Buy More Girl Scout Cookies In Response To Transphobic Campaign, Say Mommyish Readers
Honest Girl Scouts may be asking that you boycott Girl Scout cookies this year because doors have been opened to transgender girls, but not everyone is responding to this scare tactic, specifically Mommyish readers. Once it was announced that a portion of Girl Scouts were protesting the Colorado decision to admit a 7-year-old transgender girl named Bobby Montoya, supporters everywhere tripled their cookie orders to advocate for transgender Girl Scouts.
A reader named Janet commented on Mommyish that she was “ashamed” that the featured 14-year-old girl in the “Honest Girl Scouts” video came from her home state of California. She added that given the young lady’s lack of compassion, she found it not at all surprising that she covered her troop number:
Maybe I’ll cross state lines and order all of my cookies from Bobby’s [Montoya] troop! My daughter (Gold Award) and I are both Lifetime Girl Scouts and appalled at this young woman’s perspective of transgender youth. She needs a little more education before embarking on this scare tactic…She definitely does not adhere to the values of scouting and would be better off joining another organization where her limited view and bigotry are embraced. Hopefully, with age will come wisdom and care and compassion.
Another reader I spoke to named Jen H., a former Girl Scout herself, says that the original statement by Girls Scouts of America (GSUSA) announcing their inclusion of transgender girls made her smile. She describes the claims in the Honest Girl Scouts video to be “silly” and is disappointed in the split-off group for using GSUSA’s cornerstone of fundraising to vilify children:
“GSUSA focuses on the empowerment of young women. It’s logical to think that reproductive freedoms and inclusively toward all women, regardless of sexual orientation helps in that empowerment,” she says. “That Honest Girl Scouts seeks to oppose something inclusive by not only spewing hate, but by calling for a boycott on the organization’s most recognizable form of fundraising – I thought that was some terrible parenting.”
Jen normally buys a few boxes of cookies a year to support the organization and their values. But this year, in response to Honest Girl Scouts, Jen plans to increase her annual order by at least 1000%.
“In past years I’ve typically purchased two and three boxes of cookies, more for the sake of my waistline than not wanting to support Girl Scouts of America,” she clarifies. “This year I’m planning on buying between 20-40 boxes, depending on how well I juggle my budget. I’ll definitely be donating some of the cookies to charity.”
Shannon M., a former Girl Scout and mother of a six-year-old girl, says that she is sickened by Honest Girl Scout’s message of hate and intolerance for children. The soon-to-be mommy of two adamantly defends the admission of Bobby Montoya and plans to support GSUSA with a fat cookie order.
“Yes, I would definitely be one of the mothers wanting to buy more cookies to support my local girl scouts,” declares Shannon. “‘I’m very, very proud as a mother and as a former Girl Scout that the organization took a public stand and defended Bobby and other girls like her. I’ve always believed it was my job as a mother to make sure I support my daughter in loving herself and the world around her. Why would you want to teach your daughters to bring hate into the world?”
Other readers on Facebook commented that they would be tripling their orders and stocking up on “extra” cookies in support of the Colorado GSUSA decision.
Jen tells me that although the personal contact information of the teen in the Honest Girl Scouts video has been circulated, she asks that those in support of transgender children demonstrate their allegiance with cookie orders rather than hate mail.
“I had a friend share address, phone numbers, and email addresses for the mother and father of the Honest Girl Scout in the video. I have no plans to contact them as, unfortunately they’ll be getting plenty of hate mail from this. I think they’re wrong, but calling them names makes us just as bad as them…I plan on buying more cookies than normal to counteract hate,” says the former Scout.
Jen recounts a vivid memory from her Girl Scout years when she attended a church camp at age twelve. While there, she met the first openly gay man she had ever met: a teenage drag queen. Not only did the then-tween appreciate the opportunity to learn more about her new friend and his life, she credits the experience as humanizing LGBTQ individuals to her as a child, furthering her empathy for others.
“With the GSUSA supporting its lesbian and transgendered members, girls have the opportunity to meet people who are not necessarily like them,” she adds. “With all of the members of GSUSA, girls have the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and belief systems. This helps girls to open their world view, consider opinions and experiences outside of their own, and develop compassion for people who aren’t their political, religious, or social clones. “
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(photo: taxdollars.ocregister.com)
