Transgender girl accepted into Girl scouts

DapperButch · 10-26-2011, 04:54 PM

HuffPost:

Bobby Montoya often dresses like a girl, plays with girl's toys, and most recently, wants to become a Girl Scout.

But when her mother, Felisha Archuleta, brought her to a local troop leader, the child's dreams were dashed. According to 9 News, the Girl Scouts worker said the child could not join, regardless of how the 7-year-old feels, because Bobby had "boy parts."

"I said, 'Well, what's the big deal?' She said 'It doesn't matter how he looks, he has boy parts, he can't be in Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts don't allow that [and] I don't want to be in trouble by parents or my supervisor,'" Archuleta told 9 News.

Bobby was heartbroken.

According to Fox News, the Girl Scouts Of Colorado have since admitted a mistake was made. Apparently the worker who turned Montoya away was unfamiliar with the group's policies, and Bobby is now welcome to join the group. It's unclear as to whether or not she has decided to join in light of the reversal.

Requests for transgender children to join the Girl Scouts have grown according to Fox News, and the group has been working to support them and their families.

However, Bobby's struggles go beyond the Girl Scouts experience. In an interview with 9 News (which you can see below) Montoya says how difficult it can be, especially in school. Often Montoya feels bullied or gets teased because of the way she dresses and acts. Bobby doesn't want these actions to cause change, but admits being made fun of can hurt, and even her mother feels the pain.

Bullying due to sexual orientation or gender identity has long been an issue, most recently in the wake of the suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer last month. While Rodemeyer's case is certainly different from Montoya's both situations have shed light on the struggles of LGBT youth. You can find out more information about the effects of bullying because of sexual orientation and gender identity here, from here, from Mental Health America, or from The Trevor Project.

Video in link below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1..._lnk2%7C107768

Gemme · 10-26-2011, 05:10 PM

Oh! She's a sweetheart. I hope she does join and that she enjoys the experience and others will learn from her.

DapperButch · 10-26-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemme

Oh! She's a sweetheart. I hope she does join and that she enjoys the experience and others will learn from her.

I like that the girl scouts were quick to come back and rectify the mistake.

EnderD_503 · 10-26-2011, 07:56 PM

Was very happy to see this. When it comes to stories like these it would be interesting to follow up in a few months to see how she's doing if she does decide to join. I'd be interested to see how the parents of other children react. The reactions in the comment area weren't very encouraging. Many very alarmist reactions talking about how she was going to go about impregnating the girls in the girl scout group... People are fucking crazy.

Anyways, I wish her all the best, and I'm happy to see society slowly adapting. Hopefully it will be forced to adapt further as trans and intersexed children are allowed to become more visible instead of being forced to remain closeted into adolescence or adulthood.

Nadeest · 10-26-2011, 08:57 PM

I hope the same thing, Ender. I'm glad that the Girl Scouts are accepting her. I just hope that all the members of the troup do so, and I think it likely, especially if the parents don't get their knickers in an uproar.

J. Mason · 10-29-2011, 01:57 AM

I am glad she was allowed in. I am hoping the parents don't get in an uproar of this.

10-26-2011, 04:54 PM	#1
DapperButch Roadster Guy How Do You Identify?: FTM, Stone Butch Preferred Pronoun?: He Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,745 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 26,545 Thanked 26,814 Times in 5,772 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	Transgender girl accepted into Girl scouts HuffPost: Bobby Montoya often dresses like a girl, plays with girl's toys, and most recently, wants to become a Girl Scout. But when her mother, Felisha Archuleta, brought her to a local troop leader, the child's dreams were dashed. According to 9 News, the Girl Scouts worker said the child could not join, regardless of how the 7-year-old feels, because Bobby had "boy parts." "I said, 'Well, what's the big deal?' She said 'It doesn't matter how he looks, he has boy parts, he can't be in Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts don't allow that [and] I don't want to be in trouble by parents or my supervisor,'" Archuleta told 9 News. Bobby was heartbroken. According to Fox News, the Girl Scouts Of Colorado have since admitted a mistake was made. Apparently the worker who turned Montoya away was unfamiliar with the group's policies, and Bobby is now welcome to join the group. It's unclear as to whether or not she has decided to join in light of the reversal. Requests for transgender children to join the Girl Scouts have grown according to Fox News, and the group has been working to support them and their families. However, Bobby's struggles go beyond the Girl Scouts experience. In an interview with 9 News (which you can see below) Montoya says how difficult it can be, especially in school. Often Montoya feels bullied or gets teased because of the way she dresses and acts. Bobby doesn't want these actions to cause change, but admits being made fun of can hurt, and even her mother feels the pain. Bullying due to sexual orientation or gender identity has long been an issue, most recently in the wake of the suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer last month. While Rodemeyer's case is certainly different from Montoya's both situations have shed light on the struggles of LGBT youth. You can find out more information about the effects of bullying because of sexual orientation and gender identity here, from here, from Mental Health America, or from The Trevor Project. Video in link below. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1..._lnk2%7C107768 __________________ -Dapper Are you educated or indoctrinated?

10-26-2011, 05:10 PM	#2
Gemme Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Queer Stone Femme Girl of the Unicorn Variety Preferred Pronoun?: She, as in 'She's a GEM' Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The roads are narrow here Posts: 36,631 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 182,498 Thanked 107,971 Times in 25,664 Posts Rep Power: 21474888	Oh! She's a sweetheart. I hope she does join and that she enjoys the experience and others will learn from her. __________________ Gemme's Journal I'm misunderestimated.

10-26-2011, 07:56 PM	#4
EnderD_503 Member How Do You Identify?: Queer, trans guy, butch Preferred Pronoun?: Male pronouns Relationship Status: Relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,329 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,090 Thanked 3,878 Times in 1,022 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Was very happy to see this. When it comes to stories like these it would be interesting to follow up in a few months to see how she's doing if she does decide to join. I'd be interested to see how the parents of other children react. The reactions in the comment area weren't very encouraging. Many very alarmist reactions talking about how she was going to go about impregnating the girls in the girl scout group... People are fucking crazy. Anyways, I wish her all the best, and I'm happy to see society slowly adapting. Hopefully it will be forced to adapt further as trans and intersexed children are allowed to become more visible instead of being forced to remain closeted into adolescence or adulthood.

10-26-2011, 08:57 PM	#5
Nadeest Member How Do You Identify?: as myself Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Leesburg, FL Posts: 595 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,876 Thanked 2,118 Times in 501 Posts Rep Power: 17077997	I hope the same thing, Ender. I'm glad that the Girl Scouts are accepting her. I just hope that all the members of the troup do so, and I think it likely, especially if the parents don't get their knickers in an uproar.

10-29-2011, 01:57 AM	#6
J. Mason Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Banned 11/9/2011 - Previously banned member back under new name Preferred Pronoun?: He and His Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas/Oklahoma Posts: 861 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 250 Thanked 741 Times in 361 Posts Rep Power: 0	I am glad she was allowed in. I am hoping the parents don't get in an uproar of this.