A federal judge has thrown out County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawsuit. He sued New York State Attorney General Letitia James over a ban on transgender girls in girls’ sports at county places. Judge Nusrat Choudhury said Blakeman and others can’t stop the attorney general from fighting the ban.
This decision is a big loss for Blakeman’s fight to keep the ban. The ban affects over 100 sports places in Nassau County. Now, the state’s challenge against the ban might go ahead, as Attorney General James calls it “transphobic” and against anti-discrimination laws.
A Federal Judge’s Ruling on Blakeman’s Legal Battle
A federal judge has made a big decision in a legal fight. She threw out the lawsuit by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman against the New York State Attorney General. The judge said Blakeman and others didn’t have the right to stop the attorney general from challenging a county rule.
Dismissal of County Executive’s Lawsuit Against Attorney General
Judge Nusrat Choudhury made the ruling. She used to work at the ACLU from 2013 to 2023. She said Blakeman’s claims of constitutional issues weren’t strong enough. So, she decided to dismiss the lawsuit against the attorney general.
Court’s Assessment of Constitutional Violations Claim
The judge said Blakeman’s rule was too broad. It affected over 100 places in Nassau County. It stopped women’s and girls’ teams from letting transgender athletes play.
The judge looked at the 14th Amendment and Title IX. But she didn’t think they helped Blakeman’s case. She said the ruling was important for protecting transgender youth in sports.
“The impact of the ban on transgender children’s mental well-being was a key factor in the court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit,” said a legal expert familiar with the case.
This ruling is a big loss for Blakeman and his rule. It shows the ongoing fights over transgender rights in sports in the U.S.
A federal judge has dismissed blakeman’s lawsuit against the state
A federal judge has made a big decision. She dismissed County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawsuit against New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Blakeman sued because he didn’t like the attorney general’s move to stop transgender females from playing in girls’ sports at county places.
Blakeman’s 12-page lawsuit was in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York. He wanted a court to say he was right. But Judge Nusrat Choudhury said Blakeman didn’t show enough harm or the right to sue.
Blakeman’s order still stands. It says trans women and girls can’t play in women’s and girls’ sports in Nassau County. This affects about 100 sites throughout Nassau County on Long Island. Now, groups need to label teams as male, female, or coed by the birth sex of the players.
This win for the state is a big deal in this legal fight. The Roller Rebels, an adult women’s roller derby league, and the New York Civil Liberties Union, sued Blakeman on March 11th. They said his order was unfair.
“The court’s decision to dismiss the county executive’s lawsuit is a win for transgender rights and the rule of law,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “We will continue to fight this discriminatory policy in court.”
This ruling is part of a bigger fight over the state’s challenge to Blakeman’s order. Everyone is watching how this case goes. The outcome will be important for many people.
Implications of the Court’s Decision
The dismissal of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawsuit against the state has big implications. It means the legal fight over a ban on transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports teams is far from over. Blakeman’s ban is still in effect, but the court’s decision lets the New York Attorney General’s office sue to challenge it.
Impact on Blakeman’s Executive Order on Transgender Athletes
A federal judge said no to Blakeman’s request for a temporary stop on the attorney general’s office’s actions. So, the county’s ban on transgender athletes in sports stays. But, it’s now under more legal review and could face more legal challenges from the state.
Attorney General’s Next Legal Steps
With Blakeman’s lawsuit gone, the New York Attorney General’s office is looking at its next moves. Attorney General Letitia James calls the ban “transphobic” and against state law. The state plans to sue to challenge the ban, aiming to stop or reverse it.
This court decision means the fight for transgender youth’s rights in sports is far from over. The outcome could greatly affect the national debate on transgender athletes in sports.
Background: County Executive’s Executive Order
In February 2023, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order. It made sports leagues, teams, and programs in Nassau County facilities label themselves as male, female, or coed. This was based on the biological sex of their members at birth. This order stopped transgender female athletes from playing on girls’ teams.
Requirements for Athletic Organizations in Nassau County
The executive order had big effects on athletic groups in Nassau County. Key rules were:
- Teams had to be labeled as male, female, or coed based on the birth sex of members.
- Transgender female athletes couldn’t play on girls’ or women’s teams.
- The policy was to be applied in over 100 athletic places in Nassau County.
LGBTQ+ supporters criticized the order. They said it broke the state’s Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). They also pointed out that the New York Division of Human Rights says you can’t discriminate based on gender identity.
The Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby league in Nassau County, said the order would stop some members from joining women’s and girls’ sports events. The league welcomes transgender women, intersex women, and gender-expansive women. They applied to use Nassau County facilities for their events.
But, the county said in court that the Department of Parks would not approve the Roller Rebels’ request. This started a legal fight between the Roller Rebels and the county executive. It showed how much debate there was over the policy.
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 programs. James said Blakeman’s order broke the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
Blakeman had made the order to “protect the rights of girls and women” in sports. It affected about 100 county facilities. Many LGBTQ+ advocates and the state government spoke out against it.
James said in her letter that the county’s ban on transgender athletes was against New York’s laws. She said it caused harm and threatened legal action if Blakeman didn’t change his mind.
This issue has made the debate over transgender rights in sports even more heated. The legal battle could greatly affect transgender rights in New York and other places.
The state’s move shows how serious the situation is. Blakeman chose to ignore the order and fight it in court. This means the fight over transgender athletes in Nassau County is far from settled.
Legal Arguments in Blakeman’s Lawsuit
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and a local parent filed a federal lawsuit. They argued that the county has a right to protect women and girls in sports. They said this is against transgender females competing on girls’ teams.
The lawsuit used the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection clause and Title IX. This law stops sex-based discrimination in education programs.
Blakeman’s team said letting transgender athletes in girls’ sports would harm the goal of Title IX. They believe transgender females have physical advantages. This could stop cisgender girls and women from competing fairly and might cause injuries.
Equal Protection Clause and Title IX Cited
The lawsuit said the county’s rule was fair and legal. It required sports teams to be male, female, or coed based on birth sex. This was to follow the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX.
Blakeman and his team believed state laws protecting gender identity shouldn’t beat federal laws for fairness and safety in women’s sports.
But, a federal judge threw out Blakeman’s lawsuit. The judge said the county couldn’t sue the state in federal court. This is because of the 11th Amendment.
“The Court finds that the County Executive lacks standing to bring this action against the Attorney General, and that the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
This decision was a big win for transgender rights supporters. They saw the county’s rule as wrong and against state and federal laws against discrimination.
Transgender Rights Advocates’ Response
Transgender rights advocates, like Juli Grey-Owens of Gender Equality New, cheered the dismissal of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawsuit. They called Blakeman’s order a “divisive and harmful political move.” It doesn’t support transgender youth in the community.
Grey-Owens stressed the need to protect transgender athletes’ rights in school sports. She said, “Transgender youth deserve the chance to play sports like everyone else.” Advocates believe Blakeman’s order would hurt transgender youth’s mental health.
“Transgender youth deserve the chance to play sports like everyone else.”
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and the Long Island Roller Rebels also sued against Blakeman’s order. This shows transgender rights advocates’ strong opposition to this policy.
Advocates say inclusive policies and equal chances for transgender athletes are key. They help create a supportive place for all young people. The dismissal of Blakeman’s lawsuit is a win for transgender rights. It moves us closer to letting transgender youth fully join in.
Separate NYCLU Lawsuit Against Nassau County
While a federal case is ongoing, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) has taken action. They, along with the Long Island Roller Rebels, an all-female roller derby league, have sued in state court. They challenge Blakeman’s order, saying it breaks New York’s laws against gender discrimination.
The lawsuit was filed over 10 weeks after the ban. It focuses on the Roller Rebels, a league that welcomes transgender women. The ban could affect about 100 county athletic facilities. This could impact at least one transgender Roller Rebels member.
The NYCLU is ready to sue again if the Nassau County Legislature passes a ban on transgender athletes. This is currently being considered.
This lawsuit shows the legal issues with Blakeman’s order. The Nassau County Supreme Court already blocked the order. The NYCLU wants to protect transgender people’s rights in public spaces. They stress the need for laws against discrimination to ensure transgender people can join sports.
The NYCLU’s action, apart from the federal case, aims to fight the nyclu lawsuit, blakeman’s executive order. They want to make sure Nassau County follows state human rights law and civil rights law. The result of this lawsuit could greatly affect transgender athletes’ rights in the area.
County’s Defense of Executive Order
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s order banned transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports. The county says this was to keep things fair, equal, and safe in sports.
Thomas Adams, the county’s lawyer, explained the order. He said it makes sure fairness, equality, and safety in women’s sports. It also lets men and transgender athletes have their own events.
This order is key for keeping women’s sports honest. It makes sure everyone has a fair chance to win.
| Key Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| February 22, 2024 | Executive Order No. 2-2024 issued |
| April 10, 2024 | Defendants filed amended answer with counterclaim under the Equal Protection Clause |
| April 11, 2024 | Case removed to federal court |
| April 12, 2024 | Related case dismissed by Judge Choudhury |
| April 15, 2024 | Plaintiff’s motion to remand filed |
| April 18, 2024 | Plaintiff’s motion seeking remand, fees, and costs filed |
| May 9, 2024 | Deadline for submission of bill of costs and fee application |
The county is fighting hard to keep blakeman’s executive order. They say it’s all about fairness and safety in women’s sports. They want to protect the nassau county’s defense of women’s sports. They want a fair game for everyone.
“The executive order protects fairness, equality, and safety in women’s and girls’ sports, while at the same time ensuring that men and transgender athletes are provided an opportunity to perform in designated events.”
– Thomas Adams, Nassau County Attorney
Blakeman’s Vow to Appeal the Ruling
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman plans to appeal the judge’s decision. He was surprised that a judge with a background in defending civil liberties wouldn’t let girls and women have their say. The fight over transgender athletes in sports is far from over.
Blakeman made a rule that stopped transgender women and girls from playing sports in about 100 county places. Justice Francis Ricigliano of the Nassau Supreme Court said this rule was wrong. The New York Civil Liberties Union then sued Nassau County. They were acting for the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby team.
The battle over transgender athletes in Nassau County sports is still going. What happens next with Blakeman’s appeal will greatly affect transgender athletes’ rights. The debate centers on whether federal rules about “biological” women in sports should take priority over state laws protecting transgender women.