Girl Scouts open to transgender members
A blog post on the organization’s site addressed those who “live culturally as a girl.’’
The Girl Scouts’ mission is to build “girls of courage, confidence, and character,’’ whether they were born as females, or just identify as such.
In a blog post on the organization’s site published May 14, Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Ph.D., identified as ‘Chief Girl Expert’ for the GSUSA, wrote:
“If a girl is recognized by her family, school and community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe. Inclusion of transgender girls is handled at a council level on a case by case basis, with the welfare and best interests of all members as a top priority.’’
The post continued to add that we’re in a “complex and rapidly changing 21st century,’’ and the needs of the nation’s young girls are changing as well.
The policy states that Girl Scouts will accommodate transgender members during camping or travel excursions similar to how local schools address the issues of changing and sleeping arrangements.
“I do know that the recent media coverage of transgender individuals, and the portrayal of transgender characters of popular TV shows, has certainly sparked a more vibrant conversation,’’ said Pat Parcellin, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. “It seems only natural that organizations like Girl Scouts would be asked to articulate our position.’’
A spokeswomen for Girl Scouts headquarters in New York declined to comment further.
The position has already faced backlash. The American Family Association created an online petition asking Girl Scouts to restrict its membership to “biological girls’’ and claiming the organization has “lost it’s moral compass.’’
“Girl Scouts of the USA and its local councils and troops value diversity and inclusiveness,’’ Parcellin said.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com