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Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson filed a lawsuit — against the United States Golf Association and other parties — claiming that a 2024 policy change unlawfully barred her from competing in a 2025 event in New Jersey
The updated policy states that female golfers must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before puberty in order to be eligible to compete
Davidson, 33, who transitioned to female after puberty, argued that the policy will effectively disqualify the majority of transgender athletes from competitions
A transgender woman attempting to compete in United States Golf Association (USGA) events filed a lawsuit claiming that a policy change unlawfully barred her from competing in a 2025 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier.
Golfer Hailey Davidson, 33, filed the suit against the USGA, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Hackensack Golf Club, where the event was scheduled to take place, in New Jersey on Thursday, March 19, according to ESPN and Fox Sports.
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In the suit, Davidson cited a 2024 USGA and LPGA policy change that declared players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before puberty in order to be eligible to compete in events, per ESPN.
Hailey Davidson
Credit: Hailey Davidson/Instagram
Davidson argued that the policy effectively bans most transgender women from competing in official events, as many states do not permit children to receive gender-affirming care before puberty, per the lawsuit, according to ESPN.
Davidson did not transition to female until after puberty, per ESPN, and she competed in several events prior to the 2024 policy change.
The suit additionally claims that Hackensack Golf Club violated the law by deferring to the USGA’s decision and barring her from competing at their club, per ESPN.
Davidson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In a statement to PEOPLE, an LPGA spokesperson said that the organization is aware of the recent lawsuit and will “let that process play out on the proper forum.”
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“The LPGA’s gender policy was developed through a thoughtful, expert-informed process and is grounded in protecting the competitive integrity of elite women’s golf,” the spokesperson said.
The USGA and Hackensack Golf Club did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Read the original article on People