In a significant legal move, New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a cease-and-desist order to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, challenging an executive order he recently enacted that bars transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports within the county. The Attorney General’s Office has labeled this directive as discriminatory, arguing that it infringes upon New York’s Civil and Human Rights Laws by targeting transgender women and girls for their identity.
The contentious executive order signed by Blakeman has sparked a robust response from the state’s top legal authority, with James’s office threatening further legal recourse should the order not be rescinded within a five-day timeframe. The order from James’s office underscores the legal stance that discrimination based on gender identity or expression is unequivocally illegal in New York, emphasizing the state’s intolerance for hate or bigotry.
Blakeman, defending the executive order, articulated his stance that the measure is aimed at ensuring the safety and competitive fairness for biological female athletes, prohibiting transgender athletes, or teams with transgender athletes, from utilizing county sports facilities. This policy, according to Blakeman, is to prevent what he perceives as an unfair advantage and ensure the protection of women and girls in sports.
Despite the cease-and-desist notice, Blakeman has indicated, through social media, his intention to uphold the executive order, framing it as a defense against what he views as the bullying of women and girls by transgender males. He asserts that the executive order is a measure to protect the rights of females to compete safely and securely on a level playing field.
The legal confrontation between Nassau County and the New York Attorney General’s Office highlights the ongoing debate over transgender rights and participation in sports, a topic that has become increasingly polarized. The outcome of this legal dispute could set significant precedents for how transgender athletes are accommodated within sports leagues across New York and potentially beyond.