The California Coastal Commission is requiring that Huntington Beach Longboard Pro surf competition must allow trans-identified males to compete in the women’s division after the organization previously banned men from women's competition.
"This ban is not consistent with the public access, recreation, and environmental justice policies of the Coastal Act, nor is it consistent with the transgender policies adopted by the World Surf League (WSL) and International Surfing Association (ISA)," the California Coastal Commission, which regulates the use of land and water in the coastal zone, said in a letter to American Longboard Association founder Todd Messick.
"Commission staff are particularly concerned that the Huntington Beach Longboard Pro may limit access to an area of state waters for an event that does not provide equitable access to all competitors. Compliance with the policies of the WSL and ISA would serve to preserve public recreational opportunities for all people, which is a requirement of the California Coastal Act," the letter added.
The letter later added, "prohibiting or unfairly limiting transgender athletes from competing in this or any surf competition that takes place in the coastal waters of California does not meet the requirements of the public access policies of the Coastal Act and impedes access by discriminating against transgender surfers."
