Last fall, the Girl Scouts of America accepted a trans kid into a Colorado troop. And thus apparently began the Decline of Western Civilization, if you believe some of the responses. Some Girl Scouts and their parents began calling for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies in protest. Because keeping dollars out of your own local community in California or Ohio (where two of the protests are based) is a great way to punish those uppity Colorado folks with their practically-left-coast values. Oh, wait, California is the left coast too. Oops. Well, never mind, let’s just punish EVERYONE and then go have some iced tea.
A 14-year-old girl decided to take her boycott national and posted a heavily scripted video on YouTube, complete with signs. I am not linking to that video because I have no wish to promote the content. And because she’s a kid, she has an opinion, she put it out there and it will forever be on The Google to haunt her through her entire life. She doesn’t need any more shit from me.
Nope, today I am here to bring you a passionate, graceful and thoroughly beautiful response from a young woman in college. Who is also expressing her opinion, and who is being an ally to trans Girl Scouts everywhere. It’s coherent, powerful and it has by god doubled the amount I plan to spend on cookies this year.
I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout back in the Stone Age when we had the full uniforms, including socks with the logos (I swear I am not making this up). I did not have this young woman’s experience of encouragement and support and community in my troop. I wish I had. I would give a lot to have been this clear, direct, articulate and fearless in my late teens and early twenties. And if the Girls Scouts have become the kind of organization that help to shape women like this one, then they are welcome to my cookie money.
If a girl with a sash and an order form knocks on your door and asks you to buy some Samoas, don’t ask her how she pees. Buy some cookies and tell her she’s doing a great job.
Enjoy your day. Peace out.
Really Awesome blog Kelly! Thanks for posting the video.
I was a Girl Scout back in those days too. I believe I even had those elastic things that went around your knee socks to hold them up; they had a little yellow flag thing on them as I recall. AND I had a beret. : )
We went camping and canoeing, and sat around and talked and sneaked out of our tents at night, and learned to lash sticks together to make shelters and tables and all kinds of things.
That fellowship and the library are the two things that saved my life. So, yeah, I buy cookies. I don’t necessarily eat them, but I buy them. : )
And I applaud the young woman who made this video! Thanks for this post.
I wasn’t a girl scout as a kid, but I am a leader now and my two girls are in scouts. This young woman’s video made me smile and happy to be part of the organization. Well done, my sister : )
Too right on. The virus is among us though. These folks, that the young girl apparently represents, thrive on the negative energy they call love. Odd, eh? Meanwhile, over at Margaret Court . . .
I remember the days of full uniforms and socks with the logos. I also didn’t receive a great deal of support from my troops, but there were positive experiences and I like to think they outweigh the negative ones.
In the end, I respect and support both girls’ rights to speak out as they choose, but in the end I choose acceptance over intolerance.
I was a girl scout from 6th grade through high school. I had lots of good experiences, particularly camping. I made many friends and there were supportive adults. Of course it was the late fifties and early sixties and nobody came out. I am disappointed that we are still having this fight. I am all for inclusion, and I hope the scouts eventually get it.
But truthfully, my best part of my girl scout experience was really when I was in junior high. We had an exceptional leader. I had a variety of experiences in my GS career, and I really think it all comes down to the troop leader. The system is in place, but it needs the right person to make it sing.
J was never in Girl Scouts, but we saw the organization do a lot for an older neighbor girl who, though in her teens at the time, sheltered us from our mom’s abuse where she could. We owe her and the organization big time. We’ll be buying extra Girl Scout Cookies this year and in the future. I’m very proud of GSUSA Colorado – it rocks to be from the state where this started.
i was a boy scout and was told had to keep my agnosticism in the closet. It’s the same psychological process at work. People are afraid to question themselves and don’t want others bringing up subjects that cause them inner turmoil. Of course there’s also the “in group” phenomena. You can’t be in the group unless others are excluded.