Roller derby league Long Island Roller Rebels is suing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who proposed an order that would ban trans girls and women from competing in sports that are held on county-owned parks and fields.
For our plaintiff @LIRollerRebels, this policy would bar them from public-run venues where they would otherwise play just because they believe in inclusion and reject transphobia.
Furthermore, it undermines team unity and encourages divisiveness by policing member's identities.
— NYCLU (@NYCLU) March 11, 2024
According to Reuters, this order is being considered in at least two courts to decide if this bill “protects girls and women.” Blakeman stated in an interview in defense of the order, “Anybody who would argue biological males are not bigger, larger and faster than biological females is a fool.”
The roller derby league’s Vice President Amanda Urena, who identifies as queer and plays under the name “Curly Fry,” spoke with The Independent about why it’s so important to take a stand against this order.
“The whole point of derby has been to be this thing where people feel welcome. We want trans women to know that we want you to come play with us, and we’ll do our very best to keep fighting and making sure that this is a safe space for you to play,” said Urena.
“If people gave up playing sports because they thought they were going to lose, we wouldn’t have a sports industry,” they continued. “I love playing against people that are faster and stronger because that’s how I get better.”
Roller derby has a long history of being a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community. Caitlin Carroll, a Roller Rebel who competes as “Catastrophic Danger,” shared about the league, “You come in here and you say, ‘I’m a trans woman. I’m a nonbinary person. I’m genderqueer.’ OK? We accept you. The world is scary enough. You should have a safe place to be.”
Emily Santosus, a 48-year old transgender woman on Long Island who hopes to join a women’s softball team, discussed what she believes this order truly is. “This is a solution in search of a problem,” she said. “We’re not bullies. We’re the ones that get bullied.”
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