Lana Lawless: Transgender LPGA Golfer
The LPGA is reconsidering a rule requiring that all participants be born female, apparently in response to a lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California by a transgender golfer. Lana Lawless, 57, underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2005 and has now sued the LPGA for refusing her membership.
The Complaint alleges that Ms. Lawless “has felt like a female since birth and has had gender reassignment surgery to harmonize her anatomy with her feelings.” She claims that the LPGA’s policy violates California’s “Unruh Civil Rights Act,” and also pleads unfair competition and interference with her economic prospects. Ms. Lawless has also sued a long driving competition that changed its rule to comport with that of the LPGA, after Ms. Lawless won a long drive competition. Some tournament sponsors are also named, including CVS and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The Unruh Civil Rights Act protects individuals against – among other things – gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in all business establishments. Lawless’s argument is that California already recognizes her as a woman, and therefore she is entitled to membership in the LPGA.
Michelle Wie’s average driving distance notwithstanding, the holes in LPGA tournaments are played shorter than the PGA, and it would obviously be unfair if men were permitted to complete in the LPGA. Lawless, however, claims that she is taking drugs to retard the production of testosterone, and consequently, she has lost muscle mass. The problem is, if transgender females are permitted to play, it will have to be across the board, regardless of body type.
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