County Challenges Transgender Roller Derby Team

Clear Facts

• The Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby team based in Long Island, New York, is grappling with a ban on transgender athletes imposed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
• Blakeman’s executive order requires all sports teams to disclose their sex assigned at birth if they wish to participate in county facilities and parks, a move he defends as a way to prevent “the bullying of women and girls by transgender males.”
• The Roller Rebels, who follow the inclusive policies of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, have teamed up with the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) to challenge the ban in court, a legal battle that has drawn the attention and criticism of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby team stationed in Long Island, is currently wrestling with a significant challenge. This predicament is a result of a ban on transgender athletes put in place by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Blakeman’s executive order, a mandate that all sports teams disclose their sex assigned at birth to compete in county facilities and parks, has thrown a wrench into the operations of the Roller Rebels.

“The law is clear: you can’t discriminate against a person because of⁣ their gender‍ identity or expression.”

Blakeman defends his order as a necessary step to prevent what he perceives as “the bullying of women and girls by transgender males.” However, this stance puts him at odds with the Roller Rebels. The team follows the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s inclusive policies, which allow participation from transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive individuals.

In a bid to challenge the ban, the Roller Rebels have joined forces with the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU). The situation took a dramatic turn when New York Attorney General Letitia James publicly criticized the ban and called for its immediate repeal. In response, Blakeman initiated legal action against James, disputing her interpretation of the New York Human Rights Law.

Blakeman expressed disappointment with the NYCLU’s position, suggesting that their support for women’s rights was insufficient. The legal battle continues, with the future of the roller derby team’s competitions in Nassau County hanging in the balance.

Despite the increasing number of states enacting bans on transgender athletes, this case in New York stands out as a particularly contentious issue. As a Senate bill on the matter remains in a state of nationwide uncertainty, the Roller Rebels are gearing up for their forthcoming bouts, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

Stay tuned for updates as the Roller Rebels not only face opponents on the derby track, but also legal challenges in the realm of gender equality and inclusivity.

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