LPGA Lawsuit: Should Transgender Golfer Be Allowed to Play?
Today on WaggleRoom.com, a leading golf blog and friend of our site, a rather interesting story was published regarding the most recent lawsuit filed against the LPGA Tour. Without a doubt, this story is one of the most ridiculous I have ever heard. As website contributor OldManPar writes:
The LPGA's rule that says that all competitors must be "female at birth" is being challenged in US District Court in San Francisco.
Lana Lawless, a 57 year-old retired police officer and former (as a male) club champion, first burst onto the professional golf scene when she won the women's long drive championship in 2008 with a 257 yard poke into a headwind. She was later ruled ineligible from further competition in the event when the governing body, the Long Drivers of America, changed its rules to match those of the LPGA.
"I am am a woman" Lawless insisted to the rightcelebrity.com website. "I’ve lost muscle mass. I don’t have big guns (biceps). They give you a drug that stops you from producing testosterone. Your muscles atrophy. In about seven months, I went from 245 pounds to 175 pounds. I’ve gained back a little bit, but I feel like I don’t have any power."
Here's the thing, Lana; no amount of surgery will change the fact that you were born a male. Furthermore, no matter what medications you take, what clothes you wear, or what therapies you attend, you are still genetically male. DNA doesn't lie.
Looking at this from Lawless' point of view, I can somewhat understand the desire to compete at a professional level given the talent level of this particular golfer. Lawless is still human and has every right to compete at the highest level she possibly can. Pursuit of happiness, right?
However, rules are rules. This is the entire reason why there is a PGA Tour and an LPGA Tour. Heck, we even have a Champions Tour for people we believe are "too old" to compete in other arenas. Does that reflect ageism? If the answer to that question is "no", then how can the prevention of a genetically-classified male from competing on the LPGA Tour be called sexism?
Keep on fighting the good fight, Ms. Lawless, as is your God-given right. But perhaps you should better pick your battles for the future.
