SECOND SERVE
Based on the life of Renee Richards, this 1986 film stars Vanessa Redgrave as Richard Raskind, the former male ophthalmologist who struggled as she transitioned to the female professional tennis player she became in 1975 after sex reassignment surgery.
Crossdressing was considered “Psychotic Gender Confusion”, a perversion or form of insanity. Richard's psychiatrist mother refers her to a colleague who provides intense psychotherapy to “cure” her.
Earlier Renee struggles as a man, powerfully impacted and criticized while enduring her unbelievable conflict. Redgrave’s ability to play both Richard and Renee has been called “astonishingly convincing.”
The Discovery series challenges viewers to enjoy classic films while considering how straight and LGBTQ+ people depicted throughout cinematic history have impacted lives, social mores and current political legislation.
Stay for a brief “sound off” with members of the audience, sharing questions and comments about the movie afterwards.
Run time is 1 hour 38 minutes.
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Interviews
Decades later, Renée Richards' breakthrough is as important as ever. At an anarchic US Open, the transgender tennis player made a pioneering point.
'The Second Half of My Life' An interview with Neal Conan, host of Talk of the Nation
Articles
Trans pioneer and eye surgeon Rénee Richards ‘55 made national headlines for becoming a woman–forty years before Caitlyn Jenner.
Renée Richards (b.1934) University of Rochester alumnus. Ophthalmologist and tennis professional. She is the first and only transgender individual to play in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in the US Open.
‘No Exceptions,’ and No Renee Richards (1976) Renee Richards was denied admission to the United States Open tennis tournament in Forest Hills, N.Y., on this date when she refused to take a chromosome test established for all women entrants. "There will be no exceptions," the tournament's director, Mike Blanchard, said. "I guess we have Dr. Renee Richards to thank for instituting this."