Sports tournaments were among the few spaces where lesbians could be visibly out. That visibility didn’t come without a fight; homophobia was ever-present. But still, these events were some of the only non-bar spaces where lesbian cruising could happen. The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), for example, was once mockingly dubbed a haven for “dykes with spikes” or “androgynous feminists with lob wedges and attitudes.” Then there’s Dana from The L Word—our fictional pro tennis lesbian—who famously landed a Subaru sponsorship, a wink to real-world queer marketing.
Meanwhile, the professional tennis circuit was flooded with lesbian gossip. Conchita Martínez, for instance, never officially came out, but it was widely known she dated fellow tennis legend Gigi Fernández in the ’90s. Their relationship may have cost Fernández her spot on the 1996 U.S. Federation Cup team, which was set to face Spain. “If it was France and not Spain that we were playing, I’d be on the team,” Fernández said. “I’m half of the best doubles team of the ’90s, how can I not be a team player?” Team captain Billie Jean King reportedly feared Fernández might prioritize her “friendship” with Martínez over her loyalty to the U.S.While we want to believe that the days of hiding queer relationships are behind us, queerphobia in tennis—and across sports—remains. Today, few players are openly out. Those who are, often face backlash. And many still choose to remain closeted. As recently as a few years ago, Ukrainian player Sergiy Stakhovsky notoriously said, “On the WTA tour, almost every other player is a lesbian. So I for sure won’t send my daughter to play tennis.” His comment was widely condemned, but it reflected a still-hostile environment for queer athletes.
To that kind of homophobia, we say: Dykes in spikes? Half the women are lesbians? Sounds like our kind of place.
And that’s exactly the spirit behind Lesbian Garros.
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Listening to Lesbians 