Bruce Blakeman’s plea
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A federal judge appointed by President Biden has rejected Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s plea to halt a cease-and-desist directive issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Revoke
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The order mandates Blakeman to revoke the county’s prohibition on transgender girls participating in girls’ sports within schools and county facilities.
Male at birth
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In February, Blakeman, a Republican, defied the state’s liberal norms by declaring that individuals assigned male at birth would not be permitted to compete as females in the county.
Prohibited
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Through an executive decree, Blakeman also stipulated that any league allowing boys to join a girls’ team would be prohibited from utilizing county-managed facilities.
Transgender inclusion
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Shortly after, progressive New York Attorney General Letitia James called for Nassau County to cease its efforts to safeguard girls’ sports from transgender inclusion.
Human rights
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James argued that the county’s actions contravened the “human rights” statutes of the strongly Democratic state.
Immediate effect
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“The Order’s immediate effect is to force sports leagues to make an impossible choice: discriminate against transgender women and girls, in violation of New York law, or find somewhere else to play,” the AG’s cease-and-desist letter sent to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman read.
Federal court
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Blakeman took the cease-and-desist letter to federal court for a challenge.
Ruled in favor
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However, Second Circuit District Judge Nusrat Jahan Choudhury ruled in favor of James, asserting that Blakeman’s directive breaches the human rights laws of New York State.
Blakeman’s plea
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The judge emphasized that Blakeman’s plea to prevent the state from enforcing its law did not meet the required standard.
14th Amendment
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Appointed to the bench by Joe Biden in 2022, Choudhury also indicated that Blakeman’s executive order likely violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, as reported by The Hill.
Consequently
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Consequently, following the judge’s decision, Blakeman will need to revoke his executive order and lift the prohibition on transgender athletes, unless he pursues further legal action.
