Vermont girls’ high school volleyball team are barred from their OWN locker room after complaining about transgender student who uses it and ‘who made inappropriate remark to them’
- Members of Randolph High School volleyball team have to change in bathroom stall after complaining about transgender student using their locker room
- The female players claim the transgender student made a comment to them while they were changing that they found to be ‘inappropriate’
- Under Vermont state law, students can play sports and use the locker rooms of whatever gender with which they identify
- The school is now investigating the gender-locker room dispute
Members of a Vermont girls high school volleyball team have been banned from using their own locker room and now have to change in a single bathroom stall after they complained about a transgender teammate.
Some teammates allege that the transgender player at Randolph Union High School made an ‘inappropriate remark’ to some of them while they were changing in the locker room.
They now want the school to relocate the transgender player, who hasn’t been named. No details of the alleged inappropriate remark have been shared.
But Vermont’s state law means that students can play sports and use the locker which correspond to the gender with which they identify.
Blake Allen, a player on the team, told WCAX how uncomfortable it makes her feel, saying ‘its a huge thing . . . everyone’s asking ‘why aren’t you allowed in the locker room?’
Blake Allen has spoken out against an unidentified transgender student using the girls’ locker rooms at her Vermont high school. The entire girls’ volleyball team has now been barred from using the changing room as a result
School superintendent Layne Millington, pictured, has yet to comment on the controversy
Shortly after the incident, the school sent out an email to families of the players, informing them that the school has ‘plenty of space where students who feel uncomfortable with the laws may change in privacy.’
Superintendent Layne Millington, who oversees the Orange County School District, has yet to comment on the controversy.
With about 10 players on the team, Allen said that making each of them getting changed in the single bathroom stall doesn’t make sense.
‘They want all the girls who feel uncomfortable to get changed in a single-stall bathroom, which would take over 30 minutes,’ she said. ‘Where, if one person got changed separately, it would take a minute, like no extra time.’
Allen said the issue isn’t with the transgender athlete playing on the team, but being in a locker room where the female students are at their most vulnerable.
‘There are biological boys that go into the girl’s bathroom, but never a locker room,’ Allen said.
Vermont laws stipulate that transgender students – such as those at Randolph High, pictured, can use whichever facilities align with their gender identity
She added: ‘My mom wants me to do this interview so we can try and make a change.’
School officials sent out another email informing parents they are looking into allegations that the volleyball girls harassed the transgender student.
Lisa Randolph, Randolph High School co-president, said that when policies are violated, disciplinary action consistent with the school’s rules will be applied, adding that students’ safety is the ‘district’s top priority.’
According to the policies of the Vermont Agency of Education, ‘the use of restrooms and locker rooms by transgender students require school to consider numerous facts,’ the agency said.
The agency states in their policy that ‘a transgender student should not be required to use a locker room or restroom that conflicts with the student’s gender identity.’
The school’s investigation is ongoing.
Transgender athletes and school students have become a hot button issue in recent years – particularly when they’ve transitioned from male-to-female.
Trans swimmer Lia Thomas sparked an outcry over unfairness after she smashed multiple college swimming records, prompting a crackdown on transgender women competing in swimming.
FINA, the professional swimming body, has also devised a new ‘open’ category for trans swimmers to compete in, sparking shrieks of outrage from woke advocates who say it will damage ‘equity.’
Critics of male-to-female transgender athletes say they have an unfair advantage over women after going through male puberty, even if they undergo subsequent hormone treatment during their transition.
They also warn of potential safety concerns that arise by having someone with male private parts in a female changing room.
Transgender rights advocates say students who are trans are vulnerable, and that they should be allowed to participate fully in school or college life as the gender with which they identify.
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