A state appeals court has struck down Nassau County's ban on transgender girls and women competing in women's sports at county parks and facilities, according to the New York attorney general's office.
The Appellate Division's Second Department found the restriction violated New York's Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law, Attorney General Letitia James said.
The ruling concerns access to county sports facilities and the state's protections against discrimination based on gender identity or expression in places of public accommodation.
James sued Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in July 2024 over the county's policy. Her office said the appeals decision invalidates the ban.
The attorney general argued that transgender athletes should have the same opportunity to participate in sports as other New Yorkers. The release described the decision as enforcement of existing state civil rights protections.
The legal issue extends beyond an individual team or competition: it concerns whether a county can impose that restriction on the use of its public parks and facilities under state law.
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