May 9, 2023 by Ultiworld Disc Golf Staff in Analysis, News

Natalie Ryan’s lawsuit against the DGPT and PDGA on the basis of her transgender status has again picked up steam ahead of the weekend’s OTB Open in Stockton, California. The parties are set for a Wednesday hearing in Sacramento that will determine whether Ryan is eligible to participate at the Pro Tour event.

The case, which stems from PDGA policies enacted late last year, has been relatively quiet. Ryan’s lawyers initially filed claims against the DGPT, PDGA, and 1000 Rated Productions (the organizer of the OTB Open) in late February. We were awaiting a formal defense filing sometime in mid-June. But things accelerated last week when Ryan’s lawyers filed a motion requesting a temporary restraining order to allow her to play at the OTB Open.

As we covered in our initial analysis piece, Ryan’s complaint against the PDGA involves a number of substantive discrimination claims — effectively alleging that she is being discriminated against on the basis of being transgender, and that such discrimination is contrary to California state law.

However, the latest set of filings are more procedural in nature and unlikely to result in a definitive or final legal victory for either side.

At the heart of Ryan’s latest filings is a request for the District Court to issue a temporary restraining order that would allow…