No. 12 seed Mid Vermont Christian School made a decision to not suit up for a recent game during a tournament because who they would be playing against. The Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited out of the Vermont Division IV state tournament after refusing to play against a team that includes a transgender player.
The Vermont Christian Eagles were scheduled to take on No. 5 seed Long Trail School on Feb. 21 in the first round of the tournament. However, they would not suit up or take the floor.
Vicky Fogg, the head of school at MVCS, released a statement:
“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,” MVCS head of school Vicky Fogg said, according to CNN. “Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”
Transgenders in girls’ sports has been a topic of discussion for years now. Some states, including Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia and Texas, have banned transgender youths from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identities, per NBC News. However, in Vermont, students are allowed to participate in VPA activities in accordance with their gender identity.
The No. 5 seed Long Trail School automatically moved on to the next round and will face No. 4 seed Arlington in Friday’s quarterfinals.
