Girl Scouts of Colorado Released Statement Welcoming Transgender Youth

Update: GLAAD is reaching out to local and national media outlets to ensure this story is told responsibly and to address the community’s concerns with problematic coverage and commentary. See our November 1 blog post at http://www.glaad.org/blog/media-misrepresents-transgender-children-colorado-girl-scouts-coverage.

If you see offensive media coverage about this story, send it to us at www.glaad.org/reportdefamation.

Yesterday, the Girl Scouts of Colorado spoke out in support of transgender children. Following the story of a child who was denied enrollment in a local Girl Scout troop despite identifying as a girl, the Girl Scouts of Colorado released a statement saying that the associate responsible for that troop was unaware of the organization’s policy. “Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members,” the statement says. “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.” Girl Scouts of Colorado also asserted that it is reaching out to the family of the excluded child and will be altering its training programs so that all girls are supported.  

Corey Barrett of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Community Center of Colorado commented on the matter, saying that as children explore their gender identity and expression, “I think it's all about providing a healthy environment for them for that to happen. Everyone needs to be prepared or at least have an idea from a policy and procedure stand point how they're going to address that.” According to their statement, Girl Scouts of Colorado is committed to providing that environment. “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.”