Who’s Missing?

This should come as no surprise… we are.

In historic first, New York-area Boy Scouts to lead iconic NYC Pride March
Three generations of Scouts to unite at nation's oldest and largest LGBT pride event
GLAAD Press Release
June 23, 2014

Active and former Boy Scouts and leaders will present the American flag during the national anthem at the NYC Pride March opening ceremony and subsequently serve as Color Guard during the march, leading more than 14,000 participants down Fifth Avenue in a celebration of recent advancements made for LGBT equality.

Despite the BSA's national policy that bans gay and lesbian adults from participating in Scouting, the Greater New York Councils, which serves nearly 150,000 Scouts in New York City, has previously stated its commitment to full inclusion of gay Scouts regardless of age.

OK, let’s look at this “full inclusion,” the Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America said,

    Nonetheless, we are disappointed that the resolution does not remove the prohibition against gay adult volunteers as well. In its 103 year history the Greater New York Councils’ administration has never denied membership to a youth or adult due to sexual orientation. We affirm our inclusive policy and will continue to actively work to advocate for the same national policy.  After receiving input from our registered leaders and other supporters—who overwhelmingly support a change in membership policy—our board approved the following statement:

We believe that the right, moral, forward-looking policy for the BSA nationwide is to have an inclusive policy that welcomes all to our program, without regard to sexual orientation.

Wait… Stop the presses!

“…to have an inclusive policy that welcomes all to our program, without regard to sexual orientation.” Where are transgender scouts? How can you have an inclusive policy if you left someone out?

Well what does the world’s largest LGBT organization have to say about this…

Boy Scouts of America Takes Historic Step Forward For Gay Scouts, Leaves Gay Scout Leaders Behind
May 23, 2013
By Paul Guequierre

In a historic move, 1,400 leaders from the nation’s local Boy Scouts of America Councils gave the green light to equality for gay Scouts, voting to end the organization’s long standing ban on gay youth.  Unfortunately the new policy does not go far enough…

Ah, now they must be going to say something about not including trans-scouts.

… leaving adult Eagle Scouts, scout leaders, and parents behind.  The resolution passed today reads in part, “no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”

Um… what about trans-scouts?

Who is going to speak up about trans-scouts being left out if two of the largest LGBT organizations don’t… there must be someone?

Actually there is, MassEquality said…

Boy Scouts Lift Gay Youth Ban, Scout Leaders and Trans Youth Left Behind
Published May 24, 2013

GRAPEVINE, Texas and BOSTON – The Boy Scouts of America voted yesterday to lift their ban on gay youth as members of the organization effective Jan., 1, 2014. The vote by their National Council only considered gay youth, not gay adult leaders or transgender members.
[…]
“This decision only addresses gay Scouts, and leaves transgender youth and Scout Leaders behind at the starting line. The Boy Scouts of America can do better. The path towards equality in the Boy Scouts of America will not be complete until all people involved with the organization are free to be themselves. MassEquality encourages the Boy Scouts' National Executive Committee to continue this forward momentum and take the next step down the road towards equality for all, extending their recent decision to all youth and to the entire organization. We look forward to a world where all people can be equal, safe and free, from cradle to grave - that includes in the Boy Scouts of America.”

Also the Examiner got it,

Transsexual men and youth who have undergone sex reassignment surgery (SRS), including (but not limited to) hormone replacement therapy, hysterectomy and genital reconstruction (phalloplasty) could still be discriminated against at the national and local level if their surgical status is disclosed or discovered. Transgender men and youth who have not undergone SRS may also be rejected by the Boy Scouts due to the fact that their gender presentation does not conform to their anatomical sex. In order for the Boy Scouts of America's national body to be truly inclusive and for local chapters to begin to follow suit, it is vital that non-discrimination on the basis of transgender and transsexual identity be expressly stated.

So when you see this Sunday the Pride Parade being led by the Boy Scouts ask where are the trans-scouts?