The Mid Vermont School girls basketball team withdrew from the Vermont Division IV state tournament because they refused to compete against a team that included a transgender student-athlete. Vicky Fogg, the school’s head, explained that playing against a biological male would compromise the fairness of the game and the safety of their players. In Vermont, transgender female students are allowed to participate in girls’ sports teams, a practice supported by the Vermont Principals’ Association in their inclusivity statement. Earlier, the school had indicated its stance on not fully complying with all of Vermont’s anti-discrimination laws.
It seems that the Vermont Principals’ Association is prioritizing the needs of a biological male over the best interests of their female students. Qualifying for playoffs is a significant achievement, but it takes even more courage to forfeit a game and stand up for the protection of biological women and the integrity of their sports. Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports.
According to VNews, more details emerged regarding the forfeit:
The Eagles, seeded No. 12, were slated to play a first-round game against No. 5 seed Long Trail on Tuesday night, but their decision to withdraw resulted in a forfeit to the Mountain Lions.
“We believe that competing against a team including a biological male would undermine the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” Vicky Fogg wrote in an email to the Valley News on Wednesday evening. “Permitting biological males to compete in women’s sports sets a problematic precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”
Fogg was reportedly unavailable for further comment, as per VNews, but her actions spoke volumes. The female players and the team stood up for what they believed was right, which is the most crucial aspect of this story.
