Judge Sides With Nassau County In Transgender Athlete Ban

MINEOLA, NY — A state Supreme Court judge ruled in favor of Nassau County's ban on biological males from playing sports on women's teams.

"I'm gratified that we were the first in America to do it, and I think we set the tone for the rest of the nation," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.

In his decision on Tuesday, Judge Bruce Cozzens said he doesn't find that the local law "excludes transgender women and girls from the public facilities based on their gender identity."

Last July, the Long Island Roller Rebels filed a lawsuit against Nassau County, the legislature and County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who responded with his own legal motion based on the local law that was proposed:

"To maintain a safe and fair environment for women and girls participating in sports and athletic events," the court document states.

However, as Judge Cozzen states: "The Plaintiff is not only asking that transgender athletics be included on female teams but also that they not disclose the transgender identity. Potentially that creates an even greater risk to the females since they would not even be aware (nor it is assumed would they be permitted to inquire) if a player was a biological male.

LGBT Network president David Kilmnick called the ruling a "travesty of justice." Kilmnick said the decision "disregards the principles of inclusion, equality, and fairness that New York State’s Human Rights Law seeks to uphold."

Blakeman said: "As we've said all along, it's just common sense. Biological males should not play infemale sports. They have a competitive advantage. It's unfair, and it's also unsafe."