Mummy Buzz

Oct
30
2011

The First Boy Girl Scout

Do Boys and Girls Need Separate Clubs?

Confused yet? These are confusing times. But not for Bobby Montoya, not anymore. Bobby became the world's first boy Girl Scout after the 7-year-old from Denver was welcomed into the ranks of the Girl Scouts of Colorado.

Life wasn't always clear cut for Bobby who has identified as a girl since the age of two, even though he was theoretically born a boy.

"He loved girl stuff, so we just let him dress how he wants, as long as he's happy," says his mom Felisha Archuela.

Bobby, who plays with dolls, dresses in girls' clothing, and keeps his shoulder-length hair neat, begged his mom follow in his big sister's footsteps by joining the Scouts.

Unfortunately Bobby's application was initially rejected by a Denver troop leader on the technicality of him possessing "boy parts." The decision was shortly overturned and a statement released by the Scouts, outlining its inclusive policies:

"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."

The troop leader is now in what is known as "sensitivity training." These are indeed sensitive times and complex transgendered ones.

Toronto psychotherapist, LeeAndra Miller, who works with queer and trans youth at the Central Toronto Youth Services, told the Star: "At age seven [Bobby] may know that he's in the wrong body, but he may also grow up to be a gay guy or even a straight man who likes stereotypically feminine things."

"These kids will grow into who they are and we have to honour that," says Miller.

Still, it makes the playground a tricky place to negotiate. My 3-year-old invariably calls boys with hair longer than his "little girls." I think a new pronoun is in order for the likes of Storm and Bobby.

In the meantime, shouldn't we do away with gender segregation altogether? Do boys and girls still need separate clubs? Is it high time that an organization like the Scouts went unisex?

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