Transgender children to be allowed to join the Boy Scouts of America for the first time

The Boy Scouts of America has announced that it will start allowing transgender children who identify as boys to join for the very first time.

The organisation has previously only allowed cisgender boys to enrol but it has now made the decision to base enrollment in boys-only programmes on the gender a child or parent lists on the application to become a scout.

Previously Boy Scouts had relied on the gender listed on a child’s birth certificate.

MORE: Drug used to treat Malaria fails for the first time as disease shows signs of resistance
MORE: Austria bans the burqa in face of right-wing demands

A spokeswoman for the organisation said it had made the decision based on states and communities changing how gender is defined.

The Boy Scouts of America said in a statement: “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organisations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs.

“However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state.”

The decision was made after eight-year-old transgender child Joe Maldonado was told to leave the Scouts in New Jersey last year.

His mum Kristie said the announcement had left her with mixed emotions.

She said: “It’s a big change for everybody that all are accepted now… I’m so delighted that they finally called and they did say this, but I’m still angry.”

Children in the UK are already allowed to join the Scouts “regardless of their gender identity”.