The Boy Scouts could face more policy changes in regard to LGBT members after an 8-year-old transgender boy was ousted from his Cub Scout group.
Joe Maldonado had only been in the Scouts group a month before he was asked to leave because of parents' complaints, according to his mother, Kristie Maldonado.
Kristie said that her son's gender identity was no secret and that "not one of the kids said, 'You don't belong here,'" she told USA Today.
While the Boy Scouts has relaxed restrictions on gay Scouts and troop leaders following significant donation losses in the last few years, the organization made clear in a statement that "gender identity isn't related to sexual orientation" and that no policies existed to address transgender members. The statement said that membership in the Cub Scouts program was restricted to boys between 7 and 10 years old, which would be determined by the "participant's birth certificate."
By contrast, the Girl Scouts of America--which shares no affiliation with the Boy Scouts--welcomes transgender girls "if the child is recognized by the family and school/community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl," according to the group's website.
