LPGA Eliminates ‘Female|at Birth’ Requirement

(CN) - In response to a lawsuit filed by a transgendered golfer, the Ladies Professional Golf Association said its members voted to change the LPGA constitution to eliminate the requirement that players be "female at birth."

Transgendered golfer Lana Lawless, 57, sued the LPGA in October, seeking to prevent the organization from denying membership to transgendered women.

Her attorney, Christopher Dolan, called the rule change a "major vindication for transgender rights."

However, he said the case will move forward as planned, since the LPGA has merely voted to change the rule, which its members found "indefensible," but has not yet written the amendment.

"The proof will be in the details," he said. "We've yet to see what the new policy will look like."

Dolan added that Lawless was still discriminated against by the LPGA when it barred her from competing. The golfer's lawsuit is still pending against defendant Long Drivers of America (LDA), which has not indicated it will change its rules.

"Hopefully they get the message that if the LPGA thinks it's indefensible, then the LDA will hopefully have a greater clarity on their issues," Dolan said.

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