Kamala, Jill Biden mark 50th anniversary of Title IX

Nevertheless, she persisted: Kamala Harris finally nails a basketball shot – after SIX tries – at event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX: Jill Biden marks milestone with Billie Jean King who defends trans athletes

  • Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden both marked the 50th anniversary of Title IX with events Wednesday 
  • Harris, with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, surprised D.C. middle schoolers who had gathered for a ‘field day’ event on the campus of American University 
  • The vice president, wearing a black pantsuit and stiletto heels, tried shooting hoops – and eventually got the ball in the basket on the sixth try
  • Earlier Wednesday, Dr. Biden joined tennis legend Billie Jean King for a State Department-sponsored event at D.C.’s Capital One Arena 
  • ‘The primary benficiaries of Title IX have been white, suburban girls,’ King saidd, adding that particular attention in the future needed to be paid to ‘girls of color, girls with disibilities, trans athletes and all LGBTQ+ youth’ 

Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden both marked the 50th anniversary of Title IX – which, in particular, boosted women’s sports – with events in Washington Wednesday. 

Harris, with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in tow, surprised D.C. middle schoolers who had gathered for a ‘field day’ event on the campus of American University. 

The vice president, wearing a black pantsuit and stiletto heels, tried shooting hoops – and eventually got the ball in the basket on the sixth try.

Vice President Kamala Harris – sporting a black pantsuit and stiletto heels – tried shooting hoops Wednesday at an event marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX on American University’s campus. She eventually got the ball in the basket on the sixth try

First Lady Jill Biden (left) appeared with tennis legend Billie Jean King (right) for another event marking the Title IX anniversary Wednesday

First Lady Jill Biden (left) appeared with tennis legend Billie Jean King (right) for another event marking the Title IX anniversary Wednesday

‘Bend your knees,’ Emhoff advised directly before Harris’ successful attempt. 

Students from Harris’ alma mater Howard University, located several miles from AU’s campus, were helping with the basketball clinic. 

Field Day was hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

In another area of the gym, some of the girls had been working on a science experiment about electrolytes with the Girl Scouts, which Harris also checked out. 

Earlier Wednesday, Dr. Biden joined tennis legend Billie Jean King for a State Department-sponsored event at D.C.’s Capital One Arena to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX – as well as the 10th anniversary of the Department of State-espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program. 

BEND YOUR KNEES: Vice President Kamala Harris made the shot on the sixth try as a crowd surrounded her in the American University gym

BEND YOUR KNEES: Vice President Kamala Harris made the shot on the sixth try as a crowd surrounded her in the American University gym 

Vice President Kamala Harris also went to look at a science experiment some of the girls were carrying out

Vice President Kamala Harris also went to look at a science experiment some of the girls were carrying out 

Tennis great Billie Jean King (left), First Lady Jill Biden (center) and student athlete May a Mosley (right) attend a State Department-sponsored event on the 50th anniversary of Title IX on Wednesday at D.C.'s Capital One Center

Tennis great Billie Jean King (left), First Lady Jill Biden (center) and student athlete May a Mosley (right) attend a State Department-sponsored event on the 50th anniversary of Title IX on Wednesday at D.C.’s Capital One Center 

‘Fifty years, Title IX created space for for girls and women to be more. To be bigger and brighter and stronger and smarter and more capable and couragous,’ Dr. Biden said. ‘It’s made our schools and our colleges become more fair.’ 

‘Title IX is who we are as a nation,’ the first lady, who is a community college professor, told the crowd.  

King urged the government to ensure schools are complying with Title IX. 

‘The primary benficiaries of Title IX have been white, suburban girls,’ the tennis star said. 

‘Let’s use this milestone anniversary to reenergize our focus on strengthening and advancing equity and opportunity for all girls and women – but espeically those who have been left behind by the law, including girls of color, girls with disibilities, trans athletes and all LGBTQ+ youth,’ King continued. 

‘We have to look forward,’ she added. 

The inclusion of trans women in women’s sports has become a hot button issue, with a number of Republican candidates bringing it up in stump speeches this political cycle.