October 15, 2010
Transgender woman sues LPGA over rule that competitors be ‘female at birth’
By Paul Elias, The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO – Lana Lawless, a former police officer who underwent a sex change operation five years ago, is challenging the LPGA’s ban on transgender players. She filed a federal lawsuit late Tuesday in San Francisco federal court claiming the LPGA’s “female at birth” requirement for competitors violates a California civil rights law.
Lawless is seeking to prevent the LPGA from holding tournaments in the state until the organization changes its policy to admit transgender players. She is also seeking unspecified damages. Lawless, 57, also sued three LPGA sponsors and the Long Drivers of America, which holds the annual women’s long-drive golf championship. Lawless won the event in 2008 with a 254-yard drive but was barred from competing this year after organizers adopted the LPGA’s gender rules.
“I am, in all respects, legally, and physically female,” Lawless said in a statement Wednesday. “The state of California recognizes me as such and the LPGA should not be permitted to come into California and blatantly violate my rights. I just want to have the same opportunity to play professional golf as any other woman.”
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He/she/it should lose points for losing his balls.