In the wake of a recent lawsuit filed in San Francisco by Lana Lawless, the The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has voted to allow transgendered women to compete on tour. As CBS reports, the vote ends a requirement of the LPGA in which those competing must be born female.
Lawless, a 57-year-old former police officer, won the annual women’s long-drive golf championship in 2008, however she was unable to progress to the LPGA or continue competing the long-drive competition due to the fact that she’d had her gender reassigned five years ago. Thus, she filed a federal lawsuit in San Francisco suing the LPGA, Long Drivers of America, and the tour sponsors, claiming that the policy violates California civil rights laws.
Her attorney agrees. “I think it is a major civil rights victory,” Christopher Dolan, Lawless’ attorney says. Although the final changes to the policy are not expected for a few weeks, Lawless will continue her lawsuit since, unlike the LPGA, the Long Drivers of America have failed to amend their policies.
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