Saturday, November 8, 2025
A judge has declined to temporarily block Nassau County’s Local Law 121-24, which restricts sports teams at county-owned facilities based on biological sex — a decision that leaves the controversial measure in effect for now.
In a statement issued Oct. 6, the county said, “The Court has reviewed the Plaintiffs' arguments and does not find that Local Law 121-24 excludes transgender women and girls from public facilities based on their gender identity. Furthermore, the Plaintiffs have not shown discrimination under the Human Rights Law or the Civil Rights Law.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement, “"We are grateful that the court found our legislation to be valid and legal. We will continue to protect girls and women from unsafe and unfair competition."
The law, which Blakeman signed in July, requires that sports teams applying to use county-owned facilities align their rosters with each player’s biological sex assigned at birth. That effectively bars transgender women and girls from participating in female-designated sports divisions.
The legislation was immediately challenged by the New York Civil Liberties Union and state Attorney General Letitia James, who argued the law discriminates against transgender athletes.
“The purpose of Local Law 121-24 is to protect women and girls, and their physical protection is certainly relevant to the enactment of this law,” the county said in its statement, pushing back against the plaintiffs’ argument that biological distinctions are irrelevant.
However, opponents of the ban still remain hopeful for change, including the NEW Pride Agenda, am LGBTQ+ advocacy organization.
“New York must remain a beacon of hope and safety for transgender and gender nonconforming people — especially as we face a coordinated national effort to erase our existence from public life,” the organization said in a statement, “Nassau County's law is a disruptive, bullying policy intended to isolate and demonize those who already live at the margins. It denies transgender youth the simple freedom to play, to belong, and to thrive.”
The battle over the law dates back to 2024, when Blakeman first introduced a similar executive order. That measure was struck down by a state Supreme Court judge in May 2024, following a legal challenge by the NYCLU. A federal court also dismissed a related lawsuit earlier that spring. Blakeman later brought the proposal back as legislation, which was passed by the county Legislature in June.
Despite the earlier court setbacks, the version signed into law in July remains active in the county and still faces legal scrutiny.
“If the freedom to participate is not protected in this state, it will only add to the rollbacks of freedoms seen across the country,” the NEW Pride Agenda said. “The NEW Pride Agenda urges our state's elected leaders to rigorously enforce New York's anti-discrimination laws and ensure that transgender New Yorkers can live, play, and exist freely and safely. We will continue to hold the line— because we know what is at stake if we do not.”
As of press time, there are no updates on potential future court hearings or appeals.
