The anti-transgender controversy continues

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order on Feb. 21 that banned transgender athletes who are male born from competing on female athletic teams in county parks, recreation spaces and museums.

The criteria of the executive order demands sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs or sport entities interested in using county facilities must first designate themselves based on male, female or coed, and then only accept athletes according to what was originally listed on their birth certificate.

“An individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth,” Blakeman said in his executive order.

PFY, which formerly stood for Pride For Youth, is a division of the Long Island Crisis Center, dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ individuals and providing health and wellness services, has firmly came out against the county executive’s decisions. PFY has headquarters in Bellmore and Deer Park, but serves adults and youth in the Long Island region and Queens.

“To deny transgender and nonbinary students the chance to compete on their school and community sports teams is to perpetuate exclusion and reinforce harmful stereotypes,” PFY’s Director Devon Zappasodi said in a statement. “By embracing diversity and inclusion on the field, we not only cultivate a sense of belonging and acceptance but also uplift a culture of respect and understanding.”

The order affects transgender athletes who were born male but identify as female, as well as nonbinary athletes. These athletes are banned from participating on the teams of the gender in which they identify.

300,000 American youth ages 13 to 17 identify as transgender — equaling only 1.4 percent of the 332 million citizens living in the United States, according to a study conducted by the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California, Los Angeles’s Law School, and reported in an April 2023 article by Newsweek.

Only a fraction of this number is a transgender person identifying as female who is also hoping to compete in girls or women’s sports. As estimated by Joanna Harper, a researcher and medical physicist, the number of transgender female athletes competing in public school sports nationwide is thought to be below 100 — though privacy laws make it difficult to know the exact number, according to the same Newsweek article.

Former deputy county attorney and an Oceanside resident Dawn Foster stopped by Mineola on Monday to speak out against Blakeman’s executive order in front of the county legislature on behalf of her family.

“In 2021, when I finally stopped fighting against myself and accepted that I was a woman and needed transition, we felt fortunate to live in Nassau County,” Foster said, calling the executive order unlawful, and condemning what she described as efforts to demonize trans women. “That feeling was shattered last week.”

PFY said it passionately continues to support residents and families of Nassau County affected by this executive order.

“PFY stands strong in our belief that inclusivity, diversity, and respect are the cornerstones of a truly patriotic and values-driven society,” Zappasodi said.

On March 1, New York Attorney General Letita James said Blakeman’s action “is transphobic and blatantly illegal” because it is a clear violation of New York’s Civil and Human Rights laws.

“The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression,” James said. “We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York.”

The same day, Blakeman rebutted the claims that his executive order is illegal.

“Attorney General’s reaction is reaction is contrary to the law.” He said, “Nassau County will abide by the law, we will follow the law, we will follow the state and federal constitution. However, there may be a controversy with respect to this matter, which may have to be adjudicated at some time in the future. I would invite the attorney general and her staff to meet with our county attorney and our lawyers to discuss this matter.”

Blakeman said without his executive order, women’s rights are being violated.

“Women and girls are a protected class under the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and we will protect women from bullying by transgender males who want to compete against biological women” Blakeman said. “We think that since there are other avenues for them to compete, that there is no discrimination.”

Citing a 16-year-old resident who sent him an email stating her support for the order as one example, he stands firm. 

“I have heard from many, many residents of Nassau County who are in favor of the executive order. We’ve heard from a diverse population,” said Blakeman

The county needs to rescind the executive order or face additional legal action states the state’s cease-and-desist order.