A federal judge has made a big move against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. He threw out Blakeman’s lawsuit against the New York State Attorney General. Blakeman had sued in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York.
He was trying to stop the state from ending his order. This order banned transgender girls from playing in girls’ sports at over 100 places in the county.
District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury made the decision. She used to work for the ACLU. She said Blakeman and others can’t stop the Attorney General from fighting the ban.
This is a big loss for Blakeman’s effort to keep the ban. Many LGBTQ+ groups have spoken out against it, calling it “transphobic” and against anti-discrimination laws.
Before this, the county asked for a temporary stop on the lawsuit but got denied. Now, the state can move forward with its own case against the ban. Blakeman says the ban is needed to protect girls’ sports. But many disagree, saying it’s harmful and breaks laws against discrimination.
A Federal Judge’s Ruling on Blakeman’s Legal Battle
A federal judge has made a big decision. She dismissed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawsuit against the New York State Attorney General. Judge Nusrat Choudhury, who used to work for the ACLU, said Blakeman’s claims didn’t have enough evidence.
Dismissal of County Executive’s Lawsuit Against Attorney General
Judge Choudhury wrote a 45-page ruling. She said Blakeman’s order was too wide, affecting over 100 sports sites. She also said his use of the 14th Amendment and Title IX was not enough for his case.
Court’s Assessment of Constitutional Violations Claim
Judge Choudhury said the issue is very important. She wants to protect transgender youth in sports. But, she thinks Blakeman’s order was too broad, hurting women and girls’ sports chances.
This decision is a big win for transgender rights supporters. It means everyone, no matter their gender identity, can have equal sports chances. This ruling is key in the debate about transgender athletes in sports.
“The court’s decision to dismiss Blakeman’s lawsuit is a significant victory for advocates of transgender rights, as it upholds the principle of equal opportunities in sports, regardless of gender identity.”
Background: County Executive’s Executive Order
In February 2023, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman made a big rule. He said sports teams in Nassau County must be labeled as male, female, or coed. This meant transgender female athletes couldn’t play on girls’ or women’s teams.
This rule affected over 100 sports places in Nassau County. It made them follow the rule of using birth sex for labels. LGBTQ+ groups said this broke laws against gender discrimination.
Requirements for Athletic Organizations in Nassau County
Blakeman’s rule said sports groups in Nassau County must do this:
- Be labeled as male, female, or coed based on birth sex
- Stop transgender female athletes from playing on girls’ or women’s teams
- Make sure athletes play on teams that match their birth sex
This rule kept transgender female athletes out of women’s sports in over 100 places. It made LGBTQ+ rights groups and supporters very upset.
“The executive order is a blatant violation of state laws protecting the rights of transgender individuals. It’s a harmful and discriminatory policy that has no place in our communities.”
– LGBTQ+ Rights Advocate
State Attorney General’s Cease-and-Desist Order
In March, New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a cease-and-desist letter to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. She demanded he take back his order that banned transgender women and girls from county sports. James said Blakeman’s order broke the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
Blakeman ignored the order and decided to fight it in court. This started a big legal fight over transgender rights in sports.
The state’s top law official sent the order right after Blakeman made his ban. His order, from February 22, stopped transgender athletes from playing on girls’ teams in Nassau County’s public places. This affected over 100 sports groups.
Attorney General James called Blakeman’s order “transphobic” and against New York’s anti-discrimination laws. She told him to take back the ban. She warned that not doing so would lead to legal action.
“The County Executive’s order is not only unconstitutional, but it also sends a dangerous message that discrimination against transgender individuals will be tolerated,” said James. “My office will use every tool at our disposal to protect the rights of all New Yorkers.”
Blakeman didn’t give up. He filed a lawsuit in federal court to support his order. This started a long legal fight over transgender athletes in sports. The state and county are now fighting over LGBTQ+ rights.
The cease-and-desist order from the New York Attorney General made the dispute even bigger. It shows how serious the issue is and the big effects it could have on transgender rights.
a federal judge has dismissed blakeman’s lawsuit against the state
A federal judge has made a big decision. She dismissed a lawsuit by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. He wanted to stop the state from taking action against his rule. This rule said transgender women and girls couldn’t join girls’ sports at county facilities.
This big win is a key point in the fight over transgender rights in sports. Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury said Nassau County didn’t have the right to sue the New York Attorney General.
Implications of the Court’s Decision
This decision means big things:
- Blakeman’s rule, affecting over 100 public places in Nassau County, stays in place.
- The New York Attorney General can now challenge the ban, leading to a bigger fight over transgender rights.
- This ruling adds to the debate on transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports.
Even though Blakeman lost, the fight isn’t over. The New York Civil Liberties Union is fighting for transgender athletes too. They say the ban is unfair and discriminatory.
This case is changing the rules for transgender athletes. The judge’s decision will affect the debate on their rights in sports.
“This ruling is a setback, but we remain committed to protecting the rights of transgender athletes and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate in sports in a fair and equitable manner.”
– Statement from the New York Civil Liberties Union
Legal Arguments in Blakeman’s Lawsuit
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and a local parent argued in a federal lawsuit. They said the county can protect women and girls in sports by not letting transgender females join girls’ teams. They used the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection clause and Title IX. They claimed transgender athletes would have unfair physical advantages.
A federal judge then threw out Blakeman’s lawsuit. The judge said the county can’t sue the state because of the 11th Amendment. This rule stops a local government from suing a state government in federal courts.
Equal Protection Clause and Title IX Cited
Blakeman’s lawsuit said the county’s order was needed to protect women’s sports. It used the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX. The lawsuit pointed to cases where transgender girls allegedly hurt female athletes in Massachusetts and North Carolina.
But the federal judge ruled against the lawsuit. The judge said the county couldn’t sue the state. This decision supported the state’s view that the order broke New York’s anti-discrimination laws.
“The dismissal of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawsuit against State Attorney General Letitia James was a significant victory for transgender rights advocates in New York.”
The challenge against Blakeman’s order has support from the Roller Rebels, an adult women’s roller derby league, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. They say the order breaks New York’s Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law.
Transgender Rights Advocates’ Response
Juli Grey-Owens of Gender Equality New praised the dismissal of Blakeman’s lawsuit. They called it a “divisive and harmful political move.” This move doesn’t help transgender youth. They say we need inclusive policies and equal chances for transgender athletes.
This dismissal is a win for transgender rights. It helps protect transgender athletes in school sports. Advocates see it as a step towards a supportive environment for all young people.
LGBTQ+ advocates say 24 states have passed laws against trans youth in sports. But, New York has laws that protect transgender people. The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and guidance from the New York State Division of Human Rights stop discrimination based on gender identity.
The roller derby league won a lawsuit using these laws. This shows transgender rights advocates’ commitment to fight against discrimination. With the dismissal of Blakeman’s lawsuit, we move closer to fair sports policies for everyone, no matter their gender identity.