Caitlyn Jenner supports New York county's ban on transgender female athletes

SHAH ALAM - Former Olympic gold medalist advocate for a New York County executive's directive prohibiting female sports teams with transgender athletes from utilising county-owned facilities.

Speaking at a press conference in Mineola, New York, Caitlyn Jenner who came out as transgender in 2015 asserted that permitting transgender athletes to compete against women would have detrimental effects on women's sports.

“Trans women are competing against women, taking valuable opportunities for the long-protected class under Title IX and causing physical harm.

"Allowing this to continue will tarnish women's sports for generations. My objective is to safeguard women's rights.

“It is amazing how much flack I get, and all I am trying to do is to protect women,” Jenner affirmed.

Jenner also mentioned that the differences between men and women exist based on DNA and chromosomes.

“This leads to our physical development, regardless of a trans person’s hormones, surgeries and status in transitions.

“They are massive advantages and undeniable differences from male development, basically going through male puberty,” Jenner said.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican official elected in 2021, issued the directive in Feb, mandating that female-designated teams seeking permits from the county's parks and recreation department must exclude transgender athletes from participation.

Despite legal challenges from groups like the Long Island Roller Rebels, who argue that the directive violates anti-discrimination laws, Blakeman remains steadfast in his defence of the policy.

The New York Civil Liberties Union, representing the roller derby league, denounced Jenner's support for the ban as "another disgraceful attempt" to target transgender individuals.

Attorney General Letitia James, who is a Democrat, condemned the directive as ‘transphobic and discriminatory’ vowing to challenge its legality in court.

New York is one of 25 states in the United States including New Jersey, California and Georgia that does not have statewide laws that ban transgender students ages 13 to 17 from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity.