Nassau : Official Sues Attorney General Following Cease-and-Desist of a Transgender Ban

Executive ag lawsuit Nassau

Bruce Blakeman Challenges the Cease-and-Desist Letter Sent by Letitia James

Nassau County Leader, Bruce Blakeman, has launched a federal lawsuit against New York State Attorney General Letitia James, following the receipt of a cease-and-desist letter regarding the county’s recent executive order, which bans transgender women from participating in women’s sports.

Blakeman enacted this executive order on February 22, thereby prohibiting transgender women from competing in women’s sporting events at facilities operated by the county. On March 1, James sent Nassau County a cease-and-desist letter, labeling the action illegal under state and federal laws.

“The law is absolutely clear: discrimination against a person based on their gender identity or expression is prohibited,” James stated after the letter was dispatched. “There is no room for hate or bigotry in New York. This executive order is transphobic and overtly illegal. Nassau County must rescind the order immediately, or we will not hesitate to initiate decisive legal action.”

In retaliation, Blakeman now claims that James’s request to repeal the order is unlawful.

“What the Attorney General is demanding us to do contravenes federal constitutional law and federal statutory law,” Blakeman reported to journalists at a news conference on Wednesday regarding the issue. “Therefore, our reaction was to file a lawsuit for a declaratory judgment, obliging the Attorney General to appear before a federal judge and justify why the cease-and-desist order was problematic and the threat of sanctions and litigation against the county, while we in Nassau County are safeguarding women and girls – who are a protected class under the Constitution and under federal law, and undoubtedly deserve equal protection under the law.”

When questioned, Blakeman failed to provide specific instances of transgender women competing with biological women in Nassau County, instead stating he was taking preventative measures to protect the residents of Nassau. He also acknowledged that this ban is only enforced in county-operated facilities – meaning that many of Nassau’s public schools can still permit transgender women to participate in any sport.

“Do we need to wait for someone to get hurt?” Blakeman retorted. “Should we wait for someone to sustain a broken nose or a fractured neck or spine before we act? Absolutely not.”

Blakeman’s lawsuit has been filed in the federal Eastern District.

Related : Nassau County bans transgender athletes