Vt. education officials weigh in on Trump’s trans student-athlete ban

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont education officials are assessing what President Trump’s executive order banning transgender student-athletes means for local schools and federal funding.

The Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports executive order allows federal agencies to withhold funding to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete in sports. And like other executive orders, it’s pitting federal rules directly against Vermont law.

Gregory Thayer formed the group Vermonters for Vermont to push back on what he sees as problems in public education, including programs promoting diversity and transgender athletes competing in sports. He supports the president’s order, saying that biological males competing in women’s sports is unfair.

“We’ve seen a lot of people unhappy for being disenfranchised in their respective sports and the physicality to some of these women around the country,” Thayer said.

But others say the order erases transgender people from public life. Amanda Rhodenberg with the LGBTQ advocacy group Outright Vermont says trans youth participating in sports can foster self-esteem and a sense of belonging. She describes the new executive order as a slippery slope to broader discrimination.

“Doubling down on those exclusionary practices is creating schools where not all young people have the same rights to participate and exist as they are,” Rhodenberg said.

Vermont law bars schools from discriminating against students based on race, sex, or other identity. The Agency of Education has interpreted that law as meaning transgender students must be allowed to participate in sex-segregated activities like sports in a way that matches their gender identity. Asked whether Vermont will change its policy in the face of the president’s order, the AOE released a statement saying: “The agency will continue to protect all students and their ability to access the full educational experience, including sports participation.”

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark says she will fight to protect trans athletes’ ability to participate. “I want to reassure them that I have their back and I will put the full force of my office to protect them and take action if necessary,” she said.

It remains to be seen whether the Department of Education will withhold funding from Vermont schools over this issue.

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