Photo: Courtesy, Christian Science Monitor
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has changed their constitution to remove the requirement that players must be “female at birth” in order to join the tour, paving the way for transgender male-to-female golf players to join the tour.
LPGA Tour Championship Commissioner Michael Whan said the organization will take steps in the next few weeks to implement the change.
The change came in part after a lawsuit was filed by 57-year-old Lana Lawless, who won the annual women’s long-drive golf championship in California in 2008 but was not allowed to compete in 2009 after organizers of the event adopted the LPGA’s former policy.
“It’s an issue of access and opportunity,” Lawless said. “I’d been shut out because of prejudice.”
Before the courts ruled on a decision, the LPGA decided to change the rule.
“I think it is a major civil rights victory,” said Christopher Dolan, an attorney for Lawless. “We are pleased that the LPGA has voted to end this archaic and outdated policy.”
LPGA players competing in the tour championship in Orlando were mostly supportive of
the new policy.
“We don’t need to comment on this because it’s a dead issue,” Cristie Kerr said. “She can compete if she can qualify. We certainly don’t want to discriminate against anybody, that’s not what the LPGA is about. And if she can qualify, she’ll be able to play. We’re like the last sports organization to do it, it’s just that we’ve never really had to look at it before.”
