In a significant legal turn, a Vermont Christian school previously banned from public competitions for refusing to face a team with a transgender athlete has been reinstated by a federal court.

According to Breitbart, Mid Vermont Christian School received a preliminary injunction allowing it to rejoin state athletic and academic events after being expelled by the Vermont Principals’ Association, which the court said may have shown bias against the school’s religious beliefs.

The dispute began in February 2023 when the girls basketball team at Mid Vermont Christian School chose to forfeit a playoff game against Long Trail School. The decision was made after the team learned that a transgender-identifying male student was on the opposing lineup. School officials said their choice was based on both fairness and safety concerns for their female athletes.

Response from state officials draws legal pushback

Following the forfeiture, the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA), which governs extracurricular activities in the state, took punitive action. In the weeks that followed, Mid Vermont Christian School was expelled from all VPA-sponsored events, including sports competitions, spelling bees and science fairs. The VPA alleged the forfeiture amounted to discrimination that could not be excused by religious interpretation.

In legal filings, VPA Executive Director Jay Nichols described the school’s decision as “blatant discrimination under the guise of religious freedom.” The appeals committee within the VPA called the school’s safety rationale a “myth” and rejected the institution’s objection to playing against transgender athletes. This action prompted Mid Vermont Christian and a student’s family to sue, with legal backing from the advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom.

Chris Goodwin, the girls basketball coach who has led the team for nearly a decade, said the choice to forfeit was painful but aligned with the school’s theological understanding of gender. “It’s clear in Scripture,” Goodwin said, “that there is a difference between males and females.”

Court identifies likely constitutional violation

On Sept. 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a preliminary injunction favoring the school. The court noted that Mid Vermont Christian was likely to succeed on its First Amendment Free Exercise claim. Judges cited signs of hostility toward the school’s faith-based reasoning as concerning indicators of religious discrimination.

David Cortman, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, said the ruling should act as a guide for similar cases across the country. He argued that forcing religious schools to choose between their doctrinal beliefs and participation in public programs places an unfair burden on them. “We’re glad the court righted that wrong,” Cortman stated, emphasizing the importance of equal treatment in public athletics.

In the wake of the VPA expulsion, Mid Vermont Christian athletes were left with fewer platforms to compete. The school joined a Christian athletics league that required travel to other states, shrinking their visibility to scouts and limiting scholarship opportunities. Goodwin said this was a major setback for students hoping to be recognized for their talents.

Current status restores student opportunities

With the recent court ruling, Mid Vermont Christian School can re-enter competitions and academic events under the VPA’s authority. While the case is still ongoing, the preliminary injunction ensures the school is permitted to participate during the legal process. The final outcome will depend on further proceedings in the federal court system.

The VPA declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. However, in a public statement, Executive Director Jay Nichols reiterated that the association “does not discriminate based on religious beliefs.” The organization has not said whether it will appeal the court’s injunction decision.

The case raises broader questions about balancing inclusion policies with religious freedoms. While the VPA maintains that participation should be inclusive of all student identities, critics argue such policies can inadvertently penalize religious institutions.

A complex tension between rights and regulations

Goodwin highlighted the impact of the expulsion beyond athletics. He said students missed chances to earn honors such as all-state or all-conference athlete recognition. “Athletics in high school and junior high is a really big part of the educational experience,” he said. “So for that to be taken away from the kids was very disappointing.”

He added that the core issue for the school was faith-based, and not one of hostility. “If we decided to play that game,” he said, “we’d be agreeing with the state’s belief system that boys can be girls and male athletes can be female athletes.”

Supporters of the VPA’s position continue to emphasize that their goal is full participation for all students, including transgender youth. “It is a myth,” the VPA appeals committee said, “that transgender students endanger others or create unfair competition.”