SACRAMENTO – After over 50 organizations joined forces to oppose a discriminatory policy by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the Tour announced today they would back off plans to suspend players who could not efficiently speak English.

 

“While it is quite unfortunate that in the 21st century any organization would think such a policy is acceptable, I am pleased that the LPGA heard the millions of American voices who opposed this unfair, unreasonable, and discriminatory mandate,” said Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo).  “While these types of incidents unfortunately still seep into our society, it is refreshing to see the overwhelming number of people who will fight for equality, fairness, and justice.”

 

Despite there being no relevance to the sport, the LPGA claimed that it was important for players to be able to interact with American media and event sponsors.  No other professional sports league in the United States has such a mandate.  One major sponsor, State Farm, had already announced they would no longer support the LPGA if they do not rescind the policy.

 

“The LPGA has received valuable feedback from a variety of constituents regarding the recently announced penalties attached to our effective communications policy,” said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens.  “We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions.  After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008.”

Senator Yee had led an effort with over 50 organizations opposing the LPGA policy.  The organizations included:


• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
• Applied Research Center
• Asian American Bar Association
• Asian American Coalition for Civil Rights
• Asian American Justice Center (AAJC)
• Asian American Recovery Services
• Asian American Women’s Alliance
• Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality
• Asian Americans for Community Involvement
• Asian Law Alliance
• Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute
• Asian Pacific Bar Association of Silicon Valley
• California Alliance for Retired Americans
• California Commission on the Status of Women
• California Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• California Immigrant Policy Center
• California National Organization for Women (NOW)
• California Psychiatric Association
• Californians for Disability Rights
• Cambodian American Resource Agency
• Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA)
• Equality California
• Filipino American Organization of San Jose State University
• Filipino National History Society
• Filipino Youth Coalition
• Filipinos for Affirmative Action
• International Children Assistance Network
• Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
• Japantown Community Congress of San Jose
• Korean American Bar Association
• Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley
• Korean American Coalition
• Korean American Community Services
• Korean American Law Students Association
• Korean American Professional Society
• Korean American Society of Entrepreneurs
• Latino Issues Forum
• Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• National Center for Lesbian Rights
• National Council of Asian Pacific Americans
• National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
• Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA)

• Organization for Justice and Equality

• Sojourn to the Past – A Civil Rights Education Project
• South Asian Bar Association
• Southeast Asian Community Center
• Vision New America
• Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation
• Vietnamese American Bar Association
• Yee Fow Center for History, Culture, and Trade


 

There are 121 international golfers on the LPGA Tour, coming from 26 different countries.  This year, the Tour held events in ten countries.

 

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Adam J. Keigwin

Communications Director

Office of Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.,

Assistant President pro Tem

California State Senate, District 8

(916) 651-4008 | www.senate.ca.gov/yee