Long Island County Bans Transgender Athletes in Executive Order
A county on Long Island, N.Y., on Thursday banned athletic organizations that allow transgender girls to compete from using more than 100 county facilities.
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and a Republican, signed an executive order requiring any league, team or organization wishing to use a county sports facility to “expressly designate” itself as a male, female or co-ed team based on the assigned gender of the members. at birth. The policy is effective immediately and does not require regulatory approval.
The move was the latest in a series of attempts by officials across the country to ban transgender athletes from competing, especially in women's sports. More than two dozen states have passed laws in recent years restricting transgender athletes from playing school sports. according to ESPN.
And last year, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in women's sports. The bill has no chance of passing the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, or being signed by President Biden.
According to Mr. Blakeman's office, the ban will impact thousands of teams at all levels competing in Nassau County facilities. Last year, the Big East Conference, home to 11 college athletics programs, held its swimming championships in the county. The Big East did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
David Kilmnick, the president of the LGBT Network, a nonprofit based on Long Island and in Queens, described the executive order as illegal.
“This discriminatory move not only undermines the principles of inclusivity and fairness, but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and exclusion,” he said.
“New York State law explicitly protects the rights of transgender people and ensures their equal participation in all aspects of life, including sports,” he added. “Trying to enforce such a ban would be futile and legally untenable.”
When asked at a news conference Thursday how many transgender athletes compete in Nassau County, Mr. Blakeman said he did not know. He said less than 1 percent of county residents identified as transgender, without citing a source, and that he was unsure how many, if any, were competing at county facilities.
At the news conference, Mr. Blakeman referred to transgender girls competing on women's teams outside New York before saying he wanted to “lead the way here in Nassau County.”
As Mr. Blakeman signed the order, a small group of protesters gathered outside the county building and chanted, “Trans children are our children.”
Some carried signs that read “Bruce Blakeman is just another school bully” and “Pick someone your own size, Bruce.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.