A Vermont Christian school, Mid Vermont Christian School, has been reinstated into state athletics after a legal battle that centered on its decision to forfeit a basketball game against a team with a transgender athlete. The school had been expelled from the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) for its actions, but a federal appeals court overturned the state’s ban, allowing the school to rejoin the association while the case continues. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the school’s actions were protected under the First Amendment, finding that the VPA’s response demonstrated hostility toward the school’s religious beliefs.
The controversy began in 2023 when the school’s girls basketball team forfeited a playoff game after learning that a biological male transgender student was on the opposing team’s roster. School officials cited safety and fairness concerns, arguing that female athletes faced unfair competition from biological male athletes. Following the forfeit, the VPA expelled the school from all state-sponsored events, including spelling bees, science fairs, and debate competitions. The school’s legal team, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that the action was a punishment for its religious beliefs, which are protected under the First Amendment.
The ruling has sparked renewed discussion over the intersection of religious freedom and transgender rights in K-12 athletics. The case is part of a broader national debate over transgender athletes competing in public school sports, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to review state bans on transgender athletes in public schools this fall. The reinstatement of Mid Vermont Christian School serves as a landmark ruling that could influence how similar cases are handled across the country, particularly in the context of state and religious institutions’ rights in educational settings.