EXCLUSIVE: A New York official rejected claims by state Attorney General Letitia James that her executive order banning transgender athletes from competing against biological women in athletics within their county is transphobic or discriminatory.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against James over his cease and desist letter regarding his Feb. 22 order.
He is asking the federal court in the Eastern District of New York to rule that he has the power to enact the law.
A spokesperson for James' office told Fox News Digital that Blakeman's order is “transphobic.” But Blakeman said that is far from the case, adding that his criticism amounted to “insults.”
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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaks during a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo)
“It doesn't offer objective facts,” Blakeman told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. “She's basically name-calling, and I don't like to engage in name-calling. All I'm saying is that if you're a biological male, you're usually bigger, faster, and stronger than a woman or a female.” a girl and that we want fair competition and a safe environment.
“We are seeing people who identify as transgender women who are biological men stealing competitions from women who have worked hard their entire lives to compete.”
Blakeman signed the order last month for “equality for women and girls in sports.” The order said “the action was necessary to maintain equity in women's athletic opportunities.”
NEW YORK COUNTY TAKES STEPS TO PREVENT BIOLOGICAL MEN FROM COMPETING IN GIRLS SPORTS AT LOCAL FACILITIES
The rule states that “any sport, league, organization, team, program or sporting entity must expressly designate as one of the following based on the biological sex at birth of the team members/participants when applying for a use and occupancy permit to Use Nassau County Parks Property for the purpose of hosting a sporting event or competition: 1) Men, men or boys or 2) Women, women or girls or 3) Mixed or co-ed, including men and women.
“The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums will not issue any permit for the use and occupancy of Nassau County Park property for the purpose of hosting a sporting event or competition that allows athletic teams or designated sports to women, women or girls include biological males.
“The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums may issue permits for the use and occupancy of Nassau County Park property for the purpose of hosting a sporting event or competition that allows athletic teams or men's sports, men or children include biological women.”
Nassau County, New York Executive Bruce Blakeman speaks at a Long Island Association (LIA) event on January 5, 2024, in Woodbury, New York (Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
The executive order defined gender as “the biological sex of the individual at birth; and a statement of the biological sex of a team member/participant on the official birth certificate of the team member/participant is considered to correctly indicate the biological sex of the team member/participant if the return was filed at or around the time of the team member/participant's birth.”
“It is imperative that a safe and supportive environment be maintained to encourage and foster these opportunities in sports for biological females,” the order says.
James sent the cease-and-desist order on Friday, calling it discriminatory against transgender women and a “clear violation of the New York Civil and Human Rights Law.” She also claimed that it violated the “equal protection” clause of the United States Constitution in the 14th Amendment.
“The attorney general is relying on a human rights law that, frankly, I think is unconstitutional. But even if it were, (the order) would not violate state law. State law is not being violated.
“There are opportunities for transgender athletes to compete here in Nassau County, so we're not excluding them. And basically all it says is be honest. And we want a safe and fair environment for women to compete.” can compete.” compete here in Nassau County.”
Blakeman also made a point in an interview with OutKick contributor Riley Gaines on the “Gaines for Girls” podcast, saying she had an “obligation” to defend the Constitution in Nassau County.
He told Fox News Digital that Nassau County residents “don't want our biological women to be bullied by biological men.”
“That is why we took this step to issue an executive order, which simply states that if you identify or advertise yourself as an all-female team or an all-female team or league, biological males cannot compete.
“We want our leagues and our teams to be transparent about who they let in so that women know and girls know that they have a level playing field to compete, that there is no unfair competition. And we are not creating safety problems.” for the young people who use our fields every day.
State Attorney General Letitia James filed a cease and desist order against Blakeman last week. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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“Again, this is not transphobic. It is not anti-transgender. Biological men who identify as transgender women can compete against other biological men, or they can compete in co-ed leagues. Or if they wanted to form their own league, I would be happy. to find a place for them to exercise their right to recreation and enjoyment of sport and athletic competition.”
Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
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