OutSports.com – Cyd Zeigler Jr.
To little fanfare, the United States Golf Association this week adopted a policy to allow post-op transgender male-to-female golfers to participate in women?s tournaments.
Nary a whisper of it hit the airwaves. Not a peep was uttered about it on the Outsports.com discussion board. Even the guys on “Pardon The Interruption” missed it.
Sure, we?re talking about an incredibly miniscule number of people who might be affected. The number of transsexuals is a small fraction of the population; the number of transsexual golfers ? well, I surely have more toes on one foot.
But, for heaven?s sake, the USGA is going to welcome transgender players on the women?s tour! This is the same organization that outwardly seems to try to quiet the lesbian talk surrounding its tours and still hasn?t seen a male pro come out. And they?re allowing former men to play on the women?s tour?
I can imagine the tears Danielle Swope shed when she heard the decision. Last summer, Swope, a hermaphrodite born with both male and female sexual organs, was denied in her request to play in a women?s event. Raised as Daniel, a boy, Swope underwent sex-reassignment surgery from 1995 to 1997 and has since lived as a woman.
The problem was that the USGA?s policy stated that, to play on the women?s tour, a golfer had to be ?female at birth,? and that her birth certificate had to reflect that. Because Swope was outwardly male at birth, her birth certificate reflected that.
While the women?s tournament denied her request last July, she was invited to play in a men?s qualifier for the Fort Wayne Men’s City Tournament. She was 5-foot-4 and weighed 160 pounds.
“I have respect for the men for at least giving me the opportunity to play,? she told the Associated Press at the time. ?The women I don’t have any respect for.”
With the new policy, Swope, whose sex-reassignment surgery was now 10 years ago, and others like her will be able to compete on the women?s tour.