A state appeals court has blocked Nassau County’s ban prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports at county-owned facilities — just days after a previous ruling upheld the controversial law.
The preliminary injunction bars Nassau from enforcing the ban while the appeal process plays out — but that doesn’t appear to be stopping county officials, who said they plan on ignoring the Wednesday ruling.
“Nassau County will continue to protect the integrity and safety of women’s sports,” Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman told The Post.
The appeals ruling was “moot,” claimed County Attorney Thomas Adams, since it came after a judge had already dismissed the case.
Attorneys for the state and the New York Civil Liberties Union, however, said the appellate court’s decision is binding and revives the case dismissed last week — adding that Nassau could face legal consequences if it continues to enforce the ban.
“The appellate court made it crystal clear that any attempt to ban trans women and girls from sports is prohibited by our state’s antidiscrimination laws,” said NYCLU attorney Gabriella Larios.
The ruling followed state Justice Bruce Cozzens’ decision last Monday to uphold Nassau’s ban.
In a lawsuit brought by the Long Island Roller Rebels — a women’s roller derby league that includes transgender athletes — Cozzens ruled the law does not exclude transgender athletes from competing on county property and using the restrooms “in accordance with one’s biological sex,” writing that the ban was designed to “protect women and girls.”
Just two days later, the state’s appellate division found that the Roller Rebels, which are being represented by the NYCLU, would suffer and be “irreparably injured” if the ban remained in effect during the appeal.
The panel of four judges noted that forcing the Roller Rebels to reclassify as a co-ed group “would change the identity of the league” and jeopardize its ability to compete against other women’s teams, maintain its standing with its governing body, and continue growing as an organization.
The ban affects more than 100 public facilities and includes adult rec-leagues in Nassau, a county of nearly 1.4 million people just east of Queens.
The contentious law was passed by the Republican-led Nassau Legislature in June 2024.
The next court date has yet to be scheduled in the case.
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