Transgender golfer denied entry into tournamant

Lana Lawless, a 57 year old transgender woman who won the women’s world championship in long-drive golf in 2008, is suing the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and it's sponsors after being denied entry into this year's tournament.  The Long Drivers of America, which organizes the tournament, changed their rules to match the LPGA policy, which specifically states that competitors be “female at birth," a statement that according to Lawless would violate California's civil rights laws.

Sponsors Dick’s Sporting Goods, Re/Max, and CVS are also named in the lawsuit, as is the Long Drivers of America.

“It was devastating to me,” Lawless said of the rule change. “How can they say that rule was not changed specifically directed at me if you have a rule that allows me to play and you come back and you change it?”

The topic for debate here is whether transgender athletes possess a greater advantage over other females.  I am unaware of any clinical research, but her case is far from unique, nor is she the first transgender female to win a golf championship.  Other golf organizations-including the USGA-and other sports allow transgender athletes.  In fact, the International Olympic Committee have been allowing transgender people to compete since 2004, provided they have undergone reassignment surgery and at least two years of postoperative hormone-replacement therapy.  Lawless had gender-reassignment surgery in 2005.

Read the full article at the New York Times