Join us at Mechanics’ Hall for an evening with GLAAD award-nominated sports journalist Julie Kliegman! Kliegman will be discussing their new book, Finding Renée Richards: The Groundbreaking Story of Tennis’s Trans Pioneer.
About the Book:
Fifty years ago, Renée Richards made international headlines in her fight to compete in the women’s draw of the 1977 US Open. She marked a major milestone as the first trans athlete to sue for the right to participate in professional sports in her identified gender category. After securing a historic legal victory, Richards competed at the highest level. Although she lost in the first round of the singles tournament, she and her partner successfully reached the doubles finals, ultimately falling to Martina Navratilova and her partner.
FINDING RENÉE RICHARDS chronicles Richards’s extraordinary life well beyond the court. Kliegman traces her journey from a tumultuous upbringing in Queens, New York, to her highly successful career as an eye surgeon. Now in her nineties, Richards remains a remarkably complex figure. She changed the athletic world forever, yet she actively questions the place of trans athletes in sports today. Kliegman deftly probes these contradictions, offering critical reflections on what is at stake for athletes, fans, and the queer community.
With FINDING RENÉE RICHARDS, Kliegman tackles a highly timely and sensitive topic. As America sees a rise in debates over gender-based policies at all levels of competition, this book provides essential historical context through the lens of a true pioneer.
About the Author:
Julie Kliegman is a writer and editor with work in outlets including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, Slate, Bookforum, The Ringer, Defector, Texas Monthly, Vulture, and The Verge. They are a regular guest on podcasts including You’re Wrong About and Hang Up and Listen. Kliegman has been copy chief at Sports Illustrated and copy editor at The Ringer. They have also taught journalism to undergraduates at the New School. Their first book was Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes. Kliegman lives in Queens, New York.