Transgender Boy Scouts Welcomed

Some good news for our LGBT community in these challenging times. The Boy Scouts of America has stated that they will begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application which will finally pave the way for transgender boys to join the organization. Michael Surbaugh, Boy Scouts of America Chief Executive stated, “After weeks of significant conversations at all levels of our organization, we realized that referring to birth certificates as the reference point is no longer sufficient.” Zach Wahls, Co-founded Scouts for Equality stated, “From our perspective, they clearly did the right thing. My team & I knew that they were considering a policy change, but we are both heartened & surprised by how quickly they moved to change the situation.” This come after last year the Boy Scouts of America removed an 8-year-old transgender boy from the Secaucus, N.J., Cub Scout pack he had joined. The new policy on Boy Scouts of America website states: “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports & other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs. However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities & state laws are interpreting gender identity differently & these laws vary widely from state to state. Starting today, we will accept & register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs based on the gender identity indicated on the application. Our organization’s local councils will help find units that can provide for the best interest of the child.”
For More Info: scouting.org
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