Rob Sylvester, folks. He’s here all weekend. Tip your waitress.
By Rob Sylvester
Today in Ironic Surname news, The Ladies Professional Golf Association is being sued by Lana Lawless, a post-operative transgendered golfer recognized as a woman by the State of California but now unable to compete in LPGA events due to a rule change that restricts access to “females at birth.”
This is of course problematic for Lawless, a former long drive champion in the female division before the rule change, who is taking her appeal of the new rule to the courts. Lawless clearly believes that this is a case of discrimination, unfairly changing the rules to single her out and deny her equal access to the competitions. She doesn’t feel the fact that she was born a man is an advantage for her at all.
Video following the jump.
ABC News:
“I’m not physically as strong as I used to be,” Lawless said. “I’m well under the top end of testosterone levels for genetically-born females.”
There really isn’t a clear and easy solution to this — in my opinion, Lawless should be allowed to compete as she is now a woman and her testosterone levels aren’t those of a man, which would presumably provide an advantage in any physical competition — but there will still be those with unflattering views of transgendered people who feel this is a blatant case of cheating.
But if the issue is her strength/size, what if a natural born woman of similar stature wanted to play? Of course she’d be allowed to, and probably heralded for her physical presence. It’s not against the rules to be an above-average sized woman, which is what Lawless is at this point in her life, and to attempt to legislate away what is sure to be an increasing issue in a society growing more tolerant of transgendered persons is a slippery slope that the LPGA would be better off not approaching.
Unfortunately golf is not really known as the most progressive of fields, and the LPGA would rather not even discuss the issue at this point, though it’s unclear if that’s on the advice of their lawyers or just due to their extreme discomfort at having to deal with this issue in the first place.
Mike Scanlan, LGPA’s public relations manager, confirmed the tour’s “female at birth” policy but declined to comment on why it was in place when other sports associations, including the International Olympic Committee, allow transgendered athletes to compete with stipulations.
It will be interesting to see how this case is resolved, as it could either be a watershed moment in the acceptance of transgendered persons as full and valid members of society (as they are) or a step backwards in the relationship between gender roles and sport. All Ms. Lawless would like to do is compete, and short of the sudden creation of a Transgendered PGA, the ladies division is the only place for her to do it. Let’s not over-complicate this.
Once this all figured out though, hopefully they can answer another pressing question on gender and sports — why are professional billiards and bowling segregated by sex at all? You can only hit a cue ball or a 10-pin so hard, anyways. Weird.
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Transgender Golfer Lana Lawless Sues LPGA for Right to Compete [ABC News]
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- Christian Ruzich - Oct 17, 2010 at 7:05 PM
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“unable to compete in LPGA events due to a rule change that restricts access to ‘females at birth.’”
So, would a post-op FTM be allowed on the LPGA tour under this rule?
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- Tony A - Oct 17, 2010 at 10:50 PM
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Excellent question! I’m in favor or her being allowed to compete. Again, excellent question…
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- Jim C - Oct 18, 2010 at 10:24 AM
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I would guess that a female turned male could compete on the LPGA if not for male hormone treatment that would be illegal with or without an operation. But hormones are not the only problem. Men are born with a stronger pelvis since it need not open enough to accomodate the birth of a baby.
Does anyone seriously think this person could have won the men’s long drive at age 55 if he had not had a sex change operation? In his entire life as a man did he ever attempt to go to PGA Q school? He/she wants opportunities as a transgender female that would not have been his had he remained male.
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- ThatGuy - Oct 18, 2010 at 12:22 PM
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I think it is perfectly acceptable to bar her from competition as she does have a distinct advantage. She spent the vast majority of her life as a man if I understand the story correctly, that means a completely different bone and muscular structure than a female has that is more conductive to strength and power. It is a distinct advantage she would have over female born players regardless if her testosterone levels are now as low as an average female player. 40 some years of development does not just go away.
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- BC - Oct 18, 2010 at 12:51 PM
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Well, you DO have to admit she’s a bit mannish.
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- BC - Oct 18, 2010 at 12:53 PM
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Why not let her compete? Laura Davies was built like a refridgerator, so what’s wrong with this gal? Until Michelle Wie came along, Annika Sorenstam hit the ball 20 yards further than anyone on the tour, and no one asked to check under the hood. I don’t see what’s wrong.
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- puzzled - Oct 19, 2010 at 12:07 PM
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This is pretty simple isn’t it…Mr. Lawless was born with certain equipment which distinguished himself as a male. Removal of said equipment does not make him a woman, it just makes him a man lacking of the appropriate equipment. He can only play in the men’s Pga series, ever. I do not believe Mr. Lawless means harm in trying to play but he clearly has an advantage over the other female players. I would support his efforts if he could produce a child, but seeing as that cannot physically happen, he should not be deemed a woman, and therefore needs to find alternate venues to pursue his passion for golf.
