Girl Scout

Bobby Montoya, a 7 year old transgender child was denied a membership to Girl Scouts because he had "boy parts". Bobby refers living as a girl and enjoys doing "girl things". He was frustrated when he wasn't able to join the Girl Scouts. It broke my heart when Bobby said "It's hurting my heart. It hurts me and my mom both." Later Girl Scouts released this statement: " Girl Scout is an inclusive organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members. If a child identifies as a girl and the child's family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout. Our requests for support of transgender kids have grown, and Girl Scouts of Colorado is working to best support these children, their families and the volunteers who serve them..."
     I feel for Bobby because this is just the beginning of rejection and disappointment in his life. We all go through times where we are picked on or made fun of but this is going to be even more difficult as a transgender. Bobby is frequently bullied and made fun of in school and Girl Scouts would have been a place that he could feel comfortable and accepted. I am happy that Girl Scouts is accepting of transgender children but it makes me wonder if they only put out this statement because of the media attention the story was getting. This is an opportunity to teach tolerance and acceptance as well as bring light to the transgender community. I am upset that this had to happen to an Innocent child, but without this incident there wouldn't have been the progress in the Girl Scout community.