Transgender disc golfer banned from women’s tournament over legal battle

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Natalie Ryan, a transgender disc golfer, was banned from competing in the women’s class on a California tour after a last-minute court ruling.

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The Professional Disc Golf Association in December tightened its rules on transgender participation, which would have barred Ryan from the women’s class.

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She filed a discrimination lawsuit in February and accused the association of “prejudices”. OutSports reported.

On Thursday, a judge ruled that she was allowed to compete in the Disc Golf Pro Tour event.

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“It appears that what was involved was a premeditated act of creating a policy that excludes individuals because of their protected status as transgender women,” Judge Troy L. Nunley wrote in his ruling, according to the Medium.

“The Court is not deciding whether this is sufficient to actually find intentional discrimination, but raises serious questions.”

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Under the PDGA’s new rule, a transgender woman may only compete against biological women if she meets one of the established criteria: that she had a “medical transition during Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12, whichever is later.” occurs” or “The player must also continuously maintain a total serum testosterone level below 2.0 nmol/L.”

Nunley had problems with the “Transition” component.

However, the following day, the PDGA appealed and won – after Ryan had already completed the first round.

She was eliminated from the tournament after finishing the day in fifth place.

“This order restores the DGPT’s ability to enforce its current gender equality policies,” the tour said in a statement Ultiworld. “The DGPT will follow the court’s decision and enforce its gender equality policy, which will ban Ms. Ryan from continuing to compete in the OTB Open.”

Ryan followed the roller coaster results on Instagram.

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“I will not be threatened, I will not be intimidated, I will not be erased,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself holding a CD.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to compete where I belong,” she continued. “To all the trans people out there who love this sport as much as I do, I’m here for you, we all deserve better.”

Ryan redoubled his will not to give in.

She wrote: “The DGPT is now enforcing rules for which it has no place. You only did this to hurt me. I will continue to litigate until justice is achieved. I will use this pain to make sure no one else has to experience it.”