Nassau County, located on Long Island, implemented a contentious law on Monday that prohibits transgender girls and women from competing in county-operated girls’ and women's sports facilities.

The enactment of this law immediately sparked legal challenges from the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom filed lawsuits on the same day, arguing that the measure contravenes state anti-discrimination statutes.

Last month, the Nassau County Legislature passed the law in a 12-5 vote along party lines, subsequently signed into effect by Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Monday. Blakeman expressed satisfaction with the decision, asserting that it is aimed at upholding the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring the safety of female participants. He declined further comment when approached for additional statements.

Under the newly enacted law, sports leagues and programs seeking permits for county-managed parks or sports facilities must explicitly classify teams as men’s, women’s, or coed based on the competitors’ assigned sex at birth. The law prohibits the issuance of permits to sports organizations that permit transgender women to compete on women’s teams, though it permits transgender men to participate on men’s teams.

This legislation mirrors a previous executive order issued by Blakeman in February, which was invalidated by a New York judge in May following a legal challenge from the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby league. The judge ruled that Blakeman lacked the authority to implement such an order without legislative approval.

Representing the Roller Rebels in their latest legal action, the NYCLU argues that the law affects approximately 100 county athletic facilities and a diverse array of sports groups, encompassing public and private school teams, as well as recreational leagues. They contend that enforcing the law will necessitate invasive inquiries into individuals’ gender identities, intrude upon their privacy, and potentially disclose their transgender status.

Curly Fry, president of the Roller Rebels, strongly criticized the law, characterizing it as a legislative attempt to exclude transgender individuals from sports and undermine their rights to participate fully in Nassau County. Fry vowed to challenge the law in court, asserting that transgender individuals deserve equal access and inclusion in sports activities.

Attorney General Letitia James echoed these concerns in her lawsuit, asserting that the law violates state protections against discrimination. James denounced Nassau County’s purported commitment to fairness while simultaneously excluding transgender girls and women from athletic opportunities.

Across the United States, half of all states have enacted legislation restricting transgender student athletes’ participation in school sports, although New York has yet to pass such laws. The prevalence of similar local ordinances across other counties nationwide remains unclear.

The legal challenges against Nassau County’s new law highlight the ongoing national debate over transgender rights in sports and raise questions about the authority of local jurisdictions to impose restrictions that may conflict with broader anti-discrimination laws.