The Boy Scouts of America announced on Tuesday that it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to join the group.
From now on, the institution will accept, in programs exclusively for boys, the gender that the child or their relative indicates when registering to be a Scout. Previously, the Boy Scouts of America only admitted the gender described on the birth certificate.
"Starting today, we will accept and enroll youth into the Cubs and Boys Scout programs based solely on the gender identity indicated on application," the group's communications director, Effie Delimarkos, said in a statement, citing the changes to the definition. that have already been occurring in different states.
According to her, although the organization offers programs for all young people, the Cubs and Boys programs are specific to boys.
American Kristie Maldonado told the AP news agency that she had conflicting feelings about the Boy Scouts' measure. Last year, her son, Joe, was asked to withdraw from his New Jersey Boy Scout troop after parents and local scout leaders discovered he was transgender.
The Boy Scouts of America, whose publicized mission is to prepare youth for life and leadership, has nearly 2,3 million members ages 7 to 21, as well as 960 volunteers in local councils across the United States, from according to data on its official website.
