December 27, 2016
A New Jersey mother reportedly claims her 8-year-old, transgender son was barred from participating in his Cub Scout troop because he was born a girl.
Kristie Maldonado said she received a call from a Northern New Jersey Council Boy Scout official informing her that her son, Joe, would no longer be welcome in the group due to some parents' complaints, NorthJersey.com reported Tuesday. According to the outlet, the case could be the first involving the organization banning someone due to gender identity.
Her son had been a member of Cub Scout Pack 87 in Secaucus for about a month when the decision was made. His transgender status had not been a secret because he "had been living as a boy for more than a year," she said.
Last year, the organization was praised for addressing social issues when it finally reversed its controversial rule prohibiting gay adults from serving in leadership positions.
According to the Boys Scouts of America's rules and regulations, the group currently serves "all eligible youth, regardless of race, ethnic background, or sexual orientation, who are willing to accept Scouting’s values and meet any other requirements of membership."
However, the group still does not have a clear policy regarding gender identity.
A spokesperson from the Boy Scouts did not address the case in New Jersey directly, stating "No youth may be removed from any of our programs on the basis of his or her sexual orientation. Gender identity isn’t related to sexual orientation.”
Meanwhile, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, which is a separate organization, accepts transgender girls while noting that "placement of transgender youth is handled on a case-by-case basis."
