A Roller Derby Team Becomes a Bastion of Resistance to a Transgender Ban

At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Jack Sawula stands out at practice with her roller derby team in suburban Nassau County. The team, known as the Long Island Roller Rebels, is a women’s roller derby team competing in the Northeast region. The team has always been inclusive of LGBTQ athletes, including transgender members like Ms. Sawula. However, a ban on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports at county-owned sites has caused controversy and raised concerns about civil rights. To support the Roller Rebels, a team of civil rights advocates from the New York Civil Liberties Union has joined their cause.