Ben
12-03-2010, 01:57 AM
BY Meena Hartenstein (http://www.nydailynews.com/authors/Meena%20Hartenstein)
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 2nd 2010, 3:44 PM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/12/03/alg_lana.jpg Margot/AP
The LPGA has revised its rules to allow transgender players like Lana Lawless to compete.
Transgender golfers will now be allowed to compete in the LPGA (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ladies+Professional+Golf+Association), after members voted to remove the organization's requirement that players be "female at birth" to compete.
The vote was held to address a lawsuit filed by Lana Lawless (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lana+Lawless), a retired police officer who had gender-reassignment surgery in 2005.
Lawless, who won the women's World Long Drive Championship (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/World+Long+Drive+Championship) in 2008, was barred for competing in the event again this year.
The organization that holds the competition changed its rules to match the LPGA's, which prohibit transgender players, according to The Associated Press (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/The+Associated+Press).
Though she petitioned the LPGA for permission to compete on its tours, Lawless was told she would be rejected.
"It's an issue of access and opportunity," she told The New York Times in October (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/sports/golf/13lawsuit.html?_r=1). "I've been shut out because of opportunity."
She filed a federal suit in a San Francisco (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/San+Francisco) court, arguing the "female at birth" requirement was in violation of California (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/California)'s civil rights law, which prevents discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, and transgender status.
In her lawsuit, she sought to stop the LPGA from holding tournaments in California until the rule had been changed, the AP reported. She also sought unspecified damages.
In response, members of the LPGA held a vote at the organization's Orlando Tour Championship and agreed to remove the requirement from the constitution, Commissioner Michael Whan (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Michael+Whan) said. He told the AP that the change will be implemented in the next few weeks.
In a statement Thursday (http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebLPGA-Changes-Policy/12-2010/prweb4853364.htm), Lawless and her lawyer acknowledged they were pleased with the LPGA's decision, but angry that it had necessitated a lawsuit.
"I should not have had to bring a lawsuit to be treated fairly under the law," Lawless said in the statement. "I am female, the law recognizes me as female, my birth certificate now says that I am female, I am anatomically female, and I have lower testosterone levels than most women. I am not 'femaleish.' Transgender people are entitled to be treated equally, and the prejudices against them and myself are unfounded."
Her lawyer, Christopher Dolan (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Christopher+Dolan), maintained they will continue to pursue the suit despite the outcome of the vote.
"It is shocking that [the LPGA] had to hold a vote as to whether or not they would violate the law," he said. "Changing the unlawful rule was a part of the lawsuit and we are pleased that this has been accomplished…However, it does not change the fact that the LPGA discriminated against Ms. Lawless by knowingly denying her the right to participate based on her transgendered status. The fact that they later altered their unlawful practice does not provide a get out of jail free card for their prior unlawful conduct."
Now that she will be allowed to play again, Lawless says her gender-reassignment surgery will not give her an unfair edge over her competitors.
"People say that I will have an advantage because I was once male," she said in the statement. "That is simply fake. I have been beaten by other women before and most likely I will be beaten again. I just want to compete with the other girls."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2010/12/02/2010-12-02_lpga_votes_to_allow_transgender_golfers_to_comp ete_changing_female_at_birth_rule.html#ixzz170B1OL cA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 2nd 2010, 3:44 PM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/12/03/alg_lana.jpg Margot/AP
The LPGA has revised its rules to allow transgender players like Lana Lawless to compete.
Transgender golfers will now be allowed to compete in the LPGA (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ladies+Professional+Golf+Association), after members voted to remove the organization's requirement that players be "female at birth" to compete.
The vote was held to address a lawsuit filed by Lana Lawless (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lana+Lawless), a retired police officer who had gender-reassignment surgery in 2005.
Lawless, who won the women's World Long Drive Championship (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/World+Long+Drive+Championship) in 2008, was barred for competing in the event again this year.
The organization that holds the competition changed its rules to match the LPGA's, which prohibit transgender players, according to The Associated Press (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/The+Associated+Press).
Though she petitioned the LPGA for permission to compete on its tours, Lawless was told she would be rejected.
"It's an issue of access and opportunity," she told The New York Times in October (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/sports/golf/13lawsuit.html?_r=1). "I've been shut out because of opportunity."
She filed a federal suit in a San Francisco (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/San+Francisco) court, arguing the "female at birth" requirement was in violation of California (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/California)'s civil rights law, which prevents discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, and transgender status.
In her lawsuit, she sought to stop the LPGA from holding tournaments in California until the rule had been changed, the AP reported. She also sought unspecified damages.
In response, members of the LPGA held a vote at the organization's Orlando Tour Championship and agreed to remove the requirement from the constitution, Commissioner Michael Whan (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Michael+Whan) said. He told the AP that the change will be implemented in the next few weeks.
In a statement Thursday (http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebLPGA-Changes-Policy/12-2010/prweb4853364.htm), Lawless and her lawyer acknowledged they were pleased with the LPGA's decision, but angry that it had necessitated a lawsuit.
"I should not have had to bring a lawsuit to be treated fairly under the law," Lawless said in the statement. "I am female, the law recognizes me as female, my birth certificate now says that I am female, I am anatomically female, and I have lower testosterone levels than most women. I am not 'femaleish.' Transgender people are entitled to be treated equally, and the prejudices against them and myself are unfounded."
Her lawyer, Christopher Dolan (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Christopher+Dolan), maintained they will continue to pursue the suit despite the outcome of the vote.
"It is shocking that [the LPGA] had to hold a vote as to whether or not they would violate the law," he said. "Changing the unlawful rule was a part of the lawsuit and we are pleased that this has been accomplished…However, it does not change the fact that the LPGA discriminated against Ms. Lawless by knowingly denying her the right to participate based on her transgendered status. The fact that they later altered their unlawful practice does not provide a get out of jail free card for their prior unlawful conduct."
Now that she will be allowed to play again, Lawless says her gender-reassignment surgery will not give her an unfair edge over her competitors.
"People say that I will have an advantage because I was once male," she said in the statement. "That is simply fake. I have been beaten by other women before and most likely I will be beaten again. I just want to compete with the other girls."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2010/12/02/2010-12-02_lpga_votes_to_allow_transgender_golfers_to_comp ete_changing_female_at_birth_rule.html#ixzz170B1OL cA