VT private school can no longer compete due to their refusal to play trans athletes
A Vermont school will no longer be able to compete in sports and other activities after being ousted from the Vermont Principals' Association for discriminatory actions.
Mid Vermont Christian School based in White River Junction chose to forfeit a girls basketball game in this year's tournament that would pit their team against one which included a transgender athlete.
Head of School Vicky Fogg told the Valley News in a February 22 article, "we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players.”
The Vermont Principals' Association, which oversees school-based athletic and academic competitions across the state, voted on March 13 to end the school's membership. The association's executive council made its decision with input from their Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Activities Committee, Activity Standards Committee and the membership at large. The group determined Mid Vermont Christian School violated the association's policy on gender identity which includes prohibition of discrimination "based on a student's actual or perceived sex and gender." The association said its policies reflect those in the Vermont Agency of Education Best Practices For Schools For Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Students and state law as found in Vermont's Public Accommodations Act.
Fog said in an email that the school is disappointed with the decision to ban it from participation in all VPA activities and plans to appeal the decision.
"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," Fogg wrote. "We urge the VPA to reconsider its policies, and balance the rights of every athlete in the state."
The association restated its commitment to transgender inclusivity:
"The VPA again reiterates its ongoing support of transgender student-athletes as not only a part of building an inclusive community for each student to grow and thrive, but also as a clear expectation by [Vermont law the Agency of Education and the VPA] regarding transgender student athletes."
Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT school loses eligibility to compete due to discrimination of trans athletes
