King of the courts.

BILLIE JEAN KING MAKES HISTORY ANEW, THIS TIME AS THE OUT COACH OF THE

WOMEN'S TENNIS TEAM

Some achievements in gay and lesbian history hit the headlines--and our hearts--with hurricane force. Others, though perhaps no less impressive, pass by as subtly as a whisper.

As far as we know, tennis legend Billie Jean King, 56, is the first openly gay or lesbian person to be named coach of a U.S. Olympic team. We have no doubt that there have been a number of other lesbian Olympic coaches--King herself coached the 1996 gold medal-winning U.S. team, but she had not fully left the closet at the time. Since then King, who will lead the U.S. women's squad of Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, and Venus and Serena Williams this September, has spoken candidly about her sexuality, coming out in an Advocate interview published in August 1998. The fact that her openness is no big deal is what makes this latest breakthrough a big deal indeed.

Consider King's history: When she was first outed by her angry female lover, Marilyn Barnett, in 1981, the story was grist for every tabloid mill. Fearful of losing all endorsements (which she did anyway), King backpedaled furiously from the reality of her lesbianism, clinging to her estranged husband, Larry, as they flashed their wedding rings at the camera.

How times have changed. The most controversial aspect of King's latest reign has been her selection of Serena Williams over top-ranked doubles player Lisa Raymond, who has appealed the decision. At any rate, King obviously has the team to beat in Sydney. So if any foreign players have the gall to challenge the Americans with the pejorative "Your coach is a dyke!" we have just five words for them: See you on the court.

Kort is writing a biography of Laura Nyro for St. Martin's Press.