Mianne Bagger
Encyclopedia
Mianne Bagger is a touring professional golf
er from Denmark
. Bagger took up golf at the age of eight. At the age of 14, she was pictured with golf legend Greg Norman
during a golf clinic. Bagger moved to Australia
in 1979. In 1995, she had sex reassignment surgery
. In 1998, she returned to golf, as an amateur in Australia.
When she started playing amateur tournaments in Australia, she caused a media stir. Many golf fans argued that her being born a male could give her an advantage over other female competitors. Bagger answered by saying that many people aren't aware of physiological aspects of gender variant conditions and the issues related to transition. But since the Australian Women's Golf Association had no ban against transitioned females, she was welcomed to play there. At Bagger's first tournament as a professional, Laura Davies
and Rachel Teske were among players who were happy to allow Mianne to compete.
In 1999, Bagger won her first South-Australian championship, repeating as champion in 2001 and 2002.
She caused media stir in 2003, when she played the Australia Women's Open and attempted to join the Australian Ladies Professional Golf association (ALPG). At the tournament she met Ty Votaw
, the Commissioner of the LPGA
who was later questioned about their policies stating "right now, our rule is that they have to be born women". Mianne notes that "they obviously don't consider that I meet that condition". (Her comment reflects the perspective of most transitioned men and women and their allies, who do not consider biology the sole arbiter of gender). However, Votaw left the possibility open for that rule to change in the future.
The 2004 ruling by the International Olympic Committee
regarding transitioned athletes led to a re-examination of rules in many sports. In September 2004, the Ladies European Tour
voted on amending their membership entry criteria, allowing Mianne to compete on tour. Later that year, the ALPG also voted in favor of changing their constitution to remove the 'female at birth' clause, thus making Bagger eligible to join the ALPG Tour
in Australia.
On 9 February 2005, the Ladies Golf Union also announced a policy change allowing Bagger to compete in the Women's British Open
.
On 21 March 2005, the United States Golf Association
announced it has adopted a new 'gender policy' that allows transitioned athletes to compete in USGA golf championships, including the upcoming U.S. Women's Open
.
In 2010, the LPGA amended their bylaws and removed the 'female at birth' entry condition.
Although the various policy changes have enabled Mianne (and other transitioned athletes) to compete professionally, the policies very much remain under review. Mianne and other transitioned athletes around the world, continue to lobby the various golf tours and also the IOC and WADA in their approach to recognising gender diversity.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Bagger took up golf at the age of eight. At the age of 14, she was pictured with golf legend Greg Norman
Greg Norman
Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
during a golf clinic. Bagger moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1979. In 1995, she had sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
. In 1998, she returned to golf, as an amateur in Australia.
When she started playing amateur tournaments in Australia, she caused a media stir. Many golf fans argued that her being born a male could give her an advantage over other female competitors. Bagger answered by saying that many people aren't aware of physiological aspects of gender variant conditions and the issues related to transition. But since the Australian Women's Golf Association had no ban against transitioned females, she was welcomed to play there. At Bagger's first tournament as a professional, Laura Davies
Laura Davies
Laura Jane Davies CBE is an English professional golfer.She is considered the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times being the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list...
and Rachel Teske were among players who were happy to allow Mianne to compete.
In 1999, Bagger won her first South-Australian championship, repeating as champion in 2001 and 2002.
She caused media stir in 2003, when she played the Australia Women's Open and attempted to join the Australian Ladies Professional Golf association (ALPG). At the tournament she met Ty Votaw
Ty Votaw
Ty Votaw is an American lawyer and an executive in the golf industry.Votaw was born in Greenford, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio University and earned his law degree at the University of North Carolina....
, the Commissioner of the LPGA
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
who was later questioned about their policies stating "right now, our rule is that they have to be born women". Mianne notes that "they obviously don't consider that I meet that condition". (Her comment reflects the perspective of most transitioned men and women and their allies, who do not consider biology the sole arbiter of gender). However, Votaw left the possibility open for that rule to change in the future.
The 2004 ruling by the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
regarding transitioned athletes led to a re-examination of rules in many sports. In September 2004, the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
voted on amending their membership entry criteria, allowing Mianne to compete on tour. Later that year, the ALPG also voted in favor of changing their constitution to remove the 'female at birth' clause, thus making Bagger eligible to join the ALPG Tour
ALPG Tour
The ALPG Tour is a professional golf tour for women which is based in Australia. ALPG stands for "Australian Ladies Professional Golf".The ALPG was founded as the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Australia in 1972, and switched to its current name in 1991. The first events featured twelve...
in Australia.
On 9 February 2005, the Ladies Golf Union also announced a policy change allowing Bagger to compete in the Women's British Open
Women's British Open
The Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
.
On 21 March 2005, the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
announced it has adopted a new 'gender policy' that allows transitioned athletes to compete in USGA golf championships, including the upcoming U.S. Women's Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
In 2010, the LPGA amended their bylaws and removed the 'female at birth' entry condition.
Although the various policy changes have enabled Mianne (and other transitioned athletes) to compete professionally, the policies very much remain under review. Mianne and other transitioned athletes around the world, continue to lobby the various golf tours and also the IOC and WADA in their approach to recognising gender diversity.