Such a big world, and so many things to change.
This is simply sad and frustrating. An 8-year old boy was banned from the boy scouts for being transgender. Joe’s mom learned the news over a phone call when a Scouting official informed her that her son was no longer a member of the pack.
Joe’s situation is just one of the many injustices transgender people has to deal with throughout their lives. That’s why Joe is raising his voice, this type of changes is actually very important in order to achieve a change in society. We need to educate people about this matter and integrate them all into society.
You’re not alone Joe!
Frustration and disappointment.
After his transition from girl to a boy, Joe has been involved in activities such as Boy Scouts, in which he felt completely welcomed and really happy. This was until the organization decided to remove him from his pack. Now he feels frustrated for not being accepted for who he really is.
Transition into the person he really is, Joe.
Joe has lived as a boy for over a year now when he began his transition. Once he began his path to the person he really is, he was enlisted in a new school and his mother informed the community about his transition. They did the same when he decided to join the Boy Scouts, and in both opportunities, the community agreed.
Kicked out of the BS.
In an unfair and embarrassing move, an official of the BSA made a call to Joe’s mom and informed her that her kid was no longer part of the pack. Supposedly, some parents complained about Joe, hence the kid was removed from the pack. It’s important to point out that Joe’s pack peers were ok with him, and he felt welcomed by them.
Homophobic and discriminatory policies.
Joe’s ejection is the first time the BSA removes a member for being transgender. The move comes after a series of controversies involving The Boy Scouts of America. The 105 years association had a ban that barred gay members and leaders based on their sexual orientation. After being heavily criticized for this homophobic and discriminatory policies regarding gay members and leaders, the association lifted the ban last year.
But transgender is a whole different thing…
At least for the BSA, that states that its view of transgender children is a separate issue. Now the association says that even when a participant cannot be removed on the basis of their sexual orientation, the classification of the participants is based on their birth certificate. And since Joe was born as a girl this is a problem. It seems that is just too soon for the association to deal with their retrograde views and policies regarding people gender identity for now.
Sex and gender.
Let’s clear one thing out, sex and gender are different things. When a person is born a birth sex is assigned to fit it’s biological characteristics, gender is a social construct that fits with characteristics a culture gives to feminine and masculine roles, but it has nothing to do with biology. The truth is that what really matter is how the person identifies, because is their true essence, and in Joe’s case he identifies himself as a boy. So he is a boy.
“I had a sad face, but I wasn’t crying. I’m way more angry than sad.”
Joe feels really disappointed for the whole situation, and also angry. They’re kicking him out for being who he truly is.The world we live in needs more compassion and acceptance for others. It’s important to educate not only young, but older generations, in terms of sexual identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Most of all, it’s important to remind each other that we’re all humans and that there’s a place for all in here, but first, we have to acknowledge and respect the other.
“If I was them, I would let every person in the world go in. It’s right the right thing to do.”
Little Joe got it just right! Let’s work for a world full of acceptance, compassion, integration, and respect for everybody, and most of all for people like Joe to find their place here.
When people learned of Joe’s removal they turned to the internet.
Joe is getting an incredible support from people who think this is more than unfair.
"I'm way more angry than sad. My identity is a boy. If I was them, I would let every person in the world go" – Joe https://t.co/OYbdhmsLlw😥
— dani (@danirussin) December 29, 2016
8yo #trans boy asked to leave NJ Cub Scouts. "If I was them I'd let everyone in. It's right to do.” U Tell 'em, Joe https://t.co/06RzyTNYyQ
— Annie Fox, M.Ed. (@Annie_Fox) December 29, 2016
It's great Joe wants to go on camping trips. As the mother of an Eagle Scout, I wish he wasn't being left behind. https://t.co/JyBexlOui2
— Susan DeSantis (@sndesantis) December 27, 2016
We call on Cub Scout Pack 87 of let little Joe from North NJ into their pack. #transgender #LGBT+ #equality https://t.co/kmQJEpdkjB
— Punk Out (@PunkOutLGBT) December 28, 2016
There’s room for all!
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