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Boy Scouts of America to accept transgender boys

The Boy Scouts of America has announced it will now allow transgender children to join. The ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.27 31 Jan 2017


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Boy Scouts of America to accep...

Boy Scouts of America to accept transgender boys

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.27 31 Jan 2017


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The Boy Scouts of America has announced it will now allow transgender children to join.

The move comes after the reports late last year that a transgender boy had been kicked out of his Cub Scouts group in New Jersey only a month after joining.

In a statement explaining their change policy, the organisation said: "For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs.

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"However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state."

They will now refer to the gender identity listed on the application itself.

Recent years have seen a number of significant policy changes for the US scouting organisation, which was founded in 1910.

In 2013, they announced an end to a ban on openly gay youths participating in its activities.

Two years later, the organisation also removed the restriction on openly gay adult leaders and employees.

In a video address, Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh said the gender identity move is part of their aim "to serve as many youth and families as possible".


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