Introduction to Mianne Bagger

This site was first started to help clarify many of the issues surrounding me when I first started playing professional golf in 2004. During, and following, my first tournament at the AAMI Australia Women's Open in Feb/Mar 2004 I attracted worldwide media attention which continued over the next couple of years. Most of the controversy unfortunately is unfounded and stems from widespread ignorance in the world when it comes to issues of gender diversity. The common misconceptions are further propogated by what we read in most of the worlds 'popular' media which is why I have decided to be open about my life. My intention is to provide greater education and awareness with gender diversity

When I first started this site, I intended it to help clarify issues surrounding me and my pursuit of playing golf professionally. Since my first tournament at the AAMI Australia Women's Open in Feb/Mar 2004 I have attracted extensive media attention over the last 3 years which has helped get my story out to so many more people than I ever thought would happen.

During that time I have prompted rules changes on most of the golf tours around the world, but the circumstances of gender diversity and transitioned athletes remains an issue so very much misunderstood. If you have been to my site before then you know what all the media attention has been about, but if this is your first visit then I provide more information about me on the various pages on my site. Numerous articles can also be found on the internet by entering my name in search engines.

Although most of the tours have amended rules and entry conditions creating some level of eligibility for transitioned athletes, they are still a long way from properly addressing gender diversity as it pertains to sports. The golf tours are however not directly to blame for this, as they don't have the resources available to them to get the information they need. Their example came from the IOC which, in 2004, made a public statement on their 'Stockholm Consensus of sex reassigned athletes'. It has subsequently been discovered that this 'consensus' was very poorly researched and it's approval was arrived at following a membership vote of the IOC Athletes Commission. It was not based on medical and scientific fact as such a decision should have been.

Specific research on the physiology of gender variant conditons does not seem to exist, but medical and scientific facts do exist on the effects of the hormonal and phsyiological makeup which is related to such conditions. (refer to more detailed information on my 'Facts' pages).

As much as my main focus is on golf, controversy and media focus tends to be a part of my life and golfing career, and is something I need to balance. As long as that continues to happen I hope I can continue to provide more insight and education into the realities of gender diversity and the huge 'grey' area that exists between the 'black and white' definition of male and female.

I tend to receive a lot of email from time to time and while I'm playing on tour and constantly travelling, it can be difficult to find the time to reply to all of them. I appreciate all of the emails I receive from people and thank everybody for taking the time to write.

There is a lot that still needs to change in this world with attitudes towards natural gender diversity and we are only just beginning.