Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@haileydgolf/Instagram/@nxxtwomensprotour
Topics: Celebrity, LGBTQ, Social Media, Sport, Transgender, US News
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Celebrity, LGBTQ, Social Media, Sport, Transgender, US News
Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.
NXXT Golf has revealed a 'significant update' to its policy resulting in Hailey Davidson being 'banned' from tournaments.
NXXT Golf Tour released an update on its social media as well as its website informing golfers that 'effective immediately' all competitors 'must be a biological female at birth to participate'.
Pro athlete Hailey Davidson - who is also transgender - has resultantly been 'removed' from the next three NXXT tournaments and she's since responded to the news.
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NXXT Golf Tour's website states the decision to ban transgender athletes from participating 'underscores the organization’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of women's professional golf and ensuring fair competition'.
It adds: "This policy update is the result of comprehensive research, thoughtful deliberation, and extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the sports community."
And it hasn't taken long for Davidson - who won at the NXXT Women’s Classic in January after not being victorious in over two years - to take to her Instagram Story to address the policy change.
The first upload stated: "Effective immediately, I have been removed (banned) from the next three NXXT tournaments that I already signed up for and been approved to play. They changed their policy mid season, after me signing up already and being 2nd in Player of the Year race."
In a follow-up Story, Davidson questioned if people understand 'how good LPGA player are and how far they hit', noting if any player is 'upset' with her getting to play the distance of 245 years, then they'll 'never make it to the LPGA tour where they are that much better and longer than [them]'.
She continued: "You can scream at me, threaten me, throw insults at me and even ban me. BUT I will ALWAYS get back up and keep fighting till the very end. Hate and bigotry will NEVER win."
Davidson added what 'really bugs' them is people thinking she will 'win just by showing up'.
She went on: "This is such a slap in the face to ALL female athletes being told that any male can transition and beat them regardless of the life of hard work those women put in.
"You think your attacking me but your actually attacking and putting down ALL other female athletes."
She resolved you 'really learn people's true colors during times like these' and that 'such a massive amount of people turn there backs when you actually need it most'.
When first announcing the policy change, NXXT GOLF CEO Stuart McKinnon said in a statement: "As we navigate through the evolving landscape of sports, it is crucial to uphold the competitive integrity that is the cornerstone of women’s sports. Our revised policy is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to celebrating and protecting the achievements and opportunities of female athletes. Protected categories are a fundamental aspect of sports at all levels, and it is essential for our Tour to uphold these categories for biological females, ensuring a level playing field.
"NXXT Golf is honored to lead in promoting and advancing women's golf, providing a platform that not only highlights the exceptional talent of women golfers worldwide but also ensures the competition remains equitable for all of our players."
However, the sport tour agency has yet to publicly comment on Davidson's response to the update.
UNILAD has contacted NXXT Women's Pro Tour for comment.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT national hotline at 888-843-4564, available Monday to Friday 4pm-12am ET and 12pm-5pm ET on Saturdays.