Legislation Brought Forth after Blakeman’s Executive Order Was Struck down in Court
By Hank Russell
In a case of “if you don’t succeed, try, try again,” the Nassau County Legislature ushered in a bill that would ban transgender athletes from playing girls’ sports. This comes after an executive order introduced by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman which would have done the same thing was struck down in court.
“There are other outlets for biological males to compete,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a June 7 press conference. “I believe, by injecting yourself in a bullying manner onto a women’s team or girls’ team or a league, it’s unconstitutional,”
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, Blakeman introduced an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports in which the events take place on county property. He said it was the first-of-its-kind legislation. However, the executive order was met with pushback, as Attorney General Letitia James filed a cease-and-desist letter, calling Blakeman’s order illegal; Blakeman sued James, but the court dismissed the county executive’s lawsuit.
Based on various news reports, the Nassau County Supreme Court struck down the executive order saying the ban would need legislative approval (Blakeman said he plans to appeal) and the New York Civil Liberties Union, representing the Roller Rebels women’s roller derby team — which has transgender individuals on its team — sued the county, claiming it violated the state’s Human Rights Law. Blakeman told those at the press conference that he “thought the executive order was proper.”
“The legislation will basically codify what was in my executive order that I issued on February 22,” Blakeman said at the press conference. “It protects women and girls in athletic competitions.”
Speaking out against Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove), the county Legislature’s minority leader, said in a statement, “In light of the recent actions by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Nassau County Republican Legislature regarding the transgender community, it is crucial to remind everyone that the New York State Attorney General has already deemed this proposal blatantly illegal. Passing such a law will only cost the county millions in legal fees and taxpayer money, funds that should be used for repaving our roads and providing tax relief.” She also said Blakeman should “focus on the substantive work required to improve the lives of all Nassau residents rather than pursuing policies that discriminate and divide.”
LILP reached out to DeRiggi-Whitton’s office to ask if her statement means that she supports biological males playing in women’s sports. She has yet to respond.
LILP also reached out to Blakeman’s office for comment on DeRiggi-Whitton’s statement, but did not hear back as of press time.