The legal battle over a transgender sports ban in Nassau County, New York, has escalated as the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and New York Attorney General Letitia James filed lawsuits against the new law.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman recently signed Local Law 121-24, known as the “Fairness for Women and Girls in Sports” policy, which requires sports leagues to designate teams based on the sex assigned to participants at birth. The law prohibits trans women from competing on women’s teams but allows trans men to compete on men’s teams.
This law is similar to an executive order previously signed by Blakeman, which was struck down by the Nassau County Supreme Court in May after challenges from the NYCLU and Attorney General James. Now, both parties have filed independent lawsuits against the county, arguing that the new law violates state laws protecting individuals from discrimination based on gender identity.
Gabriella Larios, a staff attorney at the NYCLU, stated, “It is abundantly clear that any attempt to ban trans women and girls from sports is prohibited by our state’s antidiscrimination laws. This latest round of hateful legislation is unacceptable and we won’t let it stand in New York.”
Blakeman defended the legislation, expressing disappointment in the Attorney General’s actions and emphasizing the county’s commitment to protecting the integrity of women’s sports.
The law contradicts guidelines from local and national sports associations, such as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which have policies in place to ensure transgender students can participate in sports in accordance with their gender identity.
While some sports leagues require transgender women to meet specific hormone levels to compete with cisgender women, researchers note that there is not yet consistent research on whether transgender women have a physiological advantage in sports.
The legal battle over the transgender sports ban in Nassau County is ongoing, with both sides firmly standing their ground on the issue.