New York attorney general Letitia James and the New York Civil Liberties Union are suing Nassau County and its Republican leader again for enacting a new law that prevents males who identify as transgender from participating in women’s sports at county parks and facilities.
The Democratic official and the civil-liberties group independently filed lawsuits on Monday immediately after Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman signed Local Law 121-24, a statute nearly identical to an executive order that had been struck down by Nassau County supreme court judge Francis Ricigliano in May. The law passed the Republican-controlled county legislature 12–5 last month.
The executive order, issued by Blakeman in February, prevented transgender-identifying athletes or teams from using Nassau County’s sports facilities. More specifically, it did this by requiring teams or leagues to designate themselves as male, female, or co-ed. It also prohibited the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums from issuing permits to any women’s or girls’ sports team that includes one or more transgender players on its roster.
The order applied to more than 100 county-owned and -operated sports venues, including parks, baseball fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, and ice rinks. Local Law 121-24, otherwise known as “Fairness for Women and Girls in Sports,” affects the same number of public venues.
James and the NYCLU are now asking the Nassau County supreme court to strike down the law, as it had done the executive order, which faced litigation of its own. The plaintiffs claim that the law violates New York’s anti-discrimination laws and imposes undue scrutiny on women’s sports teams.
“With this law, Nassau County is once again attempting to exclude transgender girls and women from participating in sporting events while claiming to support fairness,” James said in a statement.
NYCLU filed its lawsuit on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller-derby league, which won its first lawsuit against Nassau County. Curly Fry, president of the Long Island Roller Rebels vowed to fight the newly enacted law to “ensure all community members can join a sports team and feel welcome,” according to an NYCLU press release.
In March, James threatened “decisive legal action” in a cease-and-desist letter sent to Blakeman. In response, he sued her for demanding that the executive order be repealed.
Blakeman said on Monday that he is “very disappointed” by the second round of lawsuits against him and his local government.
“I am very disappointed that the Attorney General would attempt to frustrate Nassau County’s desire to protect the integrity of women’s sports, ensure the safety of its participants and provide a safe environment for girls and women to compete,” he posted on social media.