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At a meeting on Monday, June 24, lawmakers voted 12-6 to pass the law.
Originally introduced by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s office, the bill would require sports teams to designate whether they are a female, male, or co-ed team and is aimed to prevent “biological males” from competing on women’s teams.
It echoes an executive order Blakeman originally introduced in February 2022, which tried to prevent transgender women from participating in women’s sports at all county-run facilities.
The executive order mirrored similar legislation throughout the country and sparked outrage among advocates. Shortly after the order was announced, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) sued the county and Attorney General Letitia James submitted a cease-and-desist.
“This executive order is transphobic and blatantly illegal,” James said.
“The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression. We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York.”
Blakeman was taken to court in May, where his order was struck down by Judge Francis Ricigliano at the Nassau County Supreme Court, who wrote in his decision that the County Executive did not have the authority to issue the order.
This second attempt was introduced at a legislative committee meeting on Monday, June 10, where the committee voted 4-3 to bring the bill to a full legislative vote.
Blakeman celebrated the passing of the law, praising the Republican majority for passing what he claimed was “common sense” legislation.
“We won’t allow female athletes to be bullied by biological males trying to work their way onto girls teams,” he said on Facebook.
NYCLU announced on social media that it was prepared to take legal action if the bill is signed into law.
Nassau County Democratic Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said in a statement earlier this month that “passing such a law will only cost the county millions in legal fees and taxpayer money, funds that should be used for repaving our roads and providing tax relief.”
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