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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has taken legal action to challenge State Attorney General Letitia James’ efforts to oppose his directive prohibiting transgender athletes from competing against biological girls in sports events at county athletic facilities. James had issued a cease-and-desist letter, labeling Blakeman’s order as discriminatory and illegal.
Blakeman, along with Nassau parents Marc and Jeanine Mullen, whose daughter competes in women’s volleyball, contend that James is the one discriminating by infringing upon the constitutional rights of female athletes, NY Post reported.
They filed a lawsuit aiming to prevent James from enforcing what they claim to be unconstitutional discrimination based on gender in sporting events.
The lawsuit argues that federal law safeguarding the rights of female athletes supersedes James’ interpretation of state anti-discrimination laws. Blakeman’s directive restricts female sports teams from using county athletic facilities unless they agree to exclude transgender players, while maintaining that it does not discriminate against transgender athletes who are biological males. These individuals are allowed to participate in other athletic competitions.
Blakeman’s stance is founded on the assertion that it’s unjust and potentially unsafe for biological males identifying as transgender to compete against girls in sports due to inherent biological differences in size, speed, and strength. The lawsuit cites instances where transgender athletes, identified as biological males, have caused injuries to female athletes, highlighting concerns over fairness and safety. Additionally, it argues that even after sexual reassignment surgery, biological differences between men and women persist, such as variances in bone densit
