Nassau County bans males from joining female teams that use public sports facilities: 'Completely unfair'

A powerful county in New York has now banned all biological males from joining girls' and women's sports teams that use public facilities for competition.

On Thursday, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced that he had signed an executive order that makes protecting female sports the law of the county. "We are protecting girls’ right to compete against other girls. It makes no sense for biological boys who identify as transgender to compete against girls. It’s completely unfair," Blakeman told the New York Post. "Biological boys are faster, bigger, and stronger. They have a physical advantage against women."

According to the Post, Blakeman's executive order could be the first of its kind in the nation. Nassau County is located on Long Island just outside New York City and is the home of many influential people. Such a groundbreaking executive order in an area like Nassau County could encourage other areas and leaders to follow suit, even in blue states.

Blakeman said he came to the decision after speaking with his constituents, who were overwhelmingly opposed to allowing males to join female teams. "They voiced opposition," he explained to the Post. "They think it’s discrimination against girls."

According to the order, the county will not issue "permits for the use and occupancy of Nassau County Park’s property for the purposes of organizing a sporting event or competition" to any female team that allows trans-identifying males to join it. To receive a permit, representatives of all female teams must state in writing that they will comply with the rule.

There are more than 100 athletic facilities in Nassau County that accommodate a wide range of competitive sports, including softball, soccer, tennis, and swimming. The Eisenhower Aquatic Center in East Meadow also hosts the annual Big East college swimming championship, the Post reported. Presumably, the edict would apply to that competition as well.

The ban applies only to teams and competitions designated for females only. It will not apply to coed teams or to females who actively choose to compete against male opponents. It also will not apply to male-centered teams, which will still be free to permit biological females to join if they wish.

"For the purpose of this Executive Order, an individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth," the policy states.

Blakeman made a formal announcement about the new rule regarding women's sports on Thursday, flanked by hundreds of female athletes of all ages as well as Kim Russell, the former women's lacrosse coach who was reassigned at Oberlin College after she spoke out against men competing against women.

While many are cheering this new executive order, as might be expected, LGBTQ-related organizations are not. David Kilmnick claimed that his group, the New York LGBT Network, is "profoundly disappointed" with it. "This discriminatory move not only undermines the principles of inclusivity and fairness but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and exclusion," Kilmnick added.

WPIX also reached out to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which permits athletes to participate in teams according to their gender identity, for comment.

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