A girls high school basketball team in Vermont is banned from all future competition after they forfeited a game against a team with a male-to-female transgender player.
Mid Vermont Christian School made headlines in February when the girls basketball team declined to play against a team with a male-bodied player.
The Eagles’ girls basketball team, which was ranked 12th in the Division IV postseason, forfeited its first-round game against No. 5 seed Long Trail on Feb. 21.
Vicky Fogg, Head of Mid Vermont Christian School, told Valley News that participating in a game against a male-bodied player “jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players.”
According to The NY Post, the Vermont Principals’ Association announced in a press statement on Monday, March 13, that the private religious school had violated its policies on “commitment to racial, gender-fair, and disability awareness” and on “gender identity.”
The entire school of 94 students is banned from participating in state-sanctioned activities and tournaments going forward, the press release said.
“The prohibition against discrimination includes discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived sex and gender,” the statement said.
Fogg told Valley News she will appeal the ruling which goes into effect immediately.
“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 in an email to the media outlet.
“Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general,” she added.
