Transgender athletes are now banned from girls’ and women’s sports in more than half the country.

New York isn’t one of those states, but Tuesday night, people gathered at the Stonewall National Monument worried the decision reaches much farther than the playing field.

What You Need To Know

Transgender athletes are now banned from girls’ and women’s sports in more than half the country

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3, upholding state laws that limit girls and women’s school sports based on biological sex

In New York, state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity

“It’s not about sports for me. It’s never been about sports. It’s never been about bathrooms,” Manhattan resident Chloe Elentari said. “This is what they’re after. They’re after all of our rights,” Bronx resident Tanya Walker said.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3, in cases out of West Virginia and Idaho, upholding state laws that limit girls and women’s school sports based on biological sex.

“I was very disappointed but not surprised,” transgender athlete Chris Mosier said.

Mosier says what worries him isn’t only this ruling, it’s what he believes could follow.

“It’s a distraction. It’s an opportunity for them to say, look over there while our healthcare is being taken away, while people are losing their SNAP benefits,” Mosier said.

In New York, state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.

State education guidance also allows transgender students to play on teams consistent with their gender identity. But advocates say the debate is already happening here.

In neighboring Nassau County, County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s order restricting transgender athletes remains in court.

In a statement, the Republican candidate for governor wrote: “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutional rights of women and girls to be protected from unfair and unsafe competition by biological males.”

“The sport that they’re playing may be the only escape for them to just experience childhood and not think who they are and have to defend themselves,” Manhattan resident Ashley Ryan said.

Still, supporters of the ruling argue it’s about protecting girls’ sports. Those gathered at Stonewall see it as part of a much broader fight.

“We need to understand that an attack on one New Yorker is an attack on all New Yorkers,” Mosier said. “And an attack on one kid is an attack on all kids, and no student is safe unless all students are safe.”