Senators Alexis Weik, Pam Helming, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, and Steve Rhoads gathered with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and other members of the Senate Republican Conference in Albany to oppose the participation of biological boys in girls’ sports. They are advocating for state-level legislation to protect women’s right to fair competition in New York.
The Senate Republican Conference is backing two bills aimed at addressing this issue. Senator Alexis Weik sponsors S.4496, which seeks to prohibit biological boys from competing in girls’ sports from grades seven through twelve across New York. Meanwhile, Senator Steve Rhoads sponsors S.460, designed to prevent the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department from stopping schools that choose to ban biological male students from joining female sports teams.
Senator Steve Rhoads stated: “Title IX is the law of the land. Kathy Hochul and the unelected bureaucrats in her Administration did not swear an Oath to uphold only the laws they agree with. Women and girls have fought too hard for equal opportunities in athletics guaranteed to them through Title IX.” He emphasized that his bill puts decision-making back into local schools’ hands rather than Albany bureaucrats’, describing it as a “common sense bill” that defends women’s rights while being compassionate.
This movement follows similar actions nationwide and recent legislation by Nassau County banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports at county-owned facilities. Additionally, Senate Republicans have written a letter urging Governor Hochul to ensure compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order titled “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” intended to reinforce protections under Title IX.
The Liberate New York Agenda unveiled earlier this year by Senate Republicans includes protecting girls’ sports as a key component. According to a recent Siena Poll, many New Yorkers support banning biological boys from playing on girls’ sports teams, with 46% advocating for such bans across all school districts compared to 22% who support allowing transgender girls on these teams.
