Blakeman Challenges AG James Cease & Desist Of Transgender Ban

MINEOLA, NY — The controversial Nassau County executive order to ban transgender athletes from participating in women-only sports is getting serious pushback from New York Attorney General Letitia James.

James said on X, formerly Twitter, Friday that she is demanding County Executive Bruce Blakeman to "immediately rescind his transphobic and illegal order within 5 days, or I will not hesitate to take decisive legal action."

However, Blakeman addressed the letter he received from James.

"The attorney general's reaction is contrary to the law," Blakeman said. "Nassau County will abide by the law. We will follow the law."

The county executive, though, feels the nature of his executive order leaves it unclear.

"We would invite the attorney general or her staff to meet with our county attorney and our lawyers to discuss this matter, because we believe, not only is the executive order legal and constitutional, but we believe by not doing so, we would be violating women's rights," Blakeman said.

Bobby Hodgson, the New York Civil Liberties Union's director of LGBTQ rights litigation, told Patch last week that the move by Nassau is "illegal under New York state law." "We have a state's human rights law and a state civil rights law that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity."

Blakeman said Friday "women and girls are a protected class under the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York. We will protect women from bullying by transgender males who want to compete against biological females, which definitely changes the playing field. It is something that we believe is wrong."

Blakeman's order keeps transgender athletes from participating in women's sports at venues across the county.

"Today’s action by Attorney General James should serve as a clear warning to other elected officials: attempting to discriminate against LGBTQ people will not go unchallenged - don’t even think about it for a second," The LGBT Network's David Kilmnick said.

Also adding his voice to the chorus in support of James' stance is Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview), who wrote in a statement: "I applaud Attorney General James for emphatically denouncing the County Executive’s brazen order for exactly what it is - unlawful, mean-spirited discrimination against the transgender community that has nothing to do with his role as County Executive."

Blakeman said James' position "will have a chilling effect on women's sports competitions in New York State if it's pursued."