Celebrating Gender Equality
In a significant celebration of gender equality, renowned filmmaker Ava Duvernay and U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster received the prestigious Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award on Thursday. This award was initiated in 2023 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Billie Jean King’s triumph in securing equal pay for women at the US Open, highlighting transformative contributions by key figures in sports and film.
Ava Duvernay’s Tribute
During the ceremony, which also honored various members from the USTA’s 17 sections for their commitment to promoting inclusivity, Duvernay expressed her reverence for King, stating:
“It was beautiful to be thought of. Certainly, Billie Jean King is an icon way beyond the sport. Anytime I have an opportunity to be around her or to be associated with her, it’s an honor.”
Duvernay, noted for acclaimed works such as “Selma” and “A Wrinkle in Time”, made history as the first Black woman to direct a movie nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and to win the Best Director award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Stacey Allaster’s Legacy
Allaster has made history as the first woman to hold the position of tournament director for the US Open, a role she will be vacating after this tournament concludes. Her previous leadership as chairman and CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association was pivotal in achieving equal prize money at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
Previous Honorees
The award recipients were preceded by notable figures, with previous honorees including tennis icon Venus Williams and celebrated television producer Shonda Rhimes. Williams highlighted the broader implications of equity, stating:
“When you deny equity, you make your own world smaller. The world is so big. There are so many things to experience and to know and to understand. … It’s an incredible world, if you allow it to be.”
