Just last month it was announced that the Utah Pride Center, with the support of the Girl Scouts of Utah, would open its own troop to any kids who identify as girls — meaning it was open to boys who identify as girls.
Cue the conservative freak-out.
“Boys in skirts, boys in makeup and boys in tents will become a part of the program,” an American Family Association petition against the Girl Scouts accepting transgender girls says. “This change will put young innocent girls at risk.”
What risk, exactly?
“Adults are willing to experiment on our kids — both the boys who are confused and the girls who will wonder why a boy in a dress is in the bathroom with them.”
Isn’t that why they have parents? To help talk them through these things so they’re not just left wondering? If only there was some sort of group that would bring all kinds of different girls together to sing songs and learn skills so they can help understand one another better… But I digress.
The petition has already gotten nearly 40,000 signatures.
But what’s crazy is that the Girl Scouts have had a policy in place for four years, allowing transgendered girls to participate.
“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,” according to the Girl Scouts FAQ. “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.”
But since the headlines from Utah have caught the attention of conservatives who care about things like keeping children from participating in scouting, the Girl Scouts finds itself in the crosshairs of a full-on campaign against its years-old policy on transgendered girls.
But it doesn’t sound like the top ladies in the green vests are too worried about the criticism.
“Luckily we don’t serve our critics,” Andrea Bastiani Archibald, the Girl Scouts chief girl expert, told CNN. “We are proud to serve all girls.”
Awesome. Anyone else in the mood for some Samoas?
More on the Girl Scouts
Pastor says Girl Scout cookies encourage communism and lesbians
There’s a Girl Scout Cookies drive-thru. For real.
Should your daughter join Girl Scouts?
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