Mineola, New York – Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order Thursday banning transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports at county facilities.
He said the ban was necessary to be fair to “biologically female” athletes.
Transgender rights advocates immediately voiced their outrage.
Critics called the order unnecessary, divisive, illegal and hurting children already at risk. But Blakeman said this was common sense fairness and meant to protect women and girls.
With one stroke of a pen, Blakeman banned transgender players, or what he called “biological males,” from competing against female players at more than 100 county facilities in Nassau.
“I don't see why a biological male would have to compete with a biological female. It doesn't make sense,” Blakeman said. “This is a question of fairness and, frankly, I interpret it as bullying on the part of the biological male.”
Blakeman said he respects everyone and that male athletes can compete on men's or co-ed teams, but it's a question of fairness.
“Biological males are bigger, stronger and faster than biological females. It's unfair for biological males and biological females to compete in tennis, basketball and golf,” Blakeman said.
He received applause from the girls and their mothers.
“There was no training that I could have put in to compete against biological males,” said Samantha Goetz, a Nassau state representative. She said: “Our biological differences are undeniable.
“It's not fair that men have the ability to do it. It's a standard that biological women can't reach,” said Long Beach High School athlete Avery Graziosi.
Former college lacrosse coach Kim Russell was disciplined for supporting a so-called women-only sport.
“Without the ability to compete by gender, young girls may be missing out on opportunities,” Russell said.
The issue has become a hotly debated topic amid the record-breaking swimming performance of transgender college swimmer Leah Thomas. Competitors protested.
Now, the trans community is protesting against Blakeman, saying the order is political, discriminatory and unnecessary.
“This is using public property to discriminate against a very vulnerable group of people who are already under attack,” said Susan Gotterer of the New York Citizens United.
“It's incredible that we're getting through these strict rules for something that's not a big deal,” said Juli Gray Owns of the New York State Office of Gender Equality.
Critics say requiring transsexual girls to play on boys' teams would prevent them from playing at all, and that education, not division, is needed.
“Trans women are women,” said trans activist Jennifer Molloy. “Genders are in your brain. They think differently, they feel differently. They're women. They're women. They're not men.”
“This is a human rights and respect issue regarding suicide prevention for the transgender adolescent population,” said non-binary rights advocate Zoe Crandorff.
Under the order, sports leagues are now required to provide documentation of a player's biological sex at birth.
Mr Blakeman said this was not a partisan issue and argued the issue was driven by parents' concerns.
The NYCLU is considering all options to stop it.
“There is nothing more despicable than trying to score cheap political points by targeting the backs of our state's most vulnerable people, transgender children. We have the strongest protections and I am committed to enforcing them,'' Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote about X.
“This executive order is transphobic and extremely dangerous. New York has laws that protect our beautiful and diverse community from hate and discrimination of all kinds. My office is responsible for enforcing and upholding those laws. “They are violating those laws and violating the rights of marginalized communities. We are considering our legal options,” said Letitia James. the attorney general said in a statement.
“The residents of Nassau County were falsely promised tax cuts and a fairer property assessment system by this county executive, who instead funneled public money to private golf outings, lavish galas, and irrelevant press conferences. , brought in a county executive who is more interested in self-promotion.'' – Today we're focusing on Little League legislation, but that has nothing to do with his responsibilities,'' said Nassau County Legislative Minority Leader Delia. Derridge said.
“Trans women are women. Trans girls are girls too. Full stop. Blakeman's thinly veiled publicity attempt not only violates the ethos of fairness and inclusivity in sports. , a long-standing and tired approach to dividing us, and we will not tolerate it,” said Nassau NOW President Patrica Pastor.
“We are thrilled that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced an executive order aimed at banning transgender athletes from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity. “We are extremely disappointed. This discriminatory move not only undermines the principles of inclusion and equity, but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and exclusion,” said New York LGBT Network Chairman and Founder said Dr. David Kilmnick.
Nassau's transgender ban does not apply to co-ed sports or men's sports, only women's competitive sports.
