Christian school wins $566K after refusing to play against trans athlete
Mid Vermont Christian School forfeited a female competition because a trans girl was on the other team. Now Vermont owes them $566k.
Mark
The Vermont Principal Association has agreed to pay Mid Vermont Christian School and legal counsel $566,000 to settle a lawsuit surrounding a forfeiting of a state playoff game, as well as a subsequent ban of the school, because an opposing team had a transgender girl on the roster in 2023.
The school filed a lawsuit, backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom — which has widely opposed trans women in female sports — against the Vermont Principals’ Association, which banned the school from participating in any VPA-sponsored activity in 2023 and 2024 after MVCS decided not to play a scheduled playoff game against Long Trail School. Long Trail at the time had a transgender girl on the team.
“We withdrew from the tournament because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” MVCS officials noted in a statement at the time. “Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”
The VPA sanctioned MVCS via a formal letter of suspension, citing the school’s opposition to policies that allow trans girls to compete in female sports.
“If you don’t want to follow VPA rules, that’s fine,” VPA Executive Director Jay Nichols said in 2023. “But then you’re just not a VPA member. It’s fairly simple. That’s really all we’re gonna really say about it.”
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In September 2025, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit overturned the ban. In the ruling, judges said the Vermont Principals’ Association “publicly castigated Mid Vermont — and religious schools generally — while the VPA rushed to judgment on whether and how to discipline the school.”
Laywers and officials for MVCS stated that their case was about “fairness” and religious freedom.
“As a coach, I always want my team to play in fair and safe competitions,” MVCS girls basketball coach Chris Jackson stated to the Bennington Banner. “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.”
VPA officials made a short statement saying they would comment on the settlement under the advice of their attorneys, and “we will continue to follow Vermont law and advocate for all Vermont children.”
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