A New York state Supreme Court invalidated a Long Island county's ban on transgender athletes on Friday.
The directive, issued in February by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, was rejected by Judge Francis Ricigliano after determining that he did not have the power to issue it.
"With the stated aim of safeguarding the athletic rights of women and girls, the County Executive issued an Executive Order to prevent transgender women from participating in girls' and women's athletics at Nassau County parks, despite the absence of corresponding legislative authorization for such an order," Ricigliano stated in the 13-page decision. said American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) New York chapter hailed the ruling.
“This decision sends a strong message that transphobic discrimination cannot and will not stand,” they said in a Friday post on social media platform X.
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of Long Island Roller Rebels, the roller derby league that alleged discrimination based on gender identity. post Blakeman's order from February would've refused permits for any women's or girls' sporting event with transgender athletes participating. State Attorney General Letitia James urged him to revoke his order. In response, Blakeman filed a lawsuit that was dismissed.
Blakeman said the lawsuit was filed “On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of women and girls in Nassau County” to protect “women’s sports and ensure a safe environment for women.”
James said Friday’s decision was a “major victory.” demanded “In New York, it is illegal to discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression,” she filed a lawsuit that got tossed out.
Blakeman said the lawsuit was filed “On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of women and girls in Nassau County” to protect “women’s sports and ensure a safe environment for women.”
James said Friday’s decision was a “major victory.”
“In New York, it is illegal to discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression,” she said on X.
