Nassau County Executive Bans Trans Athletes From Competing In Girls Sports At County Facilities Via Executive Order
GARDEN CITY, NY – In a groundbreaking move, Nassau County has introduced a new policy that will impact girls’ sports teams and leagues. County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the executive order, which requires these teams and leagues to ban transgender competitors from participating. This order aims to protect the fairness and integrity of girls’ sports.
Blakeman emphasized the need to ensure that girls have the opportunity to compete against one another without facing unfair advantages. He argued that biological boys who identify as transgender possess physical advantages that could compromise the fairness of competitions. According to Blakeman, biological boys tend to be faster, bigger, and stronger, which could create an uneven playing field when competing against girls.
“We are protecting girls’ right to compete against other girls. It makes no sense for biological boys who identify as transgender to compete against girls. It’s completely unfair,” Blakeman said. “Biological boys are faster, bigger and stronger. They have a physical advantage against women.”
The executive order will take immediate effect as the county begins licensing sports leagues to use its facilities for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. These facilities include a swimming center, baseball, softball, and soccer fields, tennis courts, and more. Notably, the Eisenhower Aquatic Center in East Meadow hosts the annual Big East College Swimming championship.
Blakeman will officially announce the ban on transgender athletes at a press conference alongside approximately 200 female athletes. Also present will be Kim Russell, the former coach of women’s lacrosse at Oberlin College, who faced professional consequences after speaking out against transgender girls competing against biological females.
It is important to note that this order only applies to female competitive sports and does not restrict co-ed sports or instances where biological females actually want to compete against males. Blakeman stated that the decision to ban transgender girls from girls’ sports was made after hearing concerns from parents and female athletes in Nassau County. These individuals felt that allowing transgender girls to compete could be viewed as discrimination against girls.
To obtain the right to use county-run or owned athletic facilities and ballfields, representatives from sports leagues will now need to provide written confirmation that transgender athletes are not participating in girls’ sports. The order argues that historically, women and girls have not received as many opportunities in sports compared to biological males. Therefore, maintaining separate sex-specific athletic teams or sports is necessary to promote fairness and protect the rights of women and girls to compete athletically.
The executive order explicitly states that the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums will not issue permits for sporting events or competitions that allow biological males to participate in athletic teams or sports designated for females. However, permits may be issued for teams or sporting contests for men or boys that include biological females.
The order defines an individual’s gender as their biological sex at birth. It applies to competitive sports across all groups, reinforcing the county’s commitment to ensuring fair sporting competitions and equal opportunities for women and girls.
The Collegiate Charter School of Lowell in Massachusetts forfeited its Feb. 8 game against the KIPP Academy after a girls basketball player was hurt in play with male who identifies as female.