Protecting girls’ sports in New York

ALBANY, NY - Senators Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Alexis Weik, Pam Helming, and Steve Rhoads joined by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, and members of the Senate Republican Conference gathered together to oppose biological boys playing in girls’ sports, highlighting the need for legislation at the state level to fully enshrine a woman’s right to fair competition across New York State. 

This call to action follows the lead of Nassau County  Executive to ensure that women are given a fair and equal opportunity to compete. Recent legislation passed by the Nassau County Legislature banned transgender athletes from participating in women's and girls' sports at county-owned athletic facilities.

“Biological differences affect athletic performance, and allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports creates an uneven playing field. Women’s sports were created to ensure equal opportunity in competition, and that principle is undermined when policies disregard biological differences. We have a responsibility to protect the integrity of women’s athletics and ensure the opportunities that Title IX was designed to provide,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Senate Republicans unveiled the Liberate New York Agenda earlier this year that included a component of protecting girls’ sports. In the recent Siena Poll, New Yorkers overwhelmingly support banning biological boys from playing in girls’ sports. A large plurality of New Yorkers (46%) say all school districts should ban transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams– while only 22% fully support the idea of transgender girls playing on girls’ sports teams.