LGBT Rights 2016: Transgender Cub Scout Kicked Out Because 8-Year-Old Boy Was Born A Girl

Just as the Boy Scouts of America appeared to be emerging from controversy surrounding its acceptance of gay scouts and scout leaders, the rejection of a transgender boy from a New Jersey Cub Scout troop could once again thrust its LGBT policies back into the spotlight.

Eight-year-old Joe Maldonado’s mother, Kristie Maldonado, was told by scout officials in Secaucus that her son couldn’t be a part of the pack because he was born a girl, according to a USA Today report. Her son had been living as a boy for more than a year and had not hidden that fact from his fellow scouts.

“Not one of the kids said, ‘You don’t belong here,’” Maldonado said of the other scouts in her son’s pack. Parents reportedly complained.

Members of the LGBT community said that Joe’s case could be the first time that a transgender boy has been kept from joining scouts. The Boy Scouts of America may not have thoroughly considered its policies on the issue before. After controversy, the Boy Scouts of America changed its policies to allow gay scout leaders last year but kept exemptions for chapters that were sponsored by religious groups. The issue of transgender scouts was not addressed at the time.

A statement issued from the Boy Scouts did not indicate if there is a written transgender policy but noted that Cub Scouts programs are meant for boys ages seven to 10 whose birth certificates indicate the male gender.

The exclusion of transgender boys from its main programs has been repeatedly condemned by civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union. That group quickly responded to the about-face on gay scout leaders last year by noting that the organization has a ways to go for full equality. Noting that the Girl Scouts of the United States allows transgender members, the ACLU said that the Boy Scouts should not be cheered just yet for their social advancement.