In a recent development in Vermont, Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) finds itself entangled in a legal battle with several state agencies, alleging religious discrimination. The dispute stems from an incident in February when MVCS’s girls’ basketball team refused to compete against a team that included a transgender student-athlete, leading to their withdrawal from the Vermont Division IV state tournament. MVCS’s decision was grounded in the belief that playing against a biological male jeopardized both the fairness of the game and the safety of their players.
Controversy Surrounds Transgender Inclusion in Sports
MVCS is one of two schools that have sought state tuition money while attempting to navigate the state’s anti-discrimination laws. Vicky Fogg, the head of MVCS, stated, “Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.” In response, the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) deemed MVCS in violation of anti-discrimination policies and subsequently banned the school from future tournaments.
Constitutional Challenge and Legal Representation
MVCS took its grievances to the federal level, filing a lawsuit against various state entities, including the Vermont Agency of Education and the VPA. The school argues that the state’s stance on gender and sexuality violates its religious beliefs and that it should not be compelled to follow these principles to participate in Vermont’s tuitioning program and athletic association.
Representing MVCS in the case is the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an anti-LGBTQ+ Christian legal advocacy group. ADF has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They argue that Vermont’s exclusion of MVCS from the state’s tuition program and athletic association infringes on constitutionally protected rights, citing a recent Supreme Court decision that ruled against excluding religious schools from voucher programs.
This legal battle reflects the ongoing debate surrounding transgender inclusion in sports and the clash between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws in various states.
