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NASSAU COUNTY BANS TRANS WOMEN FROM PLAYING SPORTS AT ITS FACILITIES



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By
Giulia Heyward

Published Feb 22, 2024 at 4:40 p.m. ET

10 comments

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Howard Schnapp./Newsday RM via Getty Images

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By
Giulia Heyward

Published Feb 22, 2024 at 4:40 p.m. ET

10 comments

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An executive order signed by the Nassau County executive on Thursday essentially
bars trans women from participating in women’s sports teams at facilities run by
the county, and forces sports leagues to comply with the measure or lose access
to fields and facilities.

“There’s too much bullying going on of biological males trying to inject
themselves and women in female sports, and we will not tolerate that in Nassau
County,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a press conference on
Thursday.

The county licenses more than 100 facilities to sports leagues, which can be
banned from using these spaces if they don’t comply with the new measure,
according to the executive order, which Gothamist obtained a copy of.

The sports leagues will need to affirmatively state that they are in compliance
with the order – which went into effect immediately after Blakeman signed it –
or lose access, Blakeman echoed at the press conference.

Sports teams must comply when “applying for a use and occupancy permit to
utilize Nassau County parks property for the purposes of organizing a sporting
event or competition,” the order reads.

In the United States, 25 states have laws or regulations banning transgender
youth from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity –
affecting 38% of transgender youth in the country, according to data from the
Movement Advancement Project. In April, the Republican-controlled House of
Representatives passed a bill that would ban trans athletes from female sports
teams – but the legislation did not receive the support of President Joe Biden
or the Democrat-run Senate.



During the press conference, Blakeman spoke alongside dozens of girls holding
signs that read ‘Protect women's rights.’ Kim Russell, a former lacrosse coach
at Oberlin College who was demoted after she spoke out against transgender
athletes, was also in attendance.

“I just want to thank County Executive Blakeman for being a pioneer – and
standing up for women,” she said.

Many LGBTQ+ rights politicians and organizations criticized Blakeman’s measure.

The New York Civil Liberties Union called the executive order “illegal” and said
it is already considering options to stop it.

“Requiring girls who are trans to compete on boys’ teams effectively bars them
from sports altogether,” said Bobby Hodgson, the NYCLU’s LGBTQ rights litigation
director, in a press release. “Participating would mean being outed and being
denied the same opportunities other girls enjoy: to challenge themselves,
improve fitness, and be part of a team of their peers. At its heart, this order
is an attempt to shut trans people out of public spaces.”

State Attorney General Letitia James called the executive order "transphobic and
deeply dangerous" in a statement, and added that her office was reviewing its
legal options.



“In New York, we have laws that protect our beautifully diverse communities from
hate and discrimination of any and every kind," James said in a statement. "My
office is charged with enforcing and upholding those laws, and we stand up to
those who violate them and trespass on the rights of marginalized communities."




Tagged

new york state
Politics
long island
sports

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Giulia Heyward


Giulia Heyward is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers politics
and breaking news. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter,
and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has
also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email
gheyward@nypublicradio.org or Signal 917-715-1458.

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