Girl Scouts’ transgender stance attacked by critics

A new blog post by the “Chief Girl Expert, GSUSA” has the Girl Scouts transgender policy under attack. Written by Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Ph.D, the amibiguous definition of “girl” raises more questions that it answers.

“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,” Archibald writes.

The American Family Association, a conservative group, has launched a petition against the Girl Scouts’ policy of accepting transgendered children, urging the organization to “stop this nonsense by rescinding this dangerous policy now!”

It has already gained more than 37,000 signatures.

photo Marcus Werthmann

“The Girl Scouts of America has lost its moral compass and needs your encouragement to rescind this new policy,” the petition claims.

Penny Nancy, president and CEO of Concerned Women for America, recently decried the Girl Scouts’ policy on transgendered children, claiming that it creates a multitude of problems.

“They’re no longer Girl Scouts, they’re just Scouts. That’s fine if they want to rebrand,” Nancy said.” But it raises all kinds of complications and questions for parents, volunteer parents who are involved.”

In 2012, 7-year-old Bobby Montoya, who identified as a girl, was allowed to join a Colorado Girl Scout troop.