Renée Richards: Transgender tennis pioneer's life explored in new biography

A new biography, ‘Finding Renée Richards: The Groundbreaking Story of Tennis’s Trans Pioneer’ by Julie Kliegman, explores the life and career of Dr. Renée Richards. Richards, a transgender woman and ophthalmologist, made history in 1977 when she sued for the right to compete in the US Open.

After a judge ruled that the US Open had violated New York State’s Human Rights Law, Richards was permitted to play, eventually reaching the women’s doubles finals that year. She retired from professional tennis in 1981.

Now 92, Richards describes herself as a supporter of transgender rights but has expressed opposition to transgender women and girls participating in women’s sports, even describing her own landmark lawsuit as ‘selfish.’ The biography examines the complexities of her legacy and the evolving debate regarding transgender athletes in competitive sports.