In a landmark decision, Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it will now allow transgender Scouts in its boys-only program.
Although it’s not clear how that move will play in the Lone Star State, the news signals the reversal of a century-old position that restricted membership to children listed as males on their birth certificates.
“It’s about time,” said Houston Municipal Court Associate Judge Phyllis Frye, the state’s first openly transgender judge.
The historic change is effective immediately and comes less than two years after the Boy Scouts lifted its ban on openly gay troop leaders and employees.
“Starting today, we will accept and register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs based on the gender identity indicated on the application,” the organization said in a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
“The BSA is committed to identifying program options that will help us truly serve the whole family, and this is an area that we will continue to thoughtfully evaluate to bring the benefits of Scouting to the greatest number of youth possible – all while remaining true to our core values, outlined in the Scout Oath and Law.”
The Scouts had previously allowed gay members and gay Scoutmasters, and the earth continued to spin on its axis. I’m generally not much for making predictions, but I feel confident saying that that will be the case this time as well, no matter how much of a fuss some people make out of this. ThinkProgress has more.
still waiting for them to allow atheists and atheist leaders.
meanwhile, my kids are almost too old for it to matter.