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Girls high school basketball team opts out of state tournament rather than face transgender player [1]

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Date: 2023-03-01  

The Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) policy on gender identity clearly states in its athletic policies that “all individuals should be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect,” and “its member schools are committed to creating an environment in our activities and programs that promotes respect for and appreciation of racial, gender, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic differences, and is disability aware. Preventing prejudice and discrimination begins with every individual.”

One of the tenants of an MVCS graduate is to “Love others: Graduates will be prepared to live out their faith by being compassionate and sensitive to the needs of others in the community and around the world.”

Additionally, MVCS grads are expected to “Be Inclusive Collaborators: Graduates will be prepared to experience the value of teamwork, being part of a community that fosters creative thinking, and respects the contributions of multiple viewpoints resulting in attaining a goal that is greater than its individual parts.”

MVCS students, administration, and coaching staff should be ashamed of themselves. Education should be about teaching inclusion, understanding, and even good sportsmanship. This school has a long way to go in all of those departments.

As reported by the VT Digger, in January, MVCS submitted a letter to the state Agency of Education asking for public tuition funding with the caveat that they not be required to follow the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

“As a religious organization, the school has a statutory and constitutional right to make decisions based on its religious beliefs, including hiring and disciplining employees, associating with others, and in its admissions, conduct and operations policies and procedures,” Fogg wrote. “By signing this form, the Mid Vermont Christian School does not waive any such rights.” To the extent state laws conflict with the school’s beliefs, “including on marriage and sexuality, the school has not included that language in its handbook or online, nor can it affirm that particular aspect of the Vermont Public Accommodations Act.”

The bottom line is that no matter how transphobic or biased MVCS wants to be, it is funded by the taxpayers of Vermont and so must follow the rules of the state and its own “Nondiscrimination Notice,” which clearly reads:

“The Mid Vermont Christian School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid programs, and other school administered programs.”

Sadly MVCS is another example of the conservative backlash against trans-inclusive policies for student-athletes. As Daily Kos’ Marissa Higgins recently wrote, the issue isn’t a debate about transgender players, it’s about transphobia.

As Higgins deftly wrote in February:

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/1/2155654/-Christian-girls-high-school-basketball-team-forfeits-game-in-order-not-to-face-transgender-player

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