My therapist said not to see you no more / She said you're like a disease without any cure / She said I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore

So, today, I saw this video:

A lot of people are responding to this girl by saying that they hate her. I don't hate her, but I can see how someone could fucking fall prey to that. Her ignorance and intolerance is making her a pretty easy target for hatred and frustration. I don't hate her, though, and I urge other people not to jump to the comforting exercise which is hatred, too. No one ever changed a mind by making an enemy, and I sincerely hope this girl eventually changes her mind. Right now, she's limiting her own life by trying to limit the lives of others. Seeing the video did evoke two pretty strong emotions, however: sadness and pride. I was sad because it was very disheartening to me to be presented with an example of a fellow human being (let alone a fellow Girl Scout) who was so filled with confusion and fear. She is clearly afraid of transgendered people, and I think her fear stems from confusion. She seems to believe that transgender people are being deceptive when they present at the gender they most identify with, whereas I can't think of anything more honest. It's an honesty not easily come by in our society, either, as only illustrated by the opposition for acceptance presented in this video. She uses the research conducted by the GSUSA that supports all-girl groups as one support for her argument that transgendered individuals identifying as girls should not be allowed in Girl Scouts. There are two things wrong with this. First off, she's acting like a group of girls, some of who are biologically female and some who are biologically male, cannot be an all-girl group. That's false. Biologically male people who are transgender girls are girls. Secondly, the benefits that an all-girl group has for children seem to be right in line with accepting transgender people who identify as girls. From 10 Emerging Truths, a publication of the GSUSA, she quotes these advantages to having an all-girl group: * Relate to other girls * Talk about issues you can't in front of boys * Be yourself * Look how you want to look Now, I like to believe that girls in my troop and other troops are deeper than just our biology. I think the problems facing girls - transgendered or not - go beyond just talking about period cramps. In fact, the problems my girls talk about with rarely have anything to do with biology, and I lead a troop at an age where most girls are going through heaps of changes including starting menstruation, beginning to develop breasts, and other not-so-fun girl issues. So, I don't see where a transgendered individual would not be an asset to the group or benefit herself from the interactions described by any of these points. It seems to me, that an individual who identifies with girls as their gender, but was born biologically male could only deepen the conversations and allow Girl Scouts to exercise the freedom and acceptance that they desire from each other with one and other. I don't think I have to point this out, but I felt a great sense of pride to be a Girl Scout, too, while watching this video because I love the fact that the Girl Scouts continues to be an accepting, inclusive organization. I know there are troops and councils out there that are less so, but the fact the our over-seeing organization consistantly adopts policies and practices that validate and support all girls makes me proud to be a leader. I'm even proud that, though I completely disagree with the girl in the video, she's allowed to voice her opinion and that the practices of the Girl Scouts allow her to do so. I like that the Girl Scouts invites and encourages girls to continue to voice their opinions. Oddly, I'm even a little proud of the girl in the video for voicing her opinion, though I am hopeful she changes her mind. (Not for the sake of others, but for her - the burden of ignorance is weighing so heavily on her that it has filled her with fear and turned her into a bully.) I like that the organization of Girl Scouts is constantly changing and growing and that the one constant is that we try to create the best environment for our girls so that they may become the best global citizens possible. I try, daily, to live up to the Girl Scout Law - which can be fucking hard sometimes. It isn't easy to be a sister to a bigot like the girl in the video. It isn't easy to be kind when someone else's words are so caustic. But, you know what? I'm proud that the Girl Scouts remains and organization that at its base is all about being the best person you can be to benefit yourself and others. So, I keep striving for that goal. I'm also proud of the person I am as a Girl Scout. When I was younger, I couldn't say the same thing. I had a shitty leader most of the time, who encouraged small-minded behavior and prompted the other girls to reject me. (I'm not transgendered - I was just weird and showing early signs of my bisexuality.) That was disappointing. However, the values of Girl Scouting are what drew me back in and make me proud to be a Girl Scout today. I'm proud that all girls in my troop feel wanted and like they belong. I'm proud that even though we are very different, we accept and care for each other. I'm proud that in the four years I've been leading, our troop has tripled in size. I'm proud that my girls make thoughtful decisions and are generous with their time and resources. I'm proud that at an age when girls are stereotypically most selfish, they are working hard to see beyond themselves and out to the greater good they can do in society. I'm also proud of all the girls (and guys) who have responded to the video and positive ways, like this: I want to do a service project and go camping with her, too! I'm so happy and proud to be a Girl Scout.