More than 275 golfers have signed a letter demanding that Hailey Davidson, a transgender player, be removed from the current LGPA qualifying series.

Debates surrounding transgender athletes have grown in recent years, with many conservatives arguing that transgender women competing in all-female leagues gives them an unfair advantage over biological girls and women.

Hailey Davidson kicked off the second stage of LPGA qualifying on Tuesday with a round of 16, amid growing controversy.

Reports revealed that 275 female golfers signed a letter calling on the LPGA, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the International Golf Federation to reconsider and repeal policies allowing individuals assigned male at birth to participate in women’s competitions.

Current regulations allow transgender athletes to participate if they have undergone gender affirmation surgery after puberty and maintain hormone levels that meet specific criteria.

Here News week detailed everything you need to know about Davidson and the current controversy surrounding him.

News week contacted Davidson via Instagram for comment on Wednesday.

Who is Hailey Davidson?

Hailey Davidson is a professional golfer and one of the first openly transgender women to compete in high-profile women’s golf tournaments in the United States. She began transitioning in 2015, meeting hormonal requirements set by the LPGA and USGA for transgender athletes to compete in women’s tournaments. competitions.

Davidson made headlines in 2021 when she became the first openly transgender woman to win a professional women’s mini-tour, sparking debates about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. While some argue that transgender athletes retain physical advantages after male puberty, others support Davidson’s right to compete under current guidelines, which regulate hormone levels and other factors.

In a March Instagram post, Davidson said the LPGA and US Golf Association have some of the strictest policies towards transgender athletes, noting that no transgender golfer has yet reached the highest levels of the sport. women’s golf and criticizing hypothetical fears of transgender athletes dominating the sport. .

“I would half understand all the hate and threats if there were a ton of dominant transgender women at every level, but unfortunately that’s just not the case and hasn’t been since the Policy implementation When the guidelines are strict enough, they do not allow for an advantage but at the same time, completely banning a group of people based on assumptions is far from acceptable and honestly, the quantity. “The assumptions I’m being asked are just laughable with what some people think could happen,” she wrote. .

“I think society seems to forget how incredibly good and talented female professional athletes are in all sports. I mean, these women are incredibly good and I can only dream of working to play alongside them one day, but in reality, it’s still a long-term one and I’ll need everything I have, even for the smallest of chances.”

How the golfers reacted

Davidson’s inclusion in women’s golf has received pushback, with more than 275 golfers signing a letter urging the LPGA and other golf bodies to reconsider their transgender inclusion policies. Critics argue that transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty can retain physical advantages, including greater muscle mass and bone density, despite hormone treatment, raising concerns about the fairness of competition .

Some players and commentators express concern that the inclusion of transgender athletes could undermine progress made in women’s sports. The argument often focuses on the idea of ​​maintaining a level playing field, with calls for more consistent and stricter regulations across all women’s golf tours. At the same time, others are defending Davidson’s right to compete, saying she complies with existing hormone and transition requirements set by the LPGA and USGA.

Which golf players have spoken out?

While many players have expressed concerns about Hailey Davidson’s participation in women’s golf, the majority have chosen to remain anonymous. One notable exception is Lauren Miller, a golfer who previously competed against Davidson and has not been shy about publicly expressing her views.

“There’s no world where I thought that would be the case,” Miller said. Kick.

“I talked to my parents about it, and they can’t believe they have a daughter who has to go through this. It’s really shocking to realize where we are today and that this is the state of the world .

In another interview, published by Independent Women’s Forum, Miller said that sometimes Davidson “hit the ball 10 or 20 yards from me, and sometimes 50 to 60 yards from me.” She added that “distance is an advantage… but there is much more to it than that.” Miller said there was also the issue of “superior upper body strength”, which can give “greater clubhead speed and allow the ball to come out higher and with more spin “.

Miller also told the Independent Women’s Forum that it’s the rules she disagrees with, not the golfer. “It’s not a me versus Hailey battle,” she said. “It’s about making people understand that we have to do something about this. We have to protect young girls, their opportunities and their dreams.”

Davidson insisted she had no “extra equipment” and also received support from various advocacy groups. Organizations like Athlete Ally, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, have defended Davidson’s right to compete, arguing that the inclusion of transgender athletes is important and pointing out that current regulations including maintaining specific testosterone levels and surgery gender affirmation, are designed to ensure equity. .

The NXXT Women’s Pro Tour, which Davidson participated in, acknowledged the ongoing debate but reaffirmed that Davidson adhered to the rules set by golf’s governing bodies.

What is the LGPA’s transgender policy?

The LPGA’s transgender policy allows transgender women to compete in women’s events if they meet certain criteria. These include undergoing gender affirmation surgery after puberty, maintaining testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L for at least a year, and providing legal documentation of their gender transition. Established in 2010, this policy aligns with rules from other organizations like the USGA, aimed at balancing fairness and inclusion.