Tennis champ Billie Jean King faced off on the court with out and proud chauvinist Bobby Riggs in what was deemed the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973. King won that battle but now she’s enmeshed in the ongoing fight with Republicans in congress who’re squarely aimed at dismantling rights and protections for women.
King, who came out as a lesbian publicly in 1981, has joined forces with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee encouraging Americans to sign the petition “One Million Strong Against the Republican War on Women."
Below is King’s call to action:
Some people called my tennis match against Bobby Riggs, "The Battle of the Sexes."
But the real battle is playing out in the halls of Congress right now, because Republicans are waging an epic battle against women’s health care choices.
I signed the DCCC’s petition telling Republicans to end their War on Women and ensure women’s voices are heard in discussions about women's health care. If we can get 134,691 more signatures, we'll have one million strong standing against the Republicans' assault on women’s rights.
Will you sign the "Stop the Republican War on Women" petition today?
First, House Republicans held a hearing on women's access to birth control coverage that included a panel with five men and no women. Then they changed their own rules and refused to televise testimony from women’s rights advocate Sandra Fluke.
Republicans want to silence women but I refuse to sit on the sidelines. Help us send Republicans a clear, unmistakable, and powerful message.
Join me and immediately sign the DCCC's petition calling on Speaker Boehner, Leader Eric Cantor and House Republicans to end their War on Women and ensure women's voices are heard in discussions about women's health care.
Thanks for reading,
Billie Jean King
Follow SheWired on Facebook.
Follow SheWired on Twitter.
