An attempt by a Scottish transgender golfer to be allowed to compete on the women’s tour has provoked an outcry.
The 29-year-old male, now known as Hailey Davidson, has undergone ‘gender reassignment surgery’ to make himself appear more feminine. He is now seeking a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LGPA) tour card to compete at elite-level events.
In 2010, LGPA members voted to remove the tour requirement that golfers be “female at birth” after a transgender player sued the Association for excluding biological males.
‘Wrong’
Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray OBE, described existing LPGA rules that allow men like Davidson to compete as unacceptable.
She tweeted: “No. Not fair at all. Protect women’s sport. Listen to the facts, the scientists and the medics. This is wrong.”
No. Not fair at all. Protect women’s sport. Listen to the facts, the scientists and the medics. This is wrong. https://t.co/bFjlfNSg2v
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) August 20, 2022
Murray was backed by For Women Scotland, the group commented on her Twitter feed: “Thank you, Judy. It really isn’t fair!”
Dr Linda Blade, a former Canadian athlete and now a champion of women’s sport, also took to Twitter to voice her objections: “Why have a separate category in #golf called ‘ladies’ if anyone is allowed to self-identify into it?”
Boxing
Earlier this month, the Wold Boxing Council (WBC) became the latest sporting body to ban biological males from competing against women.
The WBC said transgender athletes “may have an unfair advantage” over female combatants and any such fight between unequally matched fighters posed “serious health and safety concerns”.
International sporting organisations for cycling, swimming and rugby league have also recently strengthened rules to protect women’s sports.
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