Caitlyn Jenner Voices Support For Nassau Transgender Sports Ban

Caitlyn Jenner, the former 1976 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s decathlon, has voiced her support for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s ban on transgender athletes competing at county facilities.

Jenner, who publicly came out as transgender in 2015, spoke at a Monday news conference alongside Blakeman, endorsing Blakeman’s view that it’s not about being anti-trans but rather pro-women’s sports.

” I have shared my struggle that I have dealt with my entire life with – gender dysphoria,” Jenner told reporters. “Today in this country, and in the world, we’re in a crossroads. Athletic governing bodies, judicial systems, executive actions, legislative bodies, are all grappling with how to handle the topic of trans athletes on a massive scale. Specifically, the biological realities that exist that provide for advantages and even lead to physical harm when trans women or biological males compete in sports against women.”

Neither Jenner nor Blakeman were able to speak about any examples of transgender athletes causing issues in Nassau, but Jenner cited an incident in North Carolina, where volleyball player Payton McNabb claimed a transgender woman spiked a ball in her face causing neck injuries and a concussion.

“We need families to speak out now before something happens like what happened in North Carolina,” Jenner said. “The women’s net is seven and a half inches lower making it easier to spike. The average height for a man’s fist spike is 82 miles an hour – the average spike for women 64 miles an hour. That’s why we have to protect women’s sports here.”

Jenner doesn’t have much support from the LGBT+ community on this, with David Kilmnick, president of the LGBT Network, blasting her in a statement.

“Caitlyn Jenner’s support for anti-LGBT initiatives stands as a baffling contradiction to her own identity and the struggles she has faced as a transgender woman,” Kilmnick said. “Embracing policies or ideologies that undermine the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals is not only hypocritical but also harmful. Jenner’s alignment with such positions not only perpetuates discrimination but also adds fuel to the rising number of violent and hate incidents committed against transgender individuals. It is disheartening to witness someone who has experienced the challenges of being marginalized actively contribute to the oppression of others within the same community.”

Blakeman’s executive order only has jurisdiction over county-run facilities, meaning school districts can still have transgender athletes competing on whatever teams they choose.

The county executive signed the order on Feb. 22, and was met with a cease-and-desist letter by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, claiming the order violated several state laws. In response, Blakeman sued James in federal court and the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s roller derby league, sued Blakeman.

“We’re here to protect women and girls, we’re not here to pick sides for to exclude anybody,” Blakeman said. “Biological males who identify themselves as females have other outlets where they can compete, they can compete against other biological males, they can compete in a coed league, they can compete in the transgender league if they choose to form one.”