Christian School Banned From Competing After Forfeiting Game Over Trans Player
A Christian high school in Vermont has been banned from participating in state athletics after their girls basketball team forfeited a playoff game against a team with a male player.
Mid Vermont Christian School forfeited a February 21 Division IV playoff basketball game against Long Trail because of concerns over fairness and the safety of their female athletes in playing against a male student.
School officials told Valley News that playing against a team with a biological male “jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players.”
In response to this decision, the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) — which governs high school athletics in the state — ruled that the Christian school would no longer be allowed to participate in state athletics.
The officials released a statement announcing that the private religious school had violated policies on “commitment to racial, gender-fair, and disability awareness” and on “gender identity” — and thus, their “immediate determination” was that White River Junction K-12 school and its 94 students would no longer be eligible for state-sanctioned activities and tournaments.
“VPA policies prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of students on school property or
at school functions by students or employees,” the officials added.
“The prohibition against discrimination includes discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived sex and gender,” the statement continued.
Mid Vermont Christian High School Head of School Vicky Fogg responded to the news in a statement, noting that the school was “disappointed” with the VPA’s ruling and planned to appeal.
“Cancelling our membership is not a solution and does nothing to deal with the very real issue of safety and fairness facing women’s sports in our beloved state,” she wrote.
“We urge the VPA to reconsider its policies, and balance the rights of every athlete in the state,” Fogg added.
“Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general,” she continued.
This conflict follows nationwide concern over the right of women and girls to feel safe and secure on their sports teams, and in their locker rooms. While Democrat-run states have been happy to allow boys to compete against girls despite the obvious discrepancy between their size and strength, Republican-led states have begun banning the practice.
According to the Movement Advancement Project, state legislatures in 18 states have recently banned boys from competing on girls sports teams. State athletic associations in 25 states have also issued bans or restrictions on the practice, according to Trans Athlete.
Vermont is one of ten states in the U.S. with “friendly” guidance on the issue from state athletic associations, the website notes.
