In Vermont, a Christian school girl's basketball team withdrew from the state tournament when they found out the opposing team had a transgender player.
The head of Mid Vermont Christian School, explained the team decided not to play against Long Trail School in Dorset on February 21 because of the team's trans player.
"We believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players."
"Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general."
While the Mid Vermont Christian School may have an issue with the inclusion of trans players, the state of Vermont disagrees.
“Students are allowed to participate in VPA activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity."
As expected, the internet had a lot to say about this topic.
There was a huge outpouring of support for the trans community.
\u201c@vtdigger Well, that\u2019s abysmal leadership of children.\u201d— VTDigger (@VTDigger) 1677588720
\u201c@vtdigger Ok go home and be prejudice\u201d— VTDigger (@VTDigger) 1677588720
\u201c@vtdigger People reacted the same to integrated teams just 50 years ago. If the religious nuts want to deny science and history, it's fine if they need to, as my mother would say, cut off their noses to spite their faces.\u201d— VTDigger (@VTDigger) 1677588720
\u201c@vtdigger Good. Seems the only way people will learn is if they are ostracized. Just refuse to deal with them. Like boycotting a business whose policies you don't agree with.\u201d— VTDigger (@VTDigger) 1677588720
\u201c@AdamWeinstein A team that can recruit their whole roster wants us to feel sorry for them? Good luck with that!!\u201d— Adam Weinstein (@Adam Weinstein) 1677676050
\u201c@CNN I guess they're teaching the girls it's better to lose than be inclusive. Sad.\nGood Luck to the Long Trail team!\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1677782647
\u201c@CNN I doubt the girls on the team had a say in whether to play or forfeit.\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1677782647
\u201c@CNN Sad. Wouldn\u2019t it have been more fun to at least play? Shouldn\u2019t sports be fun?\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1677782647
\u201c@CNN I\u2019m disappointed by the many commenters who just assume this transgender player will automatically win against 5 other players. I\u2019ve played against plenty of males who haven\u2019t transitioned and beat them just fine. I\u2019d say bring it on. Stop underestimating girls!\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1677782647
\u201c@CNN So they just took a loss instead of potentially winning?\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1677782647
The associate director of Outright Vermont, Amanda Rohdenburg, said in a statement the schools actions indicate Vermont is not immune to hate.
"What we’re seeing in Vermont and around the country is a heightened and coordinated effort to stop trans youth from existing and thriving as people."
"Our primary focus is to go where harm is done and to ensure that young people feel safe and seen. We want for the trans youth who is directly harmed and her family to know we are here for them."
"We also want all queer and trans youth in Vermont to know that we are here."
While we don't blame the students of Mid Vermont Christian School for a decision the administration made, what this teaches those students is having hate towards someone you don't know is more important than anything else.
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