Due to its refusal to play against transgender athletes, a Christian school in Vermont forfeited a basketball tournament. Mid Vermont Christian school’s girl’s basketball team was scheduled to play Long Trail school at an out-of-state tournament on 21 February. However, the game was forfeited by MVCS due to the presence of a transgender player on Long Trail’s roster.
MVCS Purpose
MCVS head of school Vicky Fogg said,
We withdrew from the tournament because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players [1].
She went on to say,
Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports [2].
Criticism
In response to the forfeit, the Vermont Principals’ Association, a multi-school organization that sponsors various sports activities, reminded the public of its gender identity policy. In this statement, it is stated that it “supports transgender student athletes.” All students are welcome to participate in VPA activities in accordance with their gender identity, according to the VPA.
American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont has criticized MVCS for forfeiting the tournament.
Public Eyes
Transgender athletes have faced pushback in recent years, especially in girls’ and women’s sports and in their locker rooms. Transgender athletes are often portrayed as having an advantage over natural born women for various reasons. The participation of transgender athletes in female school sports is prohibited in 18 states.
