New York Attorney General Letitia James has requested that Nassau County cease its efforts to safeguard girls’ sports from the impact of transgenderism. “The Order’s immediate effect is to force sports leagues to make an impossible choice: discriminate against transgender women and girls, in violation of New York law, or find somewhere else to play,” a cease-and-desist letter sent to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman read.
Officials in Nassau County, New York, made a bold move on February 22 by defying the state’s liberal establishment. They announced a prohibition on individuals competing in sporting events of the opposite biological sex in county-run facilities. The primary objective of this ban, according to Blakeman, is to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports.
According to the executive order, sports leagues, organizations, teams, and other entities in the county must explicitly categorize teams based on an athlete’s sex when applying for a “use and occupancy” permit at a Nassau County Parks property for any competition or event, regardless of the level. Effective immediately, permits will not be granted for competitions or events that allow individuals of the opposite sex to participate in sporting events.
AG James’ announced that the executive order is “in clear violation of New York State anti-discrimination laws and demands that it be immediately rescinded.”
The cease-and-desist letter goes on to claim that the order “invites invasive policing of the sex and gender identity and expression of all girls and women” by “requiring teams and leagues to exclude transgender women and girls as a condition of using covered facilities.”
“The law is clear: you can’t discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression,” AG James proclaimed.
The law is clear: you can’t discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression.
I'm demanding @NassauExec immediately rescind his transphobic and illegal order within 5 days, or I will not hesitate to take decisive legal action.https://t.co/9JCO3RWwXx— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) March 1, 2024
Blakeman was quick to respond, taking to X to say:
My EO stops the bullying of women and girls by transgender males who have many outlets to compete without putting the safety and security of females in danger.
In Nassau we will continue to fight for females’ right to be safe, secure, and have a level playing field to compete. https://t.co/sq9OI45vIn
— Bruce Blakeman (@NassauExec) March 1, 2024
