This Day in History Quiz: September 20

Question: Who defeated Bobby Riggs at the highly publicized “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match on September 20, 1973?

Answer: Watched by more than 90 million viewers worldwide, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, who had previously claimed that he could beat any top female player, in a televised tennis match on September 20, 1973.

Question: What U.S. military policy that, in effect, both prohibited discrimination towards queer personnel and banned LGBTQ+ people from serving was ended on September 20, 2011?

Answer: Repeal of the U.S. military policy Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell took effect on September 20, 2011, allowing members of the LGBTQ+ community to serve openly in the U.S. military.

Question: Which South African city was founded on September 20, 1886, after gold was discovered in the region?

Answer: Johannesburg was founded on September 20, 1886, amidst the goldfields of the Transvaal.

Question: The global climate strike on September 20, 2019, was inspired by which teenager when she skipped school to protest the Swedish government’s inaction?

Answer: Greta Thunberg inspired a global movement when she refused to attend school so as to advocate for fighting climate change. On September 20, 2019, millions of people participated in a global climate strike.

Question: Which film festival happened for the first time on September 20, 1946, after being delayed for seven years?

Answer: The first Cannes film festival began on September 20, 1946, after a delay of seven years. Previously planned to happen in 1939, the festival was cancelled due to World War II.

Question: Which hurricane hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, causing almost 3,000 deaths?

Answer: Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, leading to massive destruction that left almost the entire population of 3 million people without power.