Vermont Christian School Fights Ban after Girls Basketball Team Forfeit Game Against Transgender

Mid Vermont Christian School is a faith-based pre-K-12 school, located in Quechee, whose religious beliefs drive and form the foundation for everything it does. In 2023, the Vermont Principals’ Association kicked Mid Vermont out of its athletic association because the school forfeited a girls’ basketball game against another girls’ team with a male athlete because competing would have violated the school’s religious convictions.

 

“The government cannot punish religious schools—and the families they serve—by permanently kicking them out of the state-sponsored sports because the state disagrees with their religious beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman, who will be arguing before the court. “Now, for nearly two years, Mid Vermont Christian has been denied a public benefit available to all other schools in Vermont just because it stood by the widely held, commonsense belief that boys and girls are different. We are urging the court to uphold constitutional protections by guaranteeing the school can fully participate while still adhering to its religious beliefs.”

 

“I never thought I would be in court for simply adhering to my biblical (and common sense) belief that boys and girls are different,” said Chris Goodwin, coach of the girls’ basketball team. “At Mid Vermont Christian School, we strive to exemplify biblical truth in and through everything we do. The state of Vermont is excluding us from competing in sports for those very beliefs. As a coach, I always want my team to compete and play in fair and safe competitions. As a dad, I want my daughter to know that she should always stand up for her beliefs and should never be punished for that decision.”