(The Center Square) — A New York state judge has upheld Nassau County’s controversial law that bars transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports at county-run facilities.
The ruling issued Monday by Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cozzens rejected claims by the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union that the restrictions signed into a law in 2024 by Nassau County Chief Executive Bruce Blakeman in July violated state laws protecting New Yorkers from discrimination based on their gender identity. In his ruling, he said the restrictions align with federal anti-discrimination laws.
“The Court agrees that this Local Law is narrowly tailored to achieve the objectives and does not categorically exclude transgender individuals from athletic participation,” Cozzens wrote in the ruling. “The law regulates access to women and girls categories in the County run facilities for organized athletic events.”
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in July challenging Blakeman’s order on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby team. The plaintiffs argued that the ban violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
A similar lawsuit challenging the ban was filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Blakeman filed a federal lawsuit to block James from intervening in the prior dispute, but his legal challenge was rejected. That case is still pending.
NYCLU staff attorney Gabriella Larios said the judge’s ruling in the case “sends a chilling message that trans people don’t belong in Nassau County” and said the plaintiffs intend to appeal the decision.
“The ruling flies in the face of longstanding state law, which makes clear that trans women and girls have the right to play sports alongside other women and girls,” Larios said in a statement.
Nassau’s law is similar to an executive order signed by Blakeman in February barring transgender athletes from participating in female sports at county facilities, which was blocked by a court ruling. In that ruling, State Supreme Court Judge Francis Ricigliano said Blakeman exceeded his authority by issuing the directive. As that legal challenge was appealed, the Nassau County Legislature approved a similar ban on transgender athletes, which Blakeman signed.
“We are grateful that the court found our legislation to be valid and legal,” Blakeman said in a statement following Monday’s ruling. “We will continue to protect girls and women from unsafe and unfair competition.”
Blakeman, a supporter of President Donald Trump who rode a red wave into office in November 2021, has argued that the order is necessary to protect cisgender girls and women from getting hurt while playing sports.
The state’s ban has drawn praise from former Olympic gold medal champion Caitlyn Jenner, who came out as a transgender woman in 2015 and has become a vocal critic of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
