This commentary is by Dana Kaplan, the executive director of Outright Vermont. For transgender youth and their families, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing state bans on transgender athletes to stand is painful and deeply disappointing. But it is important to understand what the court did — and did not — do.  The ruling upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia, finding they do not violate the equal protection clause or Title IX. It did not create a nationwide ban on transgender athletes, nor did it require states like Vermont to change their policies. That distinction matters.  Here in Vermont, transgender students remain protected under state law. And just as importantly, our communities have chosen inclusion. The Vermont Public Accommodations Act and our strong anti-discrimination protections prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. The Vermont Principals’ Association and Vermont Agency of Education continue to affirm that students can participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity. That reflects who we aspire to be: a state where every young person is treated with dignity and has the opportunity to belong.  That matters, because this decision is about more than sports. It is part of a broader effort to push transgender people out of public life, one space at a time. Vermont has the opportunity to chart a different course, and we must. Sports have always been about more than wins and losses. They teach teamwork, resilience, leadership and belonging. For many young people, especially those who experience bullying or isolation, they provide a vital connection to community. Transgender students play sports for the same reasons every child does: to challenge themselves, build friendships and be part of a team.  These blanket bans don’t make girls safer. Instead, they invite suspicion, policing and invasive scrutiny of all athletes. In states with these laws, young people can be forced to answer deeply personal questions or have their identities challenged simply because someone believes they don’t look feminine enough. That harms every young person who simply wants the chance to play.  Vermont has consistently rejected that approach. Our state has chosen dignity over division and evidence over fear. We have shown that supporting transgender students and supporting girls’ sports are not competing values, they are complementary ones.  READ MORE At a time when transgender young people are increasingly targeted in legislatures and courtrooms across the country, Vermont offers a different model: one that recognizes every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, contribute and belong.  The Supreme Court’s decision may shape the laws of other states, but it does not have to shape the character of ours. Vermont still has the opportunity and the responsibility to choose belonging over fear, evidence over misinformation and community over exclusion.  Let’s continue to be a state where every young person, regardless of who they are, can get on the field, find their teammates and know they belong. Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont chose belonging. Let’s keep it that way. . ...read more read less