Letitia James Announces New Lawsuit

New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued a Long Island county over its latest effort to ban transgender girls and women from playing on women’s sports teams at county parks and facilities.

James, a Democrat, filed the lawsuit after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, signed the policy into law on Monday.

It bars transgender athletes from playing at county-owned facilities unless they compete on teams matching the gender they were assigned at birth, or on coed teams. It would apply to about 100 facilities in Nassau County.

It comes as Republican lawmakers across the country have increasingly sought to restrict the rights of transgender people, including by keeping transgender athletes off women’s and girls’ sports teams and out of certain bathrooms, and blocking them from receiving gender-affirming care.

James’ complaint says the new law in Nassau County—”Fairness for Women and Girls and Sports”—is “in fact not an act of fairness,” but “an act of discrimination that singles out transgender women and girls for discriminatory treatment, entrenching into law regressive and invasive gender stereotypes.”

It also says that the law violates the state Constitution and New York law that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

James is seeking a court order to strike down the law and prevent Nassau County from enforcing it. The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) also filed a separate lawsuit against the law on Monday.

Blakeman signed an executive order in February to impose a similar ban, but it was struck down by a judge in May, who said he didn’t have the authority to impose it without legislative approval.

Last month, the Nassau County Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, voted to reinstate it.

“With this law, Nassau County is once again attempting to exclude transgender girls and women from participating in sporting events while claiming to support fairness,” James said in a statement.

“NYCLU and the Long Island Roller Rebels won their first lawsuit and County Executive Blakeman’s transphobic executive order was struck down because it was blatantly illegal. Now this discriminatory law must be as well.

“Here in New York, every person has the right to be exactly who they are free from discrimination, and my office will always protect that right.”

Blakeman responded to James’ lawsuit in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“I am very disappointed that the Attorney General would attempt to frustrate Nassau County’s desire to protect the integrity of women’s sports, ensure the safety of its participants and provide a safe environment for girls and women to compete,” Blakeman said.

His office has been contacted for further comment via email.