Boy Scouts of America is now Allowing Transgender Boys to Join
On January 30, 2017 the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh put out the statement that they would now allow transgender boys to join their organization. This follows the 2013 resolution to allow gay youth to join and the resolution in 2015 to allow gay Scout leaders and employees.
While the BSA had previously determined gender based on the sex marked on a person's birth certificate, they are now going to go by what is marked on the application itself citing
that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state.
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Recently the issue of transgender boys joining the BSA was in the news after a New Jersey child was kicked out from the Cub Scouts one month after joining. The boys mother was quoted:
He signed up for the Cub Scouts intending to join his friends in the activities the organization is known for, like science projects and camping. The other children were fine with his presence and he had been accepted at school[.]
Other parents, however, felt differently and complained to Scout officials[.]
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While unaffiliated with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts of America stance on transgender youth is provided on their FAQ page saying:
Girl Scouts is proud to be the premiere leadership organization for girls in the country. Placement of transgender youth is handled on a case-by-case basis, with the welfare and best interests of the child and the members of the troop/group in question a top priority. That said, 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.
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Some institutions that feel this doesn't align with their own religious beliefs did inquire whether they would need to comply with this new change. The Church of Latter Day Saints said they were studying the announcement made yesterday and that the:
Boy Scouts has assured its religious chartering organizations that, as in the past, they will be able to organize their troops in a way fully consistent with their religious beliefs. In recent years the Church has made several changes to its programs for youth, and continues to look for ways to better serve its families and young people worldwide.
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It is worth noting that "in 2015, the LDS Church decided in would remain affiliated with the Boy Scouts despite its decision to allow gay troop leaders."
Some individuals and groups against the inclusion of transgender boys into the BSA say they are no longer going to support the scouts, instead recommending membership in Trail Life USA, a Christ-centered scouting program founded in 2014.
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I saw a comment about this online earlier that read: 'NO child involved in the scouts would have any issue with this policy... only hateful parents.'
Typically that seems to be the case with the parents having a larger issue on LGBT topics than the kids themselves. At least they have alternative options, such as Trail Life USA, instead of the Boy Scouts of America if it truly is that big a problem for them.
Gonna be honest here--I feel it's too little too late.
Also, I think they should accept little girls who want to learn those things and be involved, too.
Because we didn't want to build a birdhouse. We wanted to learn how to build a fire and build a Pinewood Derby car. And not for the Powderpuff Derby. For the real one. And maybe we even played football and all of our friends were Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts was definitely NOT at all within our interest set.
I'm glad they did something but I do feel it's too little too late. I don't think I could let a boy child of mine involved with BSA for a number of reasons, but one being their seeming doctrine of intolerance.
They do some great things in their communities and help create leaders, but there are other more inclusive programs, ultimately teaching similar skills without the backhanded doctrine, which might be better alternatives for some.
I do admit I can be brash on these issues. I loved Chick fil A and haven't eaten there since their LGBT stance came to light, as well as Hobby Lobby (which has been hard)...but I have my issues and this one.
Steps to inclusion are steps but steps we should be way past by now.
I can understand where you're coming from, especially for girls (cis or otherwise) that would want to participate in those activities. Personally I wouldn't have any issue for anybody, regardless of gender taking part and maybe (big maybe) this will change in the future as well...leading to inclusion for anyone with interest in the activities.
Having been in Boy Scouts myself when young, at a synagogue with mainly reformed Jews, I would assume that at the ground level there are troops who don't align with the 'top brass' of the organization...but that's really a hard one to say in general. Ideally in 20 years this will be a normalized and forgotten issue regarding gay and trans inclusion, perhaps even looking to open it up further. My kingdom for a crystal ball! Lol.
I do relate on the Chik-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby in that I've not been to them for years for the same issues.
None of this is meant as an argument to your stance in anyway, merely taking (ideally) progress as progress. Personally I see gender as a social construct versus a biological state. If that becomes the view of the population, we may see less of the boy/girl split on activities and their stereotypes.
For disclosure, I was in Scouts when young with cub scout and webelos meeting at my public school, first couple years in Boy Scouts at a church before transferring for my last 4-5 years at a reformed Jewish synagogue. Admittedly at the time I know nothing about the bans or even the stance the troop leaders had (though most reformed Jews I know are inclusive.) With most the concerns seeming to be more over separate bathroom/shower/changing arrangements, I don't see why this would be a huge impediment when so many summer camps are setup to allow both boys and girls.
I totally understand and agree with you here. Thank you for putting some of this into a more tolerant and less militant perspective for me. As a bisexual living in a committed relationship with a female, neither of us were "typical" in any way when it came to "being girls" in general. I hate boxes but they still exist.
I do hope one day it "ain't no thang" when it comes to gender in general...I hope my (now 5-year-old) niece and her homies change that for us permanently in the upcoming years.
I just feel so militant. In so many ways. For our community. Especially now that I have so much fear behind it with upcoming discrimination laws and the like.
Springfield was bad enough with that stuff--but the whole fucking country? Jesus. Scary.
Growing up in St. Louis I'm sure had it's differences and change in imprints compared to Springfield. It was rather shocking to me when I first moved there 20 years ago, which admittedly seemed to improve quite a bit since then. I'm sure some of it was due to a combination of the older generations dying off as well as the influx of St. Louis and Kansas City people staying in town after college. From what I've seen, read and researched, just about anyone under the age of 30 sees LGBT as a non-issue. It's somewhat hard to be 'sheltered' in the age of the internet (something now around when I was young.)
There is still a need for 'militants' in my eyes, they typically are the one that are outspoken, picketing, etc. It takes a lot for me personally to 'be loud,' which has pros and cons like everything else.
I will admit it's somewhat frightening to think what may happen nationally over the next 4 (hopefully) years with the cabinet picks that are trying to be appointed. In the end, it's all a matter of actually getting communication between people going and reduce the fear that so many seem to hold.
Or we can all just watch "V for Vandetta" or "Idiocracy" until those movies actually come to fruition in real life. Lol!
Respect!
This is so awesome! A big step forward for humanity as a whole :D We should all be pushing not just for acceptance, but for recognition.
That's right. Boys scout organization is for all people. :)
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