A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit of Nassau County Executive Blackman against New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The lawsuit was based on the challenge of James, fighting for transgender rights in sports. However, the federal Judge, Nusrat Chaudry, dismissed the move of Blackman and said everyone has the same rights and respect in the state and the ban on trans female payers is against the state’s anti-discrimination laws. However, the dismissal of this lawsuit paved the way for the protection of trans rights in sports.
Moreover, Blackman’s statement after this lawsuit’s dismissal was very pathetic. He said, “I am shocked that a federal judge with a background as a Civil Liberties Union lawyer would not give girls and women their day in court,” Blakeman said. “We vehemently disagree with the decision and will appeal.”
James and all the organizations protecting the trans seem very happy at the dismissal. After the federal judge’s decision, she said, “This decision is a tremendous victory for justice and the rule of law, but our work here is not done,” James said in a statement. “County Executive Blakeman’s executive order is transphobic, and we have no room for hate in New York. It’s time for Nassau County to rescind this order and treat all our communities with the basic respect and dignity they deserve.”
Blackman’s Executive Order and its details
Bruce Blackman, Nassau County’s minister, signed an executive order in February in which he banned transgender females from participating in the women’s team. He clarified that the county’s facilities for sports, whether volleyball, baseball, swimming championships, or any other sports, will be used for specific categories, like male, female, and coeds. The sportspersons have to state their gender by birth in documents clearly. No male transgender person is allowed to play in women’s teams. However, this executive order affects almost 100 places in Nassau County alone. The organizations and the people in favor of trans, even the LGBQT+ person, disagreed over this order. Some of them called this a “discriminated” and “transphobic” order.
Benefits of Blackman’s Executive Order
Women sportspeople may benefit from this order. While this order bans transgender players from playing on women’s teams, it can protect female players from discrimination. However, the male trans have physical advantages; they can hurt female payers and injure them. Moreover, the male transgender person can get physical prominence in games. So, to protect the ladies’ sportspersons from such superiority, this order was quite sensible.
Why are the Civil Liberties targeting this executive order?
Bobby Hodgson, the New York Civil Liberties Union’s head of LGBTQ rights litigation and supervising attorney, claimed that this order is just a pathetic way to stop the school sports using Nassau facilities, rec leagues, and intramural leagues. Moreover, he said, “Anybody who wants to throw a one-off women’s charity volleyball tournament on a Nassau court would all be subject to this executive order.”
In addition to James’s pressure, the executive order is being challenged legally by the Roller Rebels, an adult women’s roller derby organization based in Nassau County. On March 11, the group and the New York Civil Liberties Union filed suit against Blakeman.
Furthermore, a legal expert in favor of trans stated, “The impact of the ban on transgender children’s mental well-being was a key factor in the court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit,”
Background of Blackman’s Order and Title XI
Blackman’s order banning female transgender people in girls’ teams has some vital points that trans people do not digest, even in LGBQT+ organizations. However, here are discussed some key points that are:
- Teams must be categorized as male, female, and coed
- Sportspersons must show their birth certificates and their sex by birth
- Female transgender people cannot participate in women’s sports teams
- The order will apply to over 100 places in Nassau County.
However, the transgender person criticized this order and said it was a “transphobic order.”
Blackman clarifies that this order protects Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause according to Amendment 14th. Moreover, Blackman said that this order would safeguard girls and women from the physical superiority of male transgender people in games. Additionally, he clarified that the participation of trans athletes in girls’ teams would harm Title IX and violate the Equal Protection Clause. However, the involvement of female transgender people will not let cisgender females play on a fair basis and compete with their leveled players. Blakeman and his team decided that state rules protecting gender identity should not outweigh federal regulations ensuring fairness and safety in women’s sports.
Nonetheless, a federal judge dismissed Blakeman’s dispute. The judge stated that the county could not sue the state in federal court because of the 11th Amendment.
The future impact of this lawsuit on sports
This lawsuit will deeply impact the sports scenario. However, the federal judge’s ruling over James’ challenge has widely opened doors for transgender people’s entrance into women’s teams. Moreover, it indicates that the court battle over a ban on transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports teams has not yet ended. Blakeman’s ban remains compelling, but the court’s decision allows the New York Attorney General’s Office to file a lawsuit to challenge it.
Cease-and-Desist Letter
In March, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a cease-and-desist letter to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. She asked that he withdraw his order banning transgender women and girls from county sports programs. James claimed Blakeman’s order violated the state’s anti-discrimination legislation. She stated in her letter that the county’s prohibition on transgender athletes violated New York’s laws. Furthermore, she claimed it may harm and threatened legal action if Blakeman did not reverse his opinions.
This issue has fueled the current intense debate over transgender rights in sports. The judicial dispute might have far-reaching consequences for transgender rights in New York and beyond.
The state’s actions demonstrate how serious the problem is. However, Blakeman decided to reject the ruling and fight it in court. This shows that the fight for transgender athletes in Nassau County is far from over.
Bruce Blackman’s order impacts trans athletes.
Blackman’s order to ban transgender males from participating in women’s sports teams seems sensible, but the ruling over the lawsuit clears that the state is in favor of protecting trans athletes’ rights. Many civil liberties and social organizations raised their voices for the Coeds sports. However, Blackman’s order to ban the participation of male trans in girls’ teams significantly impacts trans people.
The federal judge’s dismissal of Blackman’s lawsuit cleared up the legal battle, but it is not over. It will increase social debates and movements for transgender people’s rights. Moreover, this lawsuit may face more legal challenges from the state and may affect the performance of trans sportspersons.
Finishing lines
Summarizing all the debate, a federal judge has dismissed Blackman’s lawsuit against the state. It shows that the state has some severe pressures on the protection of sex discrimination in sports. However, Blackman’s order to ban trans females from playing in women’s teams was quite sensible and aimed to protect women’s safety in sports. While the order is still effective, the federal judge’s dismissal move paved the way for trans athletes to be involved in girls’ sports teams openly. Moreover, this dismissal motion can affect the ladies’ safety in sports. In addition, this lawsuit’s thrown-out incident can raise women’s discrimination and the higher possibility of girls’ injury and harm during games. However, in recent Olympics, a transgender female victory in a girls’ match shows that the ban was quite sensible and protected the girls from the physical dominance of trans females in games.