The decision was issued by the California Coastal Commission (CCC), responsible for managing beaches
Authorities in the State of California, in the United States, have notified the organization of a surfing tournament to include a trans woman in its competitor lineup – in the women’s competition – under penalty of violating state legislation.
The decision was issued by the California Coastal Commission (CCC), responsible for managing beaches along the state’s 1,800 kilometers of coastline. According to the CCC, the championship “may not discriminate on the basis of gender.”
Previously, the tournament organizers had announced that Sasha Jane Lowerson, from Australia, would not be allowed to compete in the Huntington Beach Longboard Pro. The decision has generated debate and provoked reactions in California.
Lowerson had entered the women’s division of last Saturday’s competition in Huntington Beach, south of Los Angeles. She said she came forward because rules set by the International Surfing Association (ISA) allow transgender women to compete if they meet certain criteria regarding testosterone levels.
“I was really disappointed and surprised [por ter sido excluída],” she told the BBC. “You can’t cherry-pick the rulebook. If you’re going to use the rulebook, use the entire rulebook.”
Todd Messick, whose American Longboard Association organizes the competition, announced on April 25 that the competition would not allow trans women to compete in the women’s division, saying he wanted to “provide a level playing field for all athletes.”
