Legal Battle for Vermont Christian School
A federal appeals court has reinstated the Mid Vermont Christian School in a statewide sports competition after it faced a ban from state officials for refusing to participate in a basketball game against a team with a transgender athlete.
On September 9, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a lower court’s order and issued a preliminary injunction allowing the school to rejoin the Vermont Principal Association (VPA) while the legal proceedings are ongoing. The court indicated that the school has a strong likelihood of succeeding in its claims regarding free exercise of religion, noting that the VPA’s decision had not adequately accommodated the school’s religious beliefs.
This legal dispute traces back to February 2023 when the Eagles, the school’s women’s basketball team, forfeited a playoff game against Long Trail School, learning that biological male transgender students were on the opposing team. Officials cited safety and fairness concerns for women athletes competing against biological males.
Shortly after the forfeiture, the VPA expelled the school from all sports and non-athletic activities, such as science fairs and debate conferences.
The Alliance Defending Freedom, a group advocating for religious liberties, took legal action against the state on behalf of the school. They argue that the school was penalized for its religious beliefs safeguarded by the First Amendment.
Court records reveal that VPA Executive Director Jay Nichols criticized the school publicly two days post-forfeiture, labeling the decision as “blatant discrimination” masquerading as religious freedom. The VPA appeals committee dismissed concerns about safety and equity for female athletes, calling those ideas “myths,” and deemed the religious objections “incorrect.”
Head coach Chris Goodwin, who has led the Eagles for nearly a decade, remarked that deciding against participating in such games was tough but necessary. He expressed that the Bible clearly distinguishes between men and women, emphasizing that by participating, they would be endorsing the state’s position on gender identity.
Goodwin also mentioned safety as a concern. Following the expulsion, the athletes had to spend several hours traveling to compete in a league outside Vermont, which limited their exposure and scholarship opportunities.
David Cortman, a senior adviser at the Alliance Defending Freedom, believes the court’s ruling could set a precedent for other religious schools facing similar issues and expressed satisfaction with the decision. He criticized the notion that schools should have to choose between adhering to their beliefs and retaining their athletic involvement.
While the Second Circuit’s ruling allows the school to participate in VPA activities during the ongoing litigation, Nichols has stated that the VPA doesn’t discriminate based on religion. Responses from other officials related to the lawsuit were limited, indicating an inability to comment on pending legal matters.
This incident underscores the ongoing national debate over transgender athletes’ participation in school sports. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case regarding state bans on transgender athletes in public schools this fall.
