A New York state judge has upheld Nassau County’s controversial law that bars transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports at county-run facilities.

The ruling issued Monday by Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cozzens rejected claims by the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union that the restrictions signed into law in 2024 by Nassau County Chief Executive Bruce Blakeman in July violated state laws protecting New Yorkers from discrimination based on their gender identity. In his ruling, he said the restrictions align with federal anti-discrimination laws.

“The Court agrees that this Local Law is narrowly tailored to achieve the objectives and does not categorically exclude transgender individuals from athletic participation,” Cozzens wrote in the ruling. “The law regulates access to women and girls categories in the County-run facilities for organized athletic events.”

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in July challenging Blakeman’s order on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby team. The plaintiffs argued that the ban violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

A similar lawsuit challenging the ban was filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Blakeman filed a federal lawsuit to block James from intervening in the prior dispute, but his legal challenge was rejected. That case is still pending.

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