”. That was a tremendous encouragement.
You have been credited with turning Martina’s career around.
I do get a lot of credit, I only accept some. It was a wonderful experience coaching her.
That support must have helped in the fight. Yes, I would say a lot of the reason I pushed so strongly was because I was told I couldn’t do it. I am obstinate, so that is the worst thing you could say to me. I was warned to just stay in Newport and play tennis at the club. Maybe I would have preferred that. I was told by friends not to become a public enemy.
When you decided to become a pro tennis player, you legitimized transsexuals in sports. How do you feel about that?
I am proud of what I have done and I don’t regret my sex change; however the ruling was for me as an older individual, not for all transsexuals still to come.
Do you give any weight to the idea of competitive advantage?
Well yes, I was forty one when I won the right to play. If I had been given that right at twenty, it would have been incredibly unfair.
How do you feel about the young woman from Germany playing tennis, and the young woman on LPGA tour? What advice do you have for them?
As I said, I would be aware of the competitive advantage. I don’t even feel I am best place to give advice. The ruling for me was as an individual – it was not a blanket ruling. I get into trouble when giving advice. There was a mountain biker and I said she should do it for fun, not as a competitive sport because she would have been too strong.
How did winning the right to play impact you?
It changed my life. I was somewhat unprepared for the slings and arrows I encountered.
How would you like to be remembered?
I don’t think as a pioneer. As a good person, a good parent, a good doctor and a good tennis player. I have regrets about making that fateful decision to carry on the fight. Mainly my loss of privacy. Looking back there are some regrets, but not a lot. My life would have been a lot different as a private citizen. I had been a very private person in my former life.
You have a movie coming out. How is this different from other pieces done on you?
It is terrific. I know I will be back in the public eye again. I have a beautiful gown for the premier. I am extremely excited. This is by far the most thorough documentary on me. The director has spent two and half years interviewing my friends and family and professionals from the tennis community. Both those against and for me.
A documentary about Renée Richards, titled Renée, is one of the anchor films of the 2011 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival in April.