NEW YORK — A county outside New York City has lost its bid to block the state from taking legal action against its ban on girls’ and women’s teams that include transgender players, state Attorney General Letitia James said Friday.
U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury dismissed Nassau County’s lawsuit that sought to block the Democratic attorney general from taking legal action against the county over its ban, which James said was “transphobic” and violated anti- state discrimination.
“This ruling is a tremendous victory for justice and the rule of law, but our work here is not done,” James’ office said in an emailed statement Friday. “It is past time for Nassau County to rescind this order and treat all of our communities with the basic respect and dignity they deserve.”
The office declined to say when or if it will sue to block the ban, saying it will review the ruling, which was handed down in federal court in Central Islip.
Last month, James issued a “cease and desist” letter demanding that Long Island County rescind the ban, prompting Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to file a federal lawsuit asking a judge to affirm that the prohibition was legal and prevented James from taking action against it.
The Republican argued that any action by the state to block the ban would be discriminatory and would represent a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.
James’ office, however, rejected the idea, arguing in its motion to dismiss the litigation that the county’s lawsuit is “devoid of any legal or factual support” to support its claim. guarantees that no State “shall deny to any person under its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
A spokesperson for Blakeman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday.
Earlier this month, Choudhury denied Nassau County’s request for a temporary restraining order against James’ office, but did not rule on the legality of the ban or James’ request to simply dismiss the lawsuit.
The county’s ban also faces a legal challenge from a local women’s roller derby league, which has asked a state court to invalidate it.
Blakeman’s February order, which affects more than 100 public facilities in the county east of the New York borough of Queens, states that any women’s sports organization that accepts transgender women or girls will be allowed to use county-owned parks and fields. .
Echoing arguments from officials who have taken similar steps in other Republican-led cities and states, the county says women and girls will be discriminated against and their constitutional rights violated if transgender athletes are allowed to compete alongside them.
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