The Girl Scouts Are Making History for All the Trans Little Girls of America

Everything continues to be awesome with the Girl Scouts.

The organization that proudly declares itself the "premiere leadership organization" for girls across the country began welcoming welcoming trans girls into its ranks four years ago: 

"Placement of transgender youth is handled on a case-by-case basis, with the welfare and best interests of the child and the members of the troop/group in question a top priority. That said, if the child is recognized by the family and school/community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, then Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe."

The Girl Scouts reaffirmed this policy earlier this week, stating firmly and plainly that trans girls are girls and can become Girl Scouts. "Our position is not new," Andrea Bastiani Archibald, the Girl Scouts USA's chief girl expert, told CNN. "It conforms with our continuous commitment to inclusivity."

Clearly, the Girl Scouts knows what feminism means — the acceptance, inclusion and celebration of all girls and women — even while others refuse to embrace such a concept. 

Affirming all girls' lives: After a heinous petition by the American Family Association called for the banning of "boys in skirts" from the Girl Scouts, Archibald wrote a blog post on behalf of the organization. 

"Our mission to build 'girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place' extends to all members, and through our program, girls develop the necessary leadership skills to advance diversity and promote tolerance," Archibald wrote the day after the petition.

She added, "If a girl is recognized by her family, school and community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe."

There is no place for discrimination in the feminist movement. Transphobia, the Girl Scouts know, is simply a form of sexism. So, while bigots like the AFA misgender trans girls and fabricate horrifying scenarios to instill fear in parents across the United States, the Girl Scouts will continue to do what it has done for over 100 years: motivate young girls to become strong and confident, and teach them leadership skills to create a better America.