New York court strikes down Nassau sports restrictions

New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department, struck down Nassau County’s restrictions on permits for women’s and girls’ sports teams that include transgender female athletes, ruling that the policy conflicted with state antidiscrimination laws. The November 4 decision reversed a lower-court ruling that had upheld the restrictions and resolved two related legal challenges, one brought by Attorney General Letitia James and another by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels roller derby team. The court found the county’s law inconsistent with New York’s Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law, which protect against discrimination based on gender identity or expression. The ruling bars the county from imposing the challenged restrictions under the local law. The appeals court had separately blocked enforcement of the law temporarily in October 2025 while the litigation continued. The 2024 law barred the county parks department from issuing permits to women’s and girls’ teams at county facilities if transgender female athletes were included. It did not prohibit transgender athletes from participating in all sports. The policy...