New York official fires back at state AG amid fight over trans athlete law: 'This is not transphobic'

Nassau County, New York executive Bruce Blakeman tells Fox News Digital his trans athlete law is "not transphobic."

EXCLUSIVE: A New York official pushed back on claims from state Attorney General Letitia James that his executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing against biological females in athletics within his county is transphobic or discriminatory.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against James over her cease-and-desist letter regarding his order from Feb. 22. 

He’s asking the federal court in the Eastern District of New York to rule he has the power to enact the law.

A spokesperson for James’ office told Fox News Digital Blakeman’s order is "transphobic." But Blakeman said that’s far from the case, adding her criticism amounted to "name-calling."

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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaks during a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., Wednesday, March 6, 2024.  (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo)

"There are no objective facts that she offers," Blakeman told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "She just basically is name-calling, and I don’t like to engage in name-calling. All I’m saying is, if you are a biological male, you are bigger, faster and stronger, typically, than a woman or a girl and that we want fair competition. And we want a safe environment.

"We’re seeing people who are identifying themselves as transgender females who are biological males that are stealing competitions from women who have worked hard their whole life to compete."

Blakeman signed the order last month for "fairness for women and girls in sports." The order said the "action was necessary to maintain fairness for women’s athletic