A private Christian school which forfeited a girls’ basketball game because the opposing team had a transgender athlete just won a six-figure settlement.
The event occurred in 2023, when Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) voluntarily forfeited a postseason match in protest of their transgender opposition. "We were all in agreement that the right decision was to not compromise our beliefs and to withdraw, but the conversation with the players was the hardest," explains basketball coach Chris Goodwin. “There were some teary eyes, and some sad faces, but in the end, they all really did understand that it was the right thing to do."
The state barred the school from participating in state athletics for two years in response.
Now, the school just won a settlement totaling more than half a million dollars – restitution, they say, for blatant religious discrimination.
“Biblical Truth” or Bigotry?
Mid Vermont Christian School enlisted Alliance Defending Freedom, a mainstay of religious freedom lawsuits in recent years, to represent them. Senior counsel David Cortman argued that the state of Vermont “denied Mid Vermont Christian School a public benefit available to all other schools in Vermont just because it stood by the widely held, biblical belief that boys and girls are different.”
“At Mid Vermont Christian School, we strive to exemplify biblical truth in and through everything we do,” said Coach Goodwin. “As a coach, I always want my team to 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.”
The Vermont Principals’ Association, which governs state athletics, barred Mid Vermont Christian not only from athletic competitions for two years, but also their academic teams, including mathletes and spelling bee and science competition hopefuls. Because of this blanket ban, athletes and academics alike had to travel out of state to compete in competitions, imposing a significant travel burden for coaches and students alike.
"The travel is probably triple," Goodwin said. "You’re getting back at 10 o’clock at night… kids trying to do homework. I don't want to say there's a nightmare, but it was difficult."
Coach Goodwin says those are years they can’t get back.
"That’s a big part of the culture… having games in your gym, where parents and community members come," he lamented. "That just disappeared."
The Right Side of History?
Coaches and students at MVCS say they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their religious convictions just to participate in state athletics. But the Vermont Principals’ Association says their rules were in alignment with Vermont law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
They say that all students have the right to participate in athletics, and that students – including LGBTQ+ students – have the right to participate in state athletics without fear of harassment.
The Vermont Principals’ Association denies any wrongdoing, and says they’re settling “based primarily on the costs and burdens imposed by ongoing litigation,” the group said in a statement.
It’s clear that both sides believe they’re in the right – not only legally, but morally. The state even reportedly argued in court that MVCS’s refusal to play against transgender athletes would be looked down on by future generations, alleging that they are on the wrong side of history. But the school’s attorney says that couldn’t be further from the truth. "The school is on the right side of history and will be for following his faith in its beliefs,” he stated. “You're always on the right side of history when you stand up for truth."
What is your response? Who’s on the right side of history here, in your opinion?
89 comments
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
You know, this reminds me of women who are born with certain advantages that are severely discriminated against in sports. To the point where some individuals will actively go out of their way to attempt to destroy these women's lives both personally and professionally.
A couple of examples are: A black female athlete who is very much female. Even her birth certificate says "Female". And yet, she was disqualified from the Olympics unless she constantly takes medications that make her VERY sick, just because her body makes testosterone naturally. Btw, women who suffer from the condition known as PCOS often have high testosterone levels compared to other women. This is a very common condition and many female athletes actually suffer PCOS. Don't know what that is? Look it up.
A white female athlete, a boxer, who fought in a championship match. The woman she hit nearly lost consciousness. THEN she, the woman who lost the fight, and her supporters, started a vicious campaign to destroy the young woman who defeated her claiming she was "trans" and was actually a MALE fighting in a women's competition because "No woman could ever be able to hit that hard."
It hit the news, and the woman, and her family, were being heavily dragged, harassed, and even had their lives threatened. DESPITE the fact her birth certificate clearly stated she was BORN FEMALE. All due to a genetic quirk that makes her body stronger than other women's due to the hormone loads it produces naturally.
I could go on, but I think people get the gist.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
In the end, the "concern" is never genuinely about anyone's safety, or equity. It is about being freaked out by something one does not understand, and finding creative new ways to legitimize shunning or attacking someone for being different. None of the excuses used to attack transgender people hold up under scientific or religious scrutiny, but that just means that the haters scramble to try to find a new excuse. No one is brave enough or honest enough to just say, "The idea of a man turning into a woman skeeves me out and my knee-jerk reaction is to be a stubborn ass about it." But that is what it is.
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Douglas K Rhoades
I have already been ordained, thanks Doug Rhoades
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Liz Johnston
I’m so tired of religious schools wanting to have it both ways…they want to do what they want as a private religious based school but also want the benefits of playing sports against public schools. Let them make their owns sports association and govern it how they want instead making everyone bend to their beliefs. Did they also plan on forfeiting against teams that had girls who identify as lesbians? If they’re wanting to play against public schools then they should have to abide by the separation of church and state. Of course they knew that they’d get to the Supreme Court where their “white Christian victimhood” card would be accepted by the Trump stacked court. Stop funding religious schools with public tax dollars in any state and let them play each other.
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Leslie A. Hulberg Née Tomasura
Well of course it’s bigotry. However, being a “Christian” school, or any religious school, they do have the right to not participate. But if they’re receiving federal tax dollars, then they better get themselves out in the court and play. Everyone in this country is created equal with equal rights under the law. If the laws state that a school cannot discriminate, and they are accepting tax dollars which come from everyone in the country, then discrimination is against the law.
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Leslie A. Hulberg Née Tomasura
Well of course it’s bigotry. However, being a “Christian” school, or any religious school, they do have the right to not participate. But if they’re receiving federal tax dollars, then they better get themselves out in the court and play. Everyone in this country is created equal with equal rights under the law. If the laws state that a school cannot discriminate, and they are accepting tax dollars which come from everyone in the country, then discrimination is against the law.
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Jim Rosenberg
It's not about God or religion or Christ or Buddha or.... A man who's mind is that of a woman has the physical body of a man, unless its been altered, and shouldn't be allowed to compete against biological women. I understand the concept of non discrimination and life is often unfair but it's way too unfair to women if you allow males to compete.
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Jeremy Clark Calvin
You need more education on this subject, you are not qualified to make this judgment..Transgender biology is more complicated than x and y! This is a relatively new investigative science that is ONLY 63 years in the investigative science...Go back to school educate yourself its never too late to open your mind.. Reverend Calvin
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
Actually try 386 years of science since the XX, XY and Rare mutant XXY genes discovered. Only in last 30 years has it been objected about. If you want to pretend you are opposite of what nature created you to be fine. But don't say nature (or God) made a mistake. 4 millennia of scientific facts states XX is one gender and XY is another gender and the rare mutant XXY gene is a fusion of both genders. Two genders throughout biological nature no Deity required to tell us the obvious. "The two genders are for reproduction, the pleasure we receive is a side effect" - Dr. Carl Jung In the 1970s on the BBC show "Are you being Served?" The character of Mr. Humphreys was a great disturbance in the board room. Executives couldn't decide if he violated "moral regulations" ad the character's speech, way he walked, the things he liked all projected "Gay Man" yet number of episodes he'd have female dates clinging on him and he was vary much a man. Today many hail the character as "transgender" yet everyone including the actor who played the character will disagree with you on that. Transgender is trying to change one's gender. My brother is transgender he took drugs and dresses as a woman and would have gotten a gender change but medical reasons he couldn't have the operation. My sister is a lesbian, a cop that cojld flatten Arnold Swartznager and married to a delicate stuck up woman that regardless of her sexuality is a B-, But my sister loves her so we tolerate her. My Third wife ran off with my second wife and they did a good job raising our daughter. Those are choices not something nature did. The couch of the Christian school has a point on one level genders are different by nature (leaving God out of it) if not the Olympics wouldn't have different gender categories. Plain and simple. The whole point of athletes taking steroids is to be tougher "manly men" and "women tough as men". Proving by the very actions there is a difference. If no difference then wat is there the products "For Him" and "For Her" ? If you are a girl dressed up like a boy or boy dress up as girl that's cross dressing not transgender. Transgender is wanting to be the opposite gender with sexual urges towards the same gender. But a private Christian school should not be playing a public school in the first place.
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Rev Ned
Y’all need to be reminded of the fact. If out of all the “religions” in the world, only one is true, logic dictates that none are true. Prove me wrong. I am superstitious, but not in an organized “church” sort of way. That said, to hedge my bet, I have a pole erm, hatchet and short sword to be buried with me. In case the Valkyries carry me across the (scary for Christofascists) Rainbow Bridge to Valhalla, i will have weapons with which to fight the ice giants.
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Merle A Clark
I’m glad they won and it enforces women’s rights . The Bible is quite clear on sexual perversion and this decision should be backed by the true faith . May God Bless
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Being transgender has zero to do with sexual anything, it isn't a sexual preference and it does not addect sexual preference. The Bible says nothing about transgender people.
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DeElla J Kirkpatrick
I understand many of you believe trans-gender females should be allowed to compete as females. If you truly believe this, why have any separation between males or females in sports? Because you know, biological males and biological females are not physically equal. The biological males are generally stronger, faster, more aggressive and bigger. That is why the UIL had separate categories to begin with. This isn't a religious belief, it is biology. People who think it is okay for a trans-gender female to compete against biological females are thinking only of the "feelings" of the trans-gender female. They are willing to put one person's feelings before the feelings of an entire team of biological females. The Bible teaches that human feelings and perceptions are often unreliable, encouraging believers to trust in God's truth over subjective emotions. Key verses indicate that the heart can be deceitful, while God's word and perspective offer true guidance, proving that feelings are not always a reliable guide. No matter how much a trans-gender female "feels" like they are woman, their body is still a biological male. We should not force our biological females to compete against them. Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV): "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" We need to help the trans-gender community understand no matter how they feel, they cannot change what they are. They can live as any gender they want. I find it interesting that they do not want to conform to society, but they expect society to conform to them?
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Michael Hunt
No, we're thinking about the science that shows transwomen do have some physical advantages but also some disadvantages to cisgender women when on hormone therapy. When allowed to undergo hormone therapy, transwomen have similar physical abilities to cisgender women, not cisgender men.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/58/11/586
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Joseph Grieco
Vermont is not that large of a state. If a Private School is not allowed to compete against local Public Schools for any reason, it does put an undue strain on the resources of both the school and the families associated with it. While I do not agree with the policies of MVCS, I have to ask the following: If their curriculum was good enough to earn a charter as a school by the Vermont Department of Education, why shouldn't their athletic and scholastic teams be allowed to compete within the rest of the state, instead of having to find similar restrictive admissions schools?
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Steven Ferrell
The school chose to forfeit the one game which goes against their division standings. That should be punishment enough for the school. To force a two year ban because they would not lower their standards was outrageous and disgusting.
Excellent the school won the settlement.
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Rev. Kev
Ugh. An overplayed bit of identity politics cast as an actual problem supposedly based on religious beliefs. Little more than a dog whistle to get the pack barking.
If it wasn't for the people pretending to be oh-so-offended by what amounts to something like 0.1% of the population no one would ever hear about this. A great example of making a mountain out of an ant hill.
This whole "religious rights for the religious right" game is tedious. And not doing anyone any favors. 🙄
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Roy S. Thorpe
Remember when the Russians were modifying their female athletes in the Olympics for an unfair advantage! Maybe the Reverend had a solution with female, male, and mixed sports! That would be all inclusive with rules and regulations to fit! Forcing any beliefs down someone's throat is not going to work no matter you call it!
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Kenneth T Shannon
My goodness everyone! Lets get back to the facts. If your faith vails you from playing, being seen or fearing this person, so be it. If you voted as we all do it is for you to decide. I would reach out to the person at this point with compassion regardless of your thought. I am sure some of the girls on both teams can do this. Also Laws and lawsuits represent both views and wins and loses. Stop buiding walls that devide us instead... instead building a bridge from both sides and meet in the middle is far better. I will not cast a stone at either side but give one to each as a foundation block to start building. If they do not, they both will be judged for their actions.
Peace and compassion be in all your hearts not just in one prayer but always during your short lifetime. In the end you will only have a fleeting moment to look back. What you see will be yourself and the picture you left bihindfor others to see With total respect to each of you.
KTJS
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Douglas William Mitchell
Right decision (to forfeit), wrong reason (“biblical”). Gender identity should be irrelevant in competitive physical competition. The only relevant considerations should only be objective differences, that objectively impact play, such as biological sex, age, not taking steroids, etc. The only “fair” alternative is to not have separate boys’/girls’//men’s/women’s divisions, and simply have one that is “all inclusive.” Of course, doing so would virtually eliminate competitive opportunities for girls and women.
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Rev. B.D. Rees
Well, this is the biggest CROCK OF BULLS--T I have heard to date!! OH BOO HOO the Christian school girls are afraid of a little transgender girl that will BEAT THE SOCKS OFF OF THEM in basketball!! Let's forfiet the game and then we can sue and make some money off of this, all the while getting recognition for our school in the news media!! Makes me want to HURL A BASKET on the GYM FLOOR!!
What do they think when they enter the secular world with State Laws that are designed AGAINST DISCRIMINATION?? Are they THAT FILLED WITH HATE that they would rather forfiet a game that has a Transgender girl in it rather than pulling up their BIG GIRL PANTIES and showing "The teachings of Christ". Instead, they have to show just how Bigoted they are by forfieting a game and then when they get punished for their discrimination and hatfilled attitude they say "WE WILL SUE" and the STATE crumbles because of WHAT? The cost of litigation? THAT'S THE BULLSH-T PART of this!! The LAW CLEARLY STATES "No one can be discriminated against because of Sexual oreintation, or gender identity" Yet, here we are giving the Bigots money for being BIGOTS!! If you want to play within your own Religious circles that's all fine well and good, but, DON'T PLAY WITH THE SECULAR GIRLS AND BOYS if it doesn't match your finer sensebilities!! Christ NEVER TAUGHT Hate, Bigotry, or discrimination, DON'T TRY TO PUT WORDS IN CHRIST'S MOUTH WITH YOUR OWN EVIL THOUGHTS!!
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Jay Gibs
Well yes, a boy will beat a girl with consistency. Thats why boys, no matter how they dress or their parents mental illness, should not be allowed to compete in physical competitions with girls. The only hatred here is your own.
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Rev. B.D. Rees
You bet Jay... A whole team of burly girls can't beat the Sox off of One little transgender girl!! You keep thinkin the earth is flat too!!
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Jay Gibs
Continue to try to use snide remarks and sarcasm, but then why do professional combative sports have sex and weight classes? You can lie to yourself, but when your lies start to endanger children it is another issue. False equivalencies, and straw man arguments is all you have.
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Steven Ferrell
You are obviously evil in your heart. Goodbye
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Oh look! An MD who never went to med school!
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Lion on the Beach
Only an ill person would try to rationalize and explain why being mentally ill is normal.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
This is nothing more than your opinion.
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Br. Joshua
I lived in Vermont, a more liberal Jewish white state you'll not find. This is a big victory for Christians in Vermont.
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Florencio Guevara
SORRY, BUT NO MATTER HOW YOU MIGHT FEEL FACTS ARE FACTS. SCIENTIFICALLY TRANSGENDER WOMEN, WHO ARE STILL BORN MALES REGARDLESS OF SURGERY, ARE STRONGER AND POSSESS MORE RESERVE ENERGY. IT IS NOT FAIR---NO MATTER HOW YOUR WISHFUL THINKING STRETCHES THE TRUTH! WHAT NATURE MADE IS REAL, WHAT HUMANITY MAKES IS FICTIONAL...!
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
The truth will set you free from your opinion.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Florencio,
You don't have to shout. Scientifically, there are women who are bigger and stronger, with more stamina than some men. Not all men can make the football or weightlifting teams. Not all men can make the track teams. And for every male athlete that doesn't make the team, there are women that can outperform them.
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Michael Hunt
Actually, scientific studies done on transgender athletes who are on hormone therapy have found that transgender women may have some advantages over cisgender women but they also have many disadvantages as well. The actual athletic difference is much, much smaller than you'd think.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-021-01451-8?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_BOOKS_ECOM_GL_PBOK_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID100101652&CJEVENT=1bb75a3afb9111ef812200040a1cb829
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/58/11/586
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Rev Ned
Christofascists gotta hate.
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Jay Gibs
The only fascist here are the ones cheering for the mentally ill.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
That’s your opinion. I’m thankful I know the scientific truth.
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David Buck
It is not just religious schools that are opting out of playing teams with transgender athletes. The severe injuries received by Payton McNabb at the hands of a biological male player were a wake-up call for a lot of schools. Many are now opting to forfeit rather than place the girls at risk from larger, more powerful players. I fully support this position, and states are starting to back them with legislation. Even the Olympic Committee has changed their position on this.
Then there is the matter of change rooms. Sorry, but I am firmly of the opinion that a 'transgender' individual who still has male sexual organs, has no business in a women's change room or toilets. Unless the transgender individual has undergone full gender reassignment therapy, hormone treatment, and surgery, they have no business in women's change rooms or bathrooms. Claiming you feel you are a female should not be sufficient alone to allow you access to a women's or girls change room.
That still potentially leaves a large, powerful 'woman', who even just for reasons of plain fairness, has no business on a women's team or in women's individual sport.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Why were the severe brain injuries sustained from volleyball hits to the heads of Hayley Hodson, Stella Winterfeld and Hiselle Rodriguez not wakeup calls for these schools, I wonder. After all, that trans player's ball was clocked at a slower speed than women's volleyball players often hit them to.
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Rev Comrade Rowley
as a ULC ordained transgender minister, that's bigotry not biblical truth as transgender people are called Eunics in the bible and there is nothing in the bible that says God is against eunics
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David W Potter
God created Man & Woman to be with Man. There are only two genders End of discussion
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Jay Gibs
Eunuchs were not transgender, they were asexual. Transgender people are mentally ill and need help
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
The truth, not your opinion, will set you free.
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Michael Hunt
They're not mentally ill at all according to psychiatrists and therapists who work with transgender people. I think I'll take their words over yours on the subject.
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obere mchugh
they didnt deserve the win, from the courts as being a religious school they had no business within the state school sports system since being a christian school knowing they dont or wont accept anything out side there narrow dogmatic and unethical way of thinking, vermont needs to update the rules and if your not apart of the state school system not involved in the state sports for school's let the religious private schools have there own league so they can play with people who fallow there bigoted and morally lacking own kind.
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ServantOfJudgement
Being honest, straightforward is unethical? Males slapping lipstick on and playing in female only sports is ethical?
Yes Christians tend to call up up and down down. That's very narrow thinking I know but it sure is trustworthy.
Because the state is involved in all private schools, all private schools are involved with the state.
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Michael Hunt
Males are not "slapping lipstick on and playing in female only sports." Transwomen have to go through hormone therapy and meet specific requirements for hormone levels to be eligible to compete in women's sports.
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Rev Ned
Christofascists gotta hate!
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Keith David Harry
Stutter much?
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Ah, aa tRump voter!
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Rev Ned
No. Are you daft?!?
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Charles Leroy Good II
Is it religious belief, or is it hate for others wrapped in a religious garb? There are plenty of women stronger and more physically capable than most men. You see it in sports and in the movies all the time. If the other team eats pork is this a religious reason to forfeit the game? If the other team use's different materials for their uniforms is this a reason to forfeit the game? Is it okay to uphold some Biblical rules and ignore other Biblical rules? Can we pick rules to follow for convenience of our narrative and ignore rules because they are not convenient or not important to our narrative? The Christian School is being hypocritical by picking and choosing, so let them show themselves as small in the eyes of God. Let them forfeit the game and give the win to the other team with the transgender player. This may be the easiest way to win a season if all the other teams forfeit too. In reality it's the small minded teams that would forfeit, just like in the South against African American players. Sad.
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ServantOfJudgement
Charles, on my worst day after a scotch and tequila soaked weekend, I could out match 99.999999999999998 percent of all women physically just by showing up with a beer at 7am. That ain't easy.
In no way is a man in a woman's sport anywhere remotely close to the definition of the word Fair. -No.
I'll admit though, the boys we raise today might be bested by a 4 year old tom boy. We got some tender shoots commin' up.
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Patricia Ann Gross
My daughter could have made the JV BOY's basketball team (and no, she wasn't transgender or doping) if she had been taller (she was only 5-3). She could outplay any of the boys in both baseball/softball and basketball to the point that boy's didn't want to have to play with her because they knew they would get wiped all over the court or field. She played basketball and softball in highschool, and made varsity in softball replacing an all-state shortstop her freshman year. Won a college scholarship and replaced an all-American short stop her freshman year too. WNBA athletes could wipe your clock on the court, and I doubt you would have made a woman's team, even if you tried. Don't sell women's athletics short. They are just as dedicated as the men, although not compensated like the men.
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Robert Hauck, MD, FAAP
Religious conviction isn't even relevant. Boys and girls are physically different. Boys are larger and stronger (although girls are equally skilled). There is way to justify the introduction of genetically male kids into girls sports. End of discussion.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Biased logic outside of the concern at hand. An even handed approach by both sides following the guidelines of the league for forfeiture should have been enough to resolve the situation in compliance with league rules and precedents. That both sides chose to engage in inflating what should have been a minor league conflict... that is the concern.
Reasoning based in pseudo-science and prejudice: @ xx or xy is non-sequitur: there are many people whose baseline chromosomes present beyond the baseline norms.
And it has nothing to do with what one chooses to wear... if there is a severe penalty, it's because "The Devil Wears Prada."
Don't forget those fine pumps, now!
Peace, Out... and not arguing with ... the obvious.
Reb tk
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rebadams7
No matter how you dress or what pharmaceuticals you take, your DNA and the structure of every cell in your body are already and permanently encoded with either xx or xy. It will determine your reaction time, muscle density, oxygen efficiency, etc. You don't let a 12-year-old on a team of 6-year-olds. The same theory applies. Talk to some of the young female athletes who have been injured. You can play, just play your DNA. That is the fair thing to do. We allow people to "play up" a level, but we don't let people play "down." Also, there are passages in the Bible (Old Testament) that indicate severe penalties for dressing in the garb of the opposite sex.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Sadly, you are wrong about the xx xy being the be all, end all. I won’t bother try to educate you on the truth, I’ll let you wallow in your unkindness, transphobia, hatred, and the hell you create for those who are different from what you and I were taught. It’s ugly knowing that you and your ilk are leading young human beings to suicide.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
No, please do educate us. As a scientist not just a minister I'm curious how the fact in nature leaving religion out the equation there are only xx & xy with the occasional xxy genes found in every biological creature on the planet. Just because you "think" you are another gender doesn't make you another gender. That's scientific fact not bigotry. The atheist Dr. Jung stated, "The sole purpose of sex is to reproduce the pleasure received is simply a side effect." Two people of same gender can't reproduce. Plain simple science no religion required. And in the current issue it's talking about children not adults; are you supporting children having sexual acts simply for pleasure because reproductive issues aren't involved.
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Michael Hunt
Transgender has nothing to do with having sex... This is about gender, not sexual acts.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
Then why change the way you look? Have to take drugs to make your body change. It still don't change the XX factor or the XY factor. Why look like a traditional Female or a traditional male if both or the same. I have a sister that's a lesbian was in the Army and can can men twice her size butts. I have a little brother thinks he's a woman, in a store he was getting cirgars to roll a blunt and forgot his id. He went to the car and the clerk looked at my and she said, "I'm sorry your sister looks like a guy." I explained and paid for the cirgars. I don't approve but don't badger them either. The point of gender in any species is reproduction if sex isn't the issue why worry about what nature gave you?
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Michael Hunt
I disagree that the point of gender is reproduction. Gender is someone's expression of how they wish to appear to others. Gender and sex are two separate things.
Transgender people change the way they look because the way that they were born does not match with the way they wish to express themselves. It's about feeling and looking how you feel you should look, not about having sex.
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Keith David Harry
Madam - you are delusional.
If you are familiar with developmental biology, you will know there are additional karyotypes—chromosome combinations—beyond XX and XY, such as X, XXY, XYY, and XXXY. Some claim these karyotypes prove there are more than two sexes in humans. For example, in an article titled ‘The 6 Most Common Biological Sexes in Humans,’ Joshua Kennon writes, “Humans are not just born male and female. There are at least six biological sexes that can result in fairly normal lifespans.”Kennon then lists six karyotype variations in humans: XX, XY, X, XXY, XYY, and XXXY. There’s one problem, however: karyotypes are not sexes.
A karyotype is simply an individual’s collection of chromosomes, and chromosomes hold genetic information.In humans, errors during cell division in meiosis can result in atypical combinations of chromosomes. For example, a sperm cell may accidentally receive an extra X with its Y. Thus, if it fertilizes an egg with an X chromosome, the fetus would develop with 47:XXY.This is how atypical karyotypes such as 45:X (Turner syndrome); 47:XXY (Klinefelter syndrome); and 48:XXXY are produced. But are these unique karyotypes additional sexes?
In biology, sexes are defined by reproductive role—evolutionary mechanisms by which individuals reproduce. In species like ours that reproduce through two gametes of differing size (which includes most higher order species within the plant and animal kingdoms) there are only two sexes—male and female. The male sex is the phenotype that produces many small, motile gametes (sperm) and the female sex is the phenotype that produces few large, sessile gametes (eggs). Therefore, sex is one’s reproductive role, and karyotype is the collection of chromosomes which encode the development of one’s sex. Thus, karyotype is not sex.
Now that we know how sex is defined, let’s go back to the six karyotype variants. Each of these variations result in a male or a female, not additional sexes. Why? The answer is because sex determination in mammals is binary: the system results in just two sexes. The important distinction between these karyotypes is found in the presence or absence of the Y chromosome. More specifically, the Y chromosome carries the SRY gene, which encodes the sex-determining region Y protein that triggers male sex differentiation and subsequent development.
Thus, if the fetus has a Y chromosome with an active and functioning SRY gene, the fetus develops a small gamete producing phenotype and is therefore a male. If the fetus lacks the active and functioning SRY gene, the fetus develops a large gamete producing phenotype and is therefore a female.Knowing this pattern, we can now return to the six karyotypes and easily predict the resulting sex.
A karyotype of 45:X results in a large gamete producing phenotype, and thus a female.
46:XX also results in a female.
47:XXY results in a small gamete producing phenotype, and thus a male.
46:XY results in a male.
47:XYY also results in a male.
And 48:XXXY…you guessed it…a male.
Those who claim karyotypes form new sexes are using a sleight-of-hand trick. One moment, they are discussing karyotype, the next, sex—without defining the difference. By conflating the two, they incorrectly argue that karyotype variation forms additional sexes, and yet none of these karyotype variants result in a third reproductive role. No matter the karyotype, only two roles are ever produced: male and female. In fact, while most karyotypes beyond XX and XY result in infertility, when individuals with these conditions are fertile, they produce either sperm or ova, not a third gamete type. Thus, they are not additional sexes.
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Patricia Ann Gross
rebadams7,
I won't go into all of the genetic markers and abnormal configurations of X and Y chromosomes, but if the person is taking puberty blockers or female hormones then the muscle mass you are concerned about doesn't happen, and the point is moot. Look at it this way. Kids grow up different sizes and abilities, and they are getting bigger. Would you put a kid who wrestles in the lowest weight class on the football team as a linebacker? Probably not, He'd be lucky to survive the first practice without an injury. Likewise would you put that same person in as the center on the Basketball team? I doubt that, too. There are some girls that can out-perform boys in a lot of sports. My daughter was one of them. The boys hated to play basketball with her because they either had to play with her like she was a boy or get wiped all over the court by her. Remember Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs? The OG Battle of the Sexes Tennis match, September 20, 1973, (look it up), if you're too young or don't remember.
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Nicholas J Page
Why are sports bodies putting transgender people into sports rhey are cheating their own side and their opposition we are getting this in England and honestly it's ridiculous men for mens sports women for womens sports call me old fashioned but that's the way I was brought up.And we didn't hear about people wanting to change gender pure madness.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
"Coaches and students at MVCS say they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their religious convictions just to participate in state athletics.
The Vermont Principals’ Association says their rules were in alignment with Vermont law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
They say that all students have the right to participate in athletics, and that students – including LGBTQ+ students – have the right to participate in state athletics without fear of harassment.
True.
So, the Vermont Principals’ Association denies any wrongdoing, and says they’re settling “based primarily on the costs and burdens imposed by ongoing litigation."
My take: the entire thing was mismanaged from the start. Regardless of the reason it forfeits, , if a team forfeits a game, they forfeit a game. Leagues have rules about forfeits, there may be penalties etc.
The coaches of the religiously based school made the call to forfeit. Fine. A forfeit is a forfeit. The reasoning behind the forfeit is not necessary.
But they were "starting something by standing up against something," in this case publicly.
It happens. It was sanctimonious and uncalled for when children are simply playing a game, but people have their issues and children of all stripes and colours are the losers here.
The League and the Principals' organization who complied with state law and wanted it followed, also made some BIG errors here.
First and foremost: the extent of the penalties.
It's a kids' league and a kids' game. Accept the forfeit, level the standard penalties for forfeit and move on... them's the rules.
Non-religious or religious schools: same standard penalty for a forfeit.
The League and the Principal's organization's error was not in defending state laws etc. It was in endorsing penalties beyond standard penalties.
I believe in protecting all children in their growth,
Under the Constitution, all religious people are entitled to their beliefs, and the right to exercise those beliefs, no matter how awkward, backward, or in some cases heinous.
And that's why the Christian school won this particular legal situation: the forfeit situation went "over the top," and it should have been contained "at the ground level." Forfeit = Standard Penalty. Follow the little league rules, and move on.
Net.net: the religious school knew what it was doing and should have been sanctioned no more or no less than any organization member. Treating the team equally for a forfeit regardless of the reason is the only way to go.
The League, Principal's Org. and State took it where it did not need to go.
If they had simply dealt with the forfeit and standards of the league they would have been on terra firma.
The violation of state laws and any other issues, state, local or school level should have been a separate case.
So the attorneys in combining all of this into one big issue really screwed up.
I believe in kids. Regardless of who they think they are now or how they think they will fit into the universe, g*d's plan, whatever you want to call it, later. Why?
Because that kid or a similar other will be the one looking down at you when you're in the old folks home, and need to go to the bathroom, or have your diaper changed, or even simply need your hair combed or your hair combed or your toenails clipped... or looking at your IV, meds. etc.
And you never know which one of them will be the one....
I encourage everyone to treat everyone else decently.
And I loved this post:
"Susan Colmenares May 07, 2026 at 11:05 am (0 votes) Where in the Bible are transgender people mentioned?"
Nobody mentioned them because in those days because sexuality did not exist as an innate or "separate" sexuality; there was simply sex. Sometimes accidental. Sometimes intentionally procreative. With elites, intentionally procreative to continue the family lines socially, regardless of what anyone did outside of the confines of whatever one did. And there was the use / abuse of slaves... and all kinds of things.
So just for fun I leave this: feel free to insert your own name!
I, __________ am mentioned in the "Bible" and the generations that come after me thousands of years from now know exactly what I did in bed because I was a _________.
Geez...
Peace, Out, and don't let the naysayers cause you doubt....
Reb tk
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Mary E Benoit
Everyone be open to the idea that there are differing opinions on the topics. Is someone not safe? What is the real issue? Just because… is not an answer. Religious belief alone does not qualify and I don’t think they should win.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
You have to remember that the State punished them for forfeiting the game. The State should have let it go. (Come to think about it the school should not even allow private schools to participate in a State event.)
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
1983 when I was expelled from public Natchez high school in the state of Mississippi of all places for simply wearing a belt buckle of the Confederate Flag same buckle I wore at Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High no one said a word. I was sent to Private Bethany Christian Academy and under state law private schools were not allowed to play public school in sporting events. Our Volleyball team and flag football team traveled from one end of the state and into Louisiana playing different teams from different private Christian schools. My how things changed Mississippi changed their flag and everyone whining about children not allowed to know about sexual things they really shouldn't be considered with.
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ServantOfJudgement
Even better Dr Z would be for all public schools to completely cut all sports programs from the budget.
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Patricia Ann Gross
SOJ,
As one who lived in Texas for 30 years, I can say with confidence that football and basketball games (along with any media rights to broadcasts) brought in more money than the property taxes (the main source of school funding there). As a mother of two athletes who went to college paid for by a bat and glove, there is a lot that sports teach children. Things like leadership and sportsmanship, unless the coaching (or parents) get out of line/hand.
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Colleen McAllister
So did this transgender player not participate during the regular season? Why is it only a problem now? I do think being banned for 2 years is a bit harsh. And including academic contests is wrong. The whole thing has been blown out of proportion.
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Patricia Ann Gross
They probably did not play that team during the regular season, or any other team with a transgender athlete.
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Gillian Brown-McCord
The forfeited based on their religious beliefs (aka their bigotry), and they had every right to do that, if they so choose. This lawsuit was about the district banning the school from participating in sports programs (thereby losing any winning streaks, athletic boosters, awards, etc) and that, too, was wrong of them to do. The lesson in this, is if you choose to forfeit a game over your religious beliefs, that is your right, however, it is not the right of the district to then ban you from competitions, based on those (bigoted) religious beliefs.
The term Eunuch actually meant anyone unable to produce a child, either from a deformity, or irregularity from birth, or a "surgical" procedure, chopping it off, etc- whether they did their own "surgery" or someone else did it, and whether it was punitive or not.
Jesus acknowledged Eunuchs, and said that anyone who can accept this, should accept it.
We have to be better than this. We have to be bigger as humans, than making fun of people who are impotent, barren, have troubles nursing babies, have fertility issues, or in cases like this, choose to live their lives as a gender other than what they were assigned at birth.
And FYI its startling to learn just how many people are misgendered at birth. It's literally a cursory glance at the genitalia, which can (rarely) be ambiguous, with baby girls born with a long clitoris, which can be mistaken as a penis, and baby boys being born with a micropenis, which may be mistaken as a vulva. There is literally no DNA chromosomal comparisons happening to validate the cursory inspection of the baby's gender, and sadly, gender misdiagnosis is as common (on the rarest estimation) as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is diagnosed.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
This I can assume as "Christian" is in the name of the school is a private school not public school part of the public school system. When I got expelled from public Natchez High School my parents sent me to a private school Bethany Christian Academy, we had sports teams and we're not allowed to play public schools by law of the public school system. The private schools played with each other. I was on the volleyball team and flag football team. We travel from one end of Mississippi to the other and some of Louisiana. This school is just whining to get attention. The Couch forfeit the game not the players so if anyone is punishing the children it's him not the other teams. The state needs to appeal the decision as it's not "Religious discrimination" of the school system but "sexual discrimination" against the other schools by Mid Vermont Christian School. I don't approve of transgender, ask my brother he is one and my sister is a Lesbian married to a woman. I gave my opinion and let them decide how to live. I will always be there if they need me. If Mid Vermont Christian School doesn't like how the public lives they should just form their own cult and separate themselves as the Bible they profess to follow commands. "Be separate and have no relationship with the foreigner for they will corrupt a seduce you into following their gods." Exodus YHWH to Joshua invading Canaan (now Israel).
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Sir Lionheart
This just shows how backwards we have become. I know many will say it’s being “progressive”, but to me it’s regressive. People with physically male bodies should play in physically male sports and vice versa for females. Is it really that hard to understand? I can guarantee that any human being that wants to identify as a dog, and there are a few, will definitely lose in a dog race. 😜
🦁❤️
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Neil Tyson DeGrasse agrees, but given the wide range of variations in physical bodies of either sex, it's impossible to standardize what those are. There are women who are bigger and stronger than the average man, and there are men who are slighter, lighter and more thinly boned than the average woman, and if you measure the hormone levels of many trans women they will be more typically feminine than many cis women's hormone levels. And it would be beyond moronic to think genital conformation has the tiniest thing to do with sports prowess, so finding something that is actually measurable is the challenge.
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Chaplain Shawn
I cannot believe this is even a reality. A girls basketball team should play against other biological girls. Too many former males are trying to disrupt biology. In 1,000 years from now, all men who transitioned and think they are female will be known in the fossil records as men.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Nope. Read some stayements from osteoarchaeologists about identifying human remains. They report that they most often have to go by context of location and burial unclusions because skeletal structure, contrary to popular myth, is too variable to reliably determine sex. That is what experts that do the identifying say, not content creators or media marketers.
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Robert Gagnon
Good, enough of this ridiculous push to let males compete against females because of how they feel. Only the most conceited and narcissistic of people would feel they are above the rules everyone else complies with. No one is keeping anyone from competing with their own division in any sport at any level. Yet some seem to think the rules don't apply to them. Then they cry unfairness while creating that same situation. This blatant folly cost someone a wad of cash, and a team some sad moments standing up for what is right for everybody.
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Susan Colmenares
Where in the Bible are transgender people mentioned?
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
Deuteronomy 22:5 "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the YHWH thy God."
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ServantOfJudgement
Mr dixon is correct. The Bible makes a clear line between man and woman, which there obviously is. God doesn't want us to get the obvious facts muddied by personal delusions.
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Jay Gibs
No Mr Dixon is lying, like all mentally ill. Someone cross dressing isn’t transgender, they are playing dress up, just like when Jimmy Kimmel wore black face.
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Rev Ned
Jay is correct. In Shakespeare’s original productions were full of men playing women playing men. Also the Three Stooges often cross dressed in their short films. I know of no kid turning gay from having watched them. I didn’t.
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ServantOfJudgement
Transgender is the new word for transvestite which is the new word for wearing chicks clothing and looking like a chick, or trying to anyway.
Oh how nice it is to have a document that plugs into all times that's also locked in time.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
Actually it's not. Transgender refers to an individual, male or female, that is, at the GENETIC level, a gender that does not match their outward appearance. For example, there are males that, internally, have vestigial female organs. If you were to test their DNA, it would show up female. However, outwardly, by birth and what is listed on their birth certificates, they appear male.
Then there are females who, internally, have vestigial male organs such as testes. If you were to test their DNA, it would show up as male. However, outwardly, by birth and what is listed on their birth certificates, they appear to be female.
The actual term is "Intersex". However, as "Transgender" is the more known nomenclature of it, it is what is used in most conversations. Transgender simply means "Transitioning Gender".
You might want to look up information before you attempt to "share" it as if it were true.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Nope. According to Merriam-Webster and Oxford/Cambridge dictionaries, a transvestite is someone who wears the clothing and/or worn accessories of the opposite sex, while a transgender person is someone whose gender identity does not match the gender as which they were identified at birth.
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Patricia Ann Gross
SOJ,
However, one of the most esteemed of the Gnostic Gospels, The Gospel of Thomas, extols the woman who becomes a man as inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven (verse 114, if you want to look it up).
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They should not have won. There is nothing in their core religious text that requires them to react negatively to a trans person. That's purely human-chosen bigotry, and is actually against their core religious tenets as described by the namesake of the religion itself. The state's lawyer must've been asleep.