A Vermont Christian school is currently contending with a significant legal hurdle following a decision that prevents it from participating in athletic events due to its refusal to compete against teams that include transgender athletes. The Mid Vermont Christian School has taken its case to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a judge upheld the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) decision to expel the school from competition due to their choice to forfeit a game against a team with a biological male player.
The legal actions began last week when the school filed its appeal, challenging the VPA’s ruling on grounds of religious discrimination. The appeal argues that the VPA’s policies were enforced in a ‘discretionary’ manner that allowed for exceptions in secular cases but not in Mid Vermont’s situation. It emphasizes the perceived inequity in the VPA’s treatment, pointing out that other schools have been allowed to forfeit games due to illness or injury without sanction.
Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal group known for advocating conservative religious rights, the school claims that the VPA’s expulsion is a blatant infringement of First Amendment rights. ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker asserted that “no religious school or their students and parents should be denied equal access to publicly available benefits simply for holding to their religious beliefs.” The appeal further contends that the VPA’s actions warrant strict scrutiny because they effectively bar a religious institution from receiving public benefits solely based on religious practices.
The dispute traces back to March 2023, when the VPA prohibited Mid Vermont from participating in future sports competitions after the school’s girls’ basketball team declined to play against the Long Trail Mountain Lions. The VPA’s rationale was grounded in its policy against discrimination based on gender identity, aligned with state laws promoting inclusive participation in athletic programs. Their guidelines stipulate that students should be allowed to compete based on their asserted gender identity, without requiring a medical diagnosis.
This situation highlights an ongoing national conversation about the intersection of religious freedoms, gender identity rights, and sports, making it a noteworthy case for both legal scholars and advocates on various sides of the debate. As the appeal moves forward, the implications for Mid Vermont Christian School and similar religious institutions remain uncertain.
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