A New York county issued an executive order banning biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
The order from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman requires sports leagues using county athletic facilities to affirm in writing that they are not allowing transgender athletes who are biologically male to compete against females.
Blakeman said it is unfair and a form of bullying for males to compete against females given their innate physical advantages.
“There is too much bullying going on of biological males trying to inject themselves in women and female sports, and we will not tolerate that in Nassau County,” Blakeman said.
“It’s wrong and it’s a form of bullying,” he said.
“We are protecting girls’ rights to compete against other girls,” he said. “It makes no sense for biological boys who identify as transgender to compete against girls. It’s completely unfair.
“Biological boys are faster, bigger and stronger. They have a physical advantage against women.”
The order was praised by a female high school athlete but denounced by transgender activists and Democratic politicians like the New York Attorney General as “transphobic.”
“The competition in girls’ sports is already competitive without adding people who have more genetic capabilities, people who are stronger,” high school freshman Avery Graziosi said.
“We’re already competing at a high level, to a high standard,” Avery said. “The competition is intense, getting better and better each year. Why add unreasonable standards that we couldn’t possibly compete with?”
“This executive order is transphobic and deeply dangerous,” Attorney General Letitia James wrote on X.
“In New York, we have laws that protect our beautifully diverse communities from hate and discrimination of any and every kind … We are reviewing our legal options,” she said.
“I know of no policy in the state to strike that down, and I would encourage all elected officials to join us to protect girls and women,” Blakeman said. “Probably if you polled most women athletes, they would be 100 percent behind us.”
Blakeman defended the order as protecting girls’ rights to fair competition and said he expects legal challenges but is confident it will be upheld.
The issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports remains controversial.
