Pride Month: Towler Talks Tennis for All

In honor of Pride Month, USTA Missouri Valley talks with Bill Towler,  Vice Chairman of USTA National Diversity & Inclusion Committee. 

June is Pride Month. For the LGBTQI community, Pride Month commemorates a fight for equal rights that got its roots in 1969 in New York City.

That fight largely remains today, though strides have been made. In the sports world, many LGBTQI people faced - and still face -  barriers when trying to enter and participate in sports. According to several studies, they face discrimination and harassment at all levels of sport, from community and recreational levels to professional and elite.

According to Bill Towler, Vice Chairman of the USTA Diversity & Inclusion National Committee - making all athletes feel safe is the gateway into making tennis more welcoming to the LGBTQI community. 

“We have to continue to work to make tennis a place where it’s a level playing field,” Towler said. “It has to be where everyone can thrive.” 

Read the entire article in our Summer 2021 Serve.