(TStarnes) – A Christian high school girls basketball team from Vermont withdrew from the state tournament because its first-round opponent had a transgender player on its roster.
The Mid Vermont Christian School in Hartford was scheduled to play at Long Trail School in Dorset in a first-round Division IV playoff game on Feb. 21. But the school withdrew, citing fairness and the safety of its players in facing a team with a biological male.
“We believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” said Vicky Fogg, head of school at Mid Vermont Christian, according to the Valley News. “Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”
According to guidelines set by the Vermont Principals’ Association, which governs the state’s high school sports, a person can participate in a sport “consistent with the gender they identify as” provided the school determines them eligible.
According to the Valley News, Lauren Thomas, assistant executive director for the Vermont Principals’ Association, said Mid Vermont Christian sent her a letter stating it would not be entering the tournament but did not elaborate on its decision.
Long Trail School had no issues regarding the transgender player during its 20-game regular-season schedule, according to the Valley News. The forefeit allowed Long Trail to advance to the quarterfinals, where it lost 45-26 on Friday to Arlington Memorial.
“I have received calls [from schools] asking for best practices and how to go forward knowing they were going to play a team with a transgender female on it,” Thomas said. “We just supported our stance and our best practices through our inclusivity statement.”
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