Appeals Court Strikes Down Nassau County Trans Sports Ban
New York’s Second Department appellate court found that Nassau County could not enforce a policy barring teams that include transgender women and girls from accessing county-owned sports venues. The court said the ban ran counter to state protections against discrimination based on gender identity and overturned an earlier ruling that had allowed it to stand in October 2025.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman first put the restriction in place through an executive order, and the county legislature later approved it. The Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby league that welcomes transgender athletes, and New York State brought separate legal challenges. The appeals court ruled against the county in both cases.
The county plans to review the ruling and continue its appeals process, county attorney Thomas Adams said. The county could ask New York’s highest court to take up the case, though there is no guarantee it will do so. Gabriella Larios, an attorney for the Roller Rebels, called the decision a major victory for transgender people, while league president Curly Fry said the team remained committed to welcoming transgender women.
Court Rejects Nassau Ban on Transgender Athletes
Nassau County cannot use public sports facilities to shut out teams that allow transgender women and girls to compete, a New York appeals court ruled. The decision rejects a policy backed by County Executive Bruce Blakeman and affirms that the county’s restriction conflicted with state protections against gender-identity discrimination.
The case was brought by the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby league that welcomes transgender athletes. New York State separately challenged the same policy, and the court ruled against the county in that case as well. The ruling overturned a lower court decision from October 2025 that had upheld the ban.
The county says it intends to continue the appeals process. For the Roller Rebels and transgender athletes, the decision means the county’s exclusion cannot stand under the state laws cited by the court. Gabriella Larios, who represented the league, described the ruling as a victory for transgender people; league president Curly Fry said transgender women remain welcome to join.
Appeals Court Blocks Nassau County’s Sports Eligibility Rule
A New York appeals court has barred Nassau County from enforcing its policy on which teams may use county-owned sports facilities. The ruling against a measure backed by County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the county law conflicted with state anti-discrimination protections.
The restriction applied to teams designated for women and girls if they allowed transgender women or girls to compete. The Long Island Roller Rebels challenged it, and New York State filed a separate case. The appeals court ruled against Nassau County in both matters and set aside an earlier judgment that had let the ban remain in force in October 2025.
The county attorney said officials are reviewing the decision and intend to pursue further appeals. The case therefore remains in dispute, while the current ruling prevents the county from applying the restriction. The Roller Rebels say they continue to welcome transgender women to their league.
Reported by amNY, Gothamist, ABC7 New York, Fox News.
