In a recent case in East Meadow, New York, a judge struck down a Long Island county’s order banning female transgender athletes after a local women’s roller derby league challenged it. Judge Francis Ricigliano ruled that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman did not have the authority to issue the executive order denying park permits to women’s and girl’s teams that allow transgender athletes to participate. The judge stated that the order aimed to prevent transgender women from participating in girls’ and women’s athletics without proper legislative authority.
The president of the Long Island Roller Rebels, Amanda Urena, welcomed the decision as a victory against discrimination. She stated that transgender individuals have the right to participate in sports like everyone else, and Blakeman’s order was an attempt to erase their presence. The New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed the suit on behalf of the league, called the policy harmful and based on harmful stereotypes about transgender women and girls. Blakeman, however, dismissed the ruling as not addressing the merits of the case and claimed that girls and women were being hurt by the decision.
Blakeman had defended the ban, stating that it was meant to protect girls and women from potential injuries if they were forced to compete against transgender women. The ban affected over 100 athletic facilities in Nassau County, including ballfields, basketball courts, and swimming pools. The roller derby league argued that New York’s human rights and civil rights statutes prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, citing the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and guidance from the state Division of Human Rights.
The roller derby league filed suit after applying for a permit to host games at county parks and facing restrictions. The league, which welcomes all transgender, intersex, and gender-expansive women, argued that at least one of its members would be prohibited from participating under the county’s order. In a separate legal case, a federal judge rejected Blakeman’s attempt to prevent the state attorney general’s office from taking action against the ban, warning that it violated anti-discrimination laws.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights have highlighted that bills banning transgender youth from participating in sports have passed in 24 states across the United States. The ruling in this case in New York represents a step towards upholding the rights of transgender athletes to participate in sports without facing discrimination or exclusion. It underscores the importance of ensuring inclusivity and equality for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.
