Nassau County legislature proposes law to reinstate transgender sports ban

The Nassau County County legislature intends to pass a law to reinstate a ban on transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports at county-owned athletic facilities.

The move comes after a state Supreme Court judge ruled last month that Nassau County Republican Executive Bruce Blakeman didn’t have the authority to impose such a prohibition via executive order, and without the legislature’s approval.

Republicans control 12 of the 19 seats in the county legislature, so passage of the bill — which will be officially introduced on Friday — is likely a slam dunk.

“We will be introducing legislation in the Nassau County Legislature to codify the protections that were in my executive order to ensure the fairness and safety of women’s and girls’ competitions,” Blakeman said.

“I am confident the legislature will act favorably to protect girls and women in Nassau County.”

Nassau Legislature Presiding Officer Howard Kopel said, “In supporting this proposed law, we affirm our commitment to fairness and safety in sports for women and girls in Nassau County. This measure not only safeguards the integrity of women’s sports but also fosters an environment where every athlete can thrive with confidence and dignity.”

Supporters of the ban say biological men who identify as transgender have unfair physical advantages while competing against women.

“When we blur the lines between male and female competition, we diminish the accomplishments, efforts and safety of all women athletes,” said legislator Samantha Goetz.

“As a former high school athlete and mother to two young girls,” Goetz said, “I cannot and will not let that happen.”

One of the world’s most famous transgender persons — Caitlyn Jenner — supports the ban for that reason.

The former athlete, né Bruce Jenner, who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics, appeared alongside Blakeman at a March press conference.

“The difference between men and women exists based on DNA, or your chromosomes…there are massive advantages and undeniable differences from male development, basically going through male puberty,” Jenner said.

“The solution is simple: when it comes to athletics… you have to compete in the biological sex in which you were born,” Jenner said.

“This is critical to protect the integrity of competition in women’s sports.”

But state Attorney General Letitia James called the proposed ban “discriminatory,” “transphobic” and “illegal” under the state’s civil rights laws.

A county law will most certainly be challenged in court, too.

The New York Civil Liberties Union filed the successful lawsuit overturning Blakeman’s executive order on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a Nassau County recreational women’s flat track roller derby league.

The league, which welcomes trans women, was barred from using Nassau County’s facilities under Blakeman’s order.

Asked about the looming legislation, the NYCLU said, “we will them in court” again.

“Any attempt, whether through executive action or legislation, to ban transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports is prohibited by our state’s antidiscrimination law. It was true when we successfully struck down County Executive Blakeman’s transphobic policy and it is true now,” said Gabriella Larios, staff attorney at the NYCLU.

“If the Nassau County legislature chooses to introduce such harmful legislation, we will see them in court.”