Transgender Golfer Answers Viewers' Questions

Aug. 1, 2005 -- -- Mianne Bagger, who was profiled on "Primetime," is making history as the first transgendered athlete ever to play in a professional golf tournament. However, there are still challenges in her life: to rise in the rankings, to find sponsorships, to find love.

Bagger has agreed to answer questions from the ABCNEWS.com audience. Below are some of the questions we received, and her answers. The questions have been edited for length; Bagger's responses have not been edited.

Bagger encourages those with further questions to visit her web site, http://www.miannegolf.com.

Kirby Oblachinski of Columbia S.C., asks: "Mianne, do you have a manager or promoter? I would be interested in assisting you in finding sponsors."

At this time I don't have a manager as all that I have spoken to who manage sports people, have not been interested in taking me on as a client. I have been fortunate to have received a few e-mails for potential sponsorship as a result of the "Primetime" interview, so hopefully they may lead to something. I am interested in obtaining a manager so maybe it could be worth further discussion? Please feel free to e-mail me directly if you wish.

Henry Luciano of Norwalk, Conn., asks: "Do you believe if you start winning events, you will have no problem getting sponsorship?" He adds, 'Do you have a good teaching pro?"

I have little doubt that if I start winning events, even doing well in them, it will make it much easier obtaining sponsorship. I think the corporate world would be more at ease associating with me when I am a more accomplished tour player.

I actually have good teaching pros all around me but it can be difficult to get settled in to doing serious work on my swing (which I know is needed) when I have no 'base' as such. I have been travelling and living out of a suitcase for about 2 1/2 years now and am rarely in one place longer than a couple of weeks at the moment. It's not really conducive to being able to focus on and work on changes or improvement.

Christa from Sioux City, Iowa, writes: "Some friends and I were watching you on "Primetime" and felt sincere empathy for your story. We follow the LPGA regularly and are female collegiate athletes and love competition. We are practicing lesbians and found you extremely attractive. Which leads to the question, what is your sexual preference?"

Thank you for the compliments girls, but I do like guys. ;-)

Jessica J. from Weehawken, N.J., says: "You seem to be very focused on your golf career. Do you have that same drive and hope to someday find love and form a family? Do you consider it fundamental in order to find happiness?"

I guess my drive to find love and form a family is not so great as my golf, but then I also see them as being a little different. Because of my past being quite common knowledge where ever I am, I have not had much with boyfriends, let alone finding love. And for me that is something that comes before thinking of a family. I'm not sure if I ever will have a family, but I haven't discounted it either.

Happiness, I think, can be found in many ways and is largely something that is within someone. Not so much in what's around them. For the most part I am very happy, finding love would only add to that.

Sally, from Eddyville, Iowa, writes: "You look pretty good with Jay in the picture ... is he married? or did you ask?"

I think Jay is a passionate and wonderful man and it was a pleasure to meet him that week. ....and he is happily married. Actually all of the guys from "Primetime" were a great bunch. We had a fun week.

Stefanie Tountas of Melrose, Mass., asks: "With such an operation do you lose the ability to be sexually satisfied?"

For most of us, sexual response is actually increased after surgery (the surgical techniques are quite fantastic and yes I can, and do, orgasm). As much as sexual satisfaction is physical, it is also mental and emotional. Feeling complete and at ease with one self does absolute wonders for one's libido ... then you've just got to find someone to enjoy it with. ;-)

Amandeep Sidhu of Toronto, Ontario, asks: "Is it possible for transgender women to have children?"

The simple answer is no, transsexual women cannot bear children.

Samantha, in Brooklyn, N.Y., asks: "How long did your sex change operation take? It must have cost a fortune."

From memory, my operation took around 3 1/2 hours, I think? It didn't really cost a fortune, but when you don't have money, it sure seems like it. In Australia where I had surgery, private health insurance covers the hospital stay, and we have to pay surgeons fees and anesthetist. For the surgery now, I think it might cost around AUS$12,000 (around US$9-10,000). In contrast to that, in Denmark, public health service covers the fee and I think it's the same for the UK. In addition to basic surgical costs, there is also the cost of electrolysis/laser for removal of facial hair which also runs into thousands of dollars. From the impression I get though, I think all of this costs much more in the U.S.?

Shannen of Wichita, Okla., writes: "The ladies of the European Tour were shown to be supportive, but a bit non committal. What's it like in the locker room. Are you friends with the other ladies? Who's your closest friend on the tour!"

I haven't actually seen the interview yet so I don't know how the girls came across in the interview but I have many friends on tour and most have been very supportive. I have friends from Australia, Denmark, England, Spain, Italy and Sweden ... and a few other countries. I don't have one particular close friend on tour. There are many competitive girls out there and I think most of them are over the fuss of me participating. They're out there to be the best players they can be and are very much focused on that. I'm just another player.

Catherine LaBrie of Columbia, Tenn., asks: "What kind of support has helped you in your life? Do you have family support or a circle of friends, or both?"

I am lucky to have both. I have a very supportive family who have been with me all the way and I have close friends that were invaluable to me when I was going through my treatment. It would make it extremely difficult to go through something like this without support which is what saddens me when I hear of some people that are abandoned by the family and friends. Because of something that we have no control over.

Joel Anderson of Fairfax, Va., writes: "I am male. You and I have the xy chromosomes. What I want to know is this. Why should the women in LPGA play golf with you?"