On This Date In ISBL History: Let Bobby Montoya Be A Girl Scout

As I am in Oregon helping my Dad recuperate from knee surgery, I thought I’d do something I’ll call “On This Date In ISBL History” and repost some things from back when the blog was new, and newish … this was originally published October 31, 2011:

Bobby Montoya was born a boy, but has long indentified as a girl. And Bobby loves all "girl stuff" from Barbie to The Bratz, and now, the Girl Scouts. And even though classmates pick on Bobby for being different, Bobby wants to be a Girl Scout, only they won't let Bobby join.

When Bobby's mother, Felisha Archuleta asked what the big deal was after Bobby was denied, a local troop leader told her, “He has boy parts. He can’t be a Girl Scout. Girl Scouts don’t allow that. I don’t want to get in trouble by parents or my supervisor.”

Ouch. But, see, the thing is, the Girl Scouts of Colorado do allow that after all, and, in fact, the organization released following statement:

“Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization. If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout. Our requests for support of transgender kids have grown, and Girl Scouts of Colorado is working to best support these children, their families, and the volunteers that serve them.”

Great news, but now someone needs to tell Bobby’s local Girl Scout leader. And I hope they do it soon because Bobby says that being picked on and made to feel different "hurts my heart."

And that's no way to treat a child.

In early 2012, Bobby Montoya joined the Girl Scouts. No one was harmed, and the cookies taste the same.