Girl Scouts turn down $100,000 donation with limits on transgender members

EveryGirl Girl Scouts — The Girl Scouts have returned a $100,000 donation that had a limit on transgender members Screenshot

The Girl Scouts are standing firm on their support of transgender members even if it means losing a major donation. The organisation's Western Washington branch recently received a $100,000 (£63,650) donation that came with an important caveat: it could not help transgender girls.

The donor sent the Girls Scouts a note about the donation's condition, according to the Seattle Metropolitan. "Please guarantee that our gift will not be used to support transgender girls," the note said. "If you can't, please return the money."

So, in light of the national organisation's long-existing policy allowing transgender girls to be members, Girl Scouts of Western Washington council head Megan Ferland decided to return the gift to the donors, CNN reported.

"Girl Scouts is for every girl," Ferland told the Seattle Metropolitan. "And every girl should have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout if she wants to."

To make up for the lost donation, the Western Washington council created a 'Girl Scouts is #ForEVERYGirl" video along with an Indigogo fundraiser.

"$100,00 is a lot of money," the page states. "In fact, it's almost a third of our entire financial assistance program for this year—and girls need this support now. That's why losing this fit is such a big deal." The fundraiser, which has been up for a day, has already raised $177,815 from 3,297 donors.

The Girl Scouts has a long-standing policy allowing transgender girls as members.

"Girl Scouts is proud to be the première leadership organisation for girls in the country," the organisation's website FAQ states. "Placement of transgender youth is handled on a case-by-case basis, with the welfare and best interest of the child and the members of the troop/group in question a top priority. That said, if the child is recognised by the family and school/community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, then Girl Scouts is an organisation that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe."