Lana Lawless' suit puts gender in sports in spotlight again
Updated 8h 27m ago
By Douglas Robson, Special for USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2010-11-29-lana-lawless-lpga-transgender_N.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2010-11-29-lana-lawless-lpga-transgender_N.htm)
A basic tenet of modern athletics involves separation of the sexes. Yet that principle is increasingly being challenged on the court and in the courtroom.
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Allums' disclosure came on the heels of a legal challenge to the Ladies Professional Golf Association's policy that its players be "female at birth." Lana Lawless, a 57-year-old transgender woman, filed a lawsuit Oct. 12 claiming the rule violates California civil rights law.
Both could lead to policy changes regarding transgender athletes.
The LPGA will discuss in a player meeting Tuesday at the LPGA Tour Championship in Orlando whether its "female at birth" requirement for membership should be changed to allow transgender membership. A constitutional change requires two-thirds approval of the LPGA's membership in attendance, and they could vote as early as tonight.