LGPA Membership Votes To Amend Policy To Allow Transgender Players To Compete On Tour

ESPN.com reports that members of the LGPA Tuesday voted to allow transgender players to compete on tour, the action in response to a lawsuit filed by Lana Lawless, a former police officer who completed gender reassignment surgery five years ago. Lawless filed the suit in San Francisco in October claiming that the “female at birth” requirement contained in the LGPA’s constitution violates California civil rights laws. The 57 year old Lawless also sued three tour sponsors and the Long Drivers of America, which adhered to the LGPA policy; Lawless having won the annual woman’s long drive golf championship in 2008 with a 254-yard drive, however she was barred from competition this year per the “female at birth” stipulation. Christopher Dolan, an attorney for Lawless, said “I think it is a major civil rights victory. We are pleased that the LGPA has voted to end this archaic and outdated policy,” adding that final changes will not be complete for two to three weeks, but remains optimistic that the policy will be amended to include any and all transgender players.