LPGA Players Vote to Eliminate "Female at Birth" Requirement

(AP Graphic)

ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS/AP) As the LPGA Tour season comes to a close this week, players voted to get rid of the "female at the birth" requirement from the Tour's constitution - an action stemming from a lawsuit filed by a California woman who had gender-reassignment surgery five years ago.

Players met Tuesday night at a year-end meeting to modify the constitution, said LPGA Tour commissioner Michael Whan. According to Whan, the LPGA Tour will take steps in the coming weeks to enact the revised policy.

Lana Lawless, a 57-year-old ex-police officer, filed a federal lawsuit against the LPGA in October after she was deemed ineligible to qualify for the World Long Drive Championship, an event she won in 2008, reports The New York Times. Long Drivers of America, the company that manages the competition, apparently switched its policy to follow that of the LPGA.

Lawless argued that the "female at birth" requirement violated California's civil rights law and intended to prevent the LPGA from holding tournaments in the state until its policy was changed.

"It's an issue of access and opportunity," Lawless told the Times in October. "I've been shut out because of prejudice."

Lawless also sued Long Drivers of America.

[cattiej]

I agree with illcountryboy, the inmates are in control of the asylum. Everyone wants to sue somebody. Well, I would like to sue the Congress of the United States and all the rest of the greedy politians for allowing our country to be sold out, given away by rich, greedy manufactures who now have their products made in China or India. I want to sue the healthcare industry for allowing all my medications to be made in India or China. I want to sue the ACLU for being so stupid as to represent, really stupid mind blowing, crazy ideas from crazy people. We are not equal no matter what the U.S. Constituation, we never have been, but by the same token, our country has never been so selfish, self serving and crime-ridden. Many other countries hate us because of the stupid mistakes of Congress & the President. Normal folk want our soldiers home to protect our own borders. I think it time for some serious protesting, i.e. like in the Vietnam era, so that we can stop spending billions of dollars overseas while our people loose their jobs, their homes and their sanity. Also, stop building these "Chinese Hubs" where China brings in goods that were once made in America and sells to us, junk that we really don't need. Boycott toys made in China for Christmas this year. How many of them will prove to be unsafe for children to play with? We won't know until it's too late will we. God Bless America but not the Congress of the United States, the greedy corrupt political prostitues that they are. Our country is going to h in a hand basket and we the citizens are asleep at the wheel and not doing a darn thing about it. Well, I going to protest long, loud and forever until our troops are brought home. Buy American cars, the job you save may be your own.

[cattiej]

I agree with illcountryboy, the inmates are in control of the asylum. Everyone wants to sue somebody. Well, I would like to sue the Congress of the United States and all the rest of the greedy politians for allowing our country to be sold out, given away by rich, greedy manufactures who now have their products made in China or India. I want to sue the healthcare industry for allowing all my medications to be made in India or China. I want to sue the ACLU for being so stupid as to represent, really stupid mind blowing, crazy ideas from crazy people. We are not equal no matter what the U.S. Constituation, we never have been, but by the same token, our country has never been so selfish, self serving and crime-ridden. Many other countries hate us because of the stupid mistakes of Congress & the President. Normal folk want our soldiers home to protect our own borders. I think it time for some serious protesting, i.e. like in the Vietnam era, so that we can stop spending billions of dollars overseas while our people loose their jobs, their homes and their sanity. Also, stop building these "Chinese Hubs" where China brings in goods that were once made in America and sells to us, junk that we really don't need. Boycott toys made in China for Christmas this year. How many of them will prove to be unsafe for children to play with? We won't know until it's too late will we. God Bless America but not the Congress of the United States, the greedy corrupt political prostitues that they are. Our country is going to h in a hand basket and we the citizens are asleep at the wheel and not doing a darn thing about it. Well, I going to protest long, loud and forever until our troops are brought home. Buy American cars, the job you save may be your own.

[mecury69]

'She' is a 'He'. Sorry, but that is the truth. We all have to accept the conditions we were born into. While he's entitled to have surgery and live his life with happiness, competing as a woman is fraud.

I just do not get the lack of backbone in this country to tell people the truth.

Just like the guy who competed in sprint races with artificial lower legs. It's reality and it sucks but that is what it is.

It's unfair for women to compete against this man just like it is unfair for sprinters to compete against a guy with springs for legs.

Start a new league that allows men and women to compete against one another.

Very sad the LPGA could not make the correct decision here and shame on the dude for threatening a lawsuit and trying to beat women in their own league.

[illcountryboy]

The inmates are in control of the asylum