In an era of increasing delusion surrounding gender identity and athletics, one Vermont Christian school has taken a bold stand. Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS), a K-12 institution in Quechee, Vermont, is continuing its legal battle after being ejected from a state-sponsored athletic league due to its refusal to allow its girls’ basketball team to compete against a team with a biological male. The school’s position has reignited a national conversation about whether boys, who identify as female, should be allowed to compete in girls’ sports leagues.
The Case of Mid Vermont Christian School
In 2023, the girls’ basketball team at Mid Vermont Christian School qualified for their state-sponsored sports league playoff tournament. However, when they discovered that their opposing team included a biological male who identifies as female, the school made a difficult decision.
Ryan Tucker, an attorney at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is representing the school, explained the situation: “When they were looking at the seedings, they knew that the team they were paired up against had a biological male who was professing to be female.” Concerned for both the safety of their athletes and their religious convictions, MVCS informed the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) that they would not compete. In response, the VPA promptly removed the school from all state-sponsored athletic competitions, citing a violation of its policies regarding gender identity and participation in sports.
This punitive action has left MVCS students, including the athletes, at a profound disadvantage, depriving them of opportunities to compete and showcase their talents. The school’s legal battle has now reached national attention, raising important questions about fairness in girls’ sports and the rights of religious institutions to stand by their beliefs.
At the heart of MVCS’s decision is the belief that sports should be divided by biological sex, not gender identity. Supporters of this view argue that allowing boys to compete in girls’ leagues creates an unfair playing field, as biological males typically have physical advantages over females. These advantages—such as larger bone structure, increased muscle mass, and higher levels of testosterone—can significantly impact performance in many sports, especially in terms of speed, strength, and endurance.
Critics of allowing boys to participate in girls’ leagues assert that these biological differences cannot be erased by gender identity alone. A male athlete, even if undergoing hormone therapy, often retains physical advantages that place female athletes at a distinct disadvantage. This argument is particularly potent in sports where physicality plays a critical role, such as basketball, track and field, and wrestling.
In the case of MVCS, safety was also a major concern. The physical disparities between boys and girls in contact sports like basketball can lead to increased risks of injury for female players. MVCS’s refusal to compete was not just about religious conviction, but also about protecting its athletes from a potentially unsafe situation.
Protecting Girls’ Opportunities
Title IX, a federal law enacted in 1972, was designed to protect and promote equal opportunities for women and girls in education and sports. For decades, it has been credited with leveling the playing field and allowing female athletes to compete on a fair and equitable basis. Many argue that permitting boys to compete in girls’ sports undermines the very purpose of Title IX by reducing the opportunities available to girls.
The participation of biological males in female sports can impact everything from scholarship opportunities to athletic development. For example, in high school and college sports, only a limited number of athletes can advance to higher levels of competition, whether through scholarships, recruitment, or championships. When boys take spots on female teams, they may be displacing female athletes who have worked just as hard but lack the same biological advantages. This scenario directly contradicts the intention of Title IX, which was to protect female athletes and ensure they had the same chances to succeed as their male counterparts.
For MVCS and its supporters, the decision to stand firm was not just about one basketball game, but about protecting the integrity of girls’ sports across the board.
Religious Freedom and Parental Rights
Beyond the issue of fairness in athletics, MVCS’s stand also touches on religious freedom and parental rights. The school, which operates on Christian principles, believes that God created humans as male and female and that these biological realities should not be ignored, particularly in settings like competitive sports.
The school’s decision was rooted in its belief system, and it argues that it should have the right to make decisions in line with its religious convictions. This case raises important questions about whether religious institutions should be forced to comply with state policies that conflict with their deeply held beliefs.
Many parents who send their children to religious schools like MVCS do so because they trust these schools to uphold certain values. They expect the school to protect their children’s safety and well-being, both physically and spiritually. When schools are punished for making decisions in the best interest of their students, it can be seen as an infringement on parental rights to determine the environment in which their children are educated.
A Growing Debate Nationwide
The case of Mid Vermont Christian School is just one of many similar battles happening across the United States. As gender identity becomes an increasingly prominent issue in schools and sports, more and more parents, athletes, and educators are grappling with how to balance inclusivity with fairness and safety.
Legislation around this issue varies from state to state, with some states passing laws that prohibit biological males from competing in girls’ sports, while others allow it under the guise of inclusivity. These differences have led to confusion and controversy, as schools, leagues, and families attempt to navigate the shifting landscape of gender and sports.
The ongoing legal battle between Mid Vermont Christian School and the Vermont Principals’ Association is more than just a local dispute over a basketball game. It is part of a larger national conversation about the nature of sports, fairness, and the rights of religious institutions. While the school’s decision has sparked controversy, it has also brought attention to important issues about the future of girls’ athletics and the protection of parental rights.
Eric Thompson 
Mandy Matthews