lesbian couples make history playing together at Wimbledon

When Alison Van Uytvanck and Greet Minnen stepped on the field at Wimbledon on Tuesday, it has been playing the double first time together in a Grand Slam tournament play. Off-the-court, but they were matched for three years. Uytvanck van Minnen and history of Belgium by the first gay couples who always play together in the famous tennis tournament in London, England. The two were victorious over British player Katie Swann and Freya Christie on Wednesday. “We [want] more people come forward and say, ‘All right’,” said van Uytvanck after the game. “I think people would have more confidence.” This is not the first time the couple had made headlines at Wimbledon. Last year, after the victory over Garbine Muguruza then reigning Wimbledon brought the third round of the tournament, van Uytvanck now to kiss her friend was in the stands to reach. “I know it’s a big deal, but we just have not thought about it,” he said in an interview with Telegraph Minnen. “He had just made the biggest victory of his career and I was so happy, and I do not think at this moment.” While the number of gay athletes in sports is still low, they are included in their many tennis legends. Billie Jean King, known for their defeat of Bobby Riggs in 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” was outed as a lesbian in a lawsuit 1981. Martina Navratilova came out as bisexual in an interview in 1981, although she described as a Lesbian since. And, transgender woman Renee Richards wrote the story in 1976, when he sued the United States Tennis Association and wins, so that women could compete in the US. In addition to van Minnen Uytvanck and two others from homosexual women – Johanna Larsson of Sweden and Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands – have participated in the singles tournament this year. Among the male players, however, be out still a rarity. American Brian Vahaly is the only known gay male tennis player, and he came only 10 years after his retirement from professional tennis. Vahaly previously said the Telegraph, he plays professionally “to hear homophobia all the time – it’s part of the culture is” “Women come out more easily than men,” said van Uytvanck. “I hope we have something that people can see how to exit a role model.” “I just hope it gets better in the coming years,” added Minnen, “and all I can talk about it.” The couple in the second round of the double Chinese pair Chan Hao-ching Chan and Latisha lost. Minnen but remained positive, posting on Instagram, “Wimbledon is over for us, but I enjoyed it out every second! Thanks for me to play [van Uytvanck].”
Picture copyright by ADRIAN DENNIS AFP / Getty Images