The Girl Scouts Officially Welcomes Trans Girls, Haters Launch A Petition
The Girl Scouts of America have reaffirmed their policy of welcoming transgender girls into troops. of course, this inclusive and loving commitment to all youth has incited the wrath of conservative, "pro-family" Christians.
The GSA's chief psychologist, Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald, said that foundation of diversity that Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low established in 1912 continues today.
"Our mission to build ‘girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place’ extends to to all members," said Archibald. "And through our program, girls develop the necessary leadership skills to advance diversity and promote tolerance."
Unlike the Boy Scouts, which still bans adult homosexuals, the Girl Scouts already has a longstanding policy of not discriminating based on sexual orientation, and has made great strides in evolving on trans issues.
In 2011, a local troop in Colorado rejected a 7-year-old transgender girl—but the Girl Scouts of Colorado overturned the troop's ruling, stating that "if a child identifies as a girl and the child's family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout."
The organization's website has made that policy national:
If the child is recognized by the family and school/community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, then Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe.
Sure as the sunrise, the American Family Association has launched a petition to get the Girl Scouts to reverse their decision, one that's already garnered 35,000 signatures. Ugh.
“This means girls in the organization will be forced to recognize and accept transgenderism as a normal lifestyle, " the AFA said in a statement, "and that boys in skirts, boys in makeup, and boys in tents will become a part of the program. This change will put young innocent girls at risk.”
Using "concern" for children has always been a tool for conservative bigots to spew their venom. It's heartening to see the Girl Scouts standing behind their open arms.
h/t: Pathos
