Nassau County executive to introduce bill banning transgender athletes from women's sports

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Friday, June 7, 2024
Nassau Co. executive defends proposed bill to ban transgender athletes from competition
The ban would be enforced at Nassau County-owned facilties and prohibit transgender athletes from competing in female sports.

NASSAU COUNTY (WABC) -- Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman plans to introduce a controversial bill today that would ban transgender athletes from playing on female sports teams at county-owned facilities.

He first introduced the ban as an executive order, which the Nassau County Supreme Court struck down last month.

Judge Francis Ricigliano ruled that Blakeman didn't have the authority to issue his February executive order, which denied park permits to any women's and girl's teams, leagues, or organizations that allowed female transgender athletes to participate.

He wrote in his 13-page decision that Blakeman's order was aimed at preventing transgender women from participating in girls' and women's athletics in county parks, "despite there being no corresponding legislative enactment" providing him with such authority.

Members of the legislature, which is mostly made up of Republicans, are expected to pass the latest legislation into county law.

Watch National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City live on Channel 7 and wherever you stream ABC 7 New York on Sunday at Noon

----------

* More Long Island news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.