Girl Scouts return $100K donation over ‘transgender’ clause, launches #ForEVERYgirl
The Girl Scouts of Western Washington are making headlines this week after returning a $100,000 donation that was designated for biological girls only as the donor included a restriction that the gift “not be used to support transgender girls.”
“The relationship is complex,” CEO Megan Ferland told the Seattle Met, adding that she was “very sad” when she got the donor’s follow-up letter.
“Girl Scouts is for every girl,” Ferland said. “And every girl should have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout if she wants to.”
The Girl Scouts officially welcomed transgender girls into troops in May of this year and faced immediate criticism.
After returning the donation, the Girl Scouts launched a fundraiser using the hashtag #ForEVERYgirl. The campaign raised over $100,000 in less than 24 hours.
A video for the fundraiser said, “Girl Scouts empowers EVERY girl regardless of her gender identity, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity [and] sexual orientation. EVERY girl deserves access to a safe friendly environment where she can stand up for what she believes in and be proud of who she is.”
Girl Scouts CEO Megan Ferland said, “Girl Scouts is for every girl. And every girl should have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout if she wants to.”
“They’re no longer Girl Scouts, they’re just Scouts. That’s fine if they want to rebrand,” president and CEO of Concerned Women for America, Penny Nancy said in May. “But it raises all kinds of complications and questions for parents, volunteer parents who are involved.”
[…] Girl Scouts launches #ForEVERYgirl with transgender policy […]