04.11.11
Eric Drath: Renée
By Kristin McCracken
http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/features/Eric_Drath_Renee.htmlAs the first openly transsexual tennis player, Renée Richards made headlines—and history—both on and off the courts. Her story of identity is as relevant now as it was in the 1970s.
Tribeca: Tell us a little about Renée:
Eric Drath: Renée Richards is probably one of the most interesting sports figures of the 20th century. Not only was she a pioneer on the courts, but she went through [even more] in her [personal] life. She was an incredibly accomplished male—Richard Raskind—who went to Yale, was captain of the Yale tennis team, and was even scouted by the Yankees as a baseball player. He went to medical school, became a world-renowned doctor, and then decided to have a sex change. He went to Casablanca, changed his mind, came back, married a model, then had a son, and then 3 years later decided to go through with the sex change.
