Appeals Court Strikes Down Nassau Transgender Sports Ban

A New York appellate court overturned a Nassau County law that barred women's sports teams with transgender players from county facilities.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law

Appeals Court Strikes Down Nassau Transgender Sports Ban

Live Poll

Should local governments be allowed to bar transgender athletes from women's sports facilities?

A New York appellate court on Wednesday struck down a Nassau County law barring women's sports teams with transgender players from using county-run facilities on Long Island. The ruling overturned a trial court decision that had upheld the measure.

Why it matters

The decision removes a restriction on access to county athletic facilities for a category of teams, with the law's future now settled at the appellate level in New York. It also reflects a broader legal fight over how sex classifications apply to recreational and competitive sports access.

The 2024 Nassau County ban required leagues and teams to designate themselves as male, female, or co-ed when requesting permission to play at county-run facilities. The appellate court's ruling on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, reversed the trial court's decision that had upheld the measure.

The players

Bruce Blakeman

Bruce Blakeman is the Republican County Executive of Nassau County, New York, who championed the measure.

Letitia James

Letitia James is the Democratic New York State Attorney General who challenged the Nassau County law in a parallel suit.

The details

The law barred use of Nassau County facilities by women's sports teams that include transgender players. A roller derby league and State Attorney General Letitia James (D) challenged the law in parallel suits, and the appellate court ruled against the county.

2024: Nassau County enacts the ban requiring teams to designate their sex to use county facilities.
November 4, 2026: The New York appellate court strikes down the county law.

Political Context

The ruling tests whether a county may impose sex-based facility rules that conflict with protections under New York's Human Rights Law. Opponents of the ban, including the state attorney general, argued that the county measure exceeded its authority, and the appellate court agreed.

Nassau County teams that include transgender players may again seek access to county-run facilities now that the ban has been struck down. Residents and sports leagues across New York should expect the county's facility-use rules to change in response to the ruling.

The takeaway

The ruling clarifies that county facility rules must still align with state anti-discrimination law, which affects how local governments across New York can regulate access to public athletic spaces.