27 replies to this topic

[MsBeth]

My gosh Michael it was awfull, all I could think was "oh you poor child, having been taught such hate and contempt". It was so sad to see and hear such a transphobic display from a youth.

[UsernameOptional]

"My gosh Michael [the video] was awfull..." -Beth
It sounds like it, Beth.  And the video responses bear that out also.

While watching the vids -I watched about 25 of them- I saw only one or two that completely missed the point and bordered on transphobia.  There were a couple that, though they obviously weren't trans-knowledgable, they recognized that the girl's video was hurtful.  There were a couple of vids in which the authors felt the girl had been coached...that the whole thing had been choreographed by adults.  This got me to thinking.  Comments were apparently off from the get-go.  Then, the video was made private.  We're talking about the Girl Scouts.  So, what better way to get people to listen than to have a Girl Scout as a speaker?  

Here's a scenario:
An adult or a group of adults are insensed that the GSUSA allows little transgirls to join the Girl Scouts.  Of course, to these people, these are perverted "men" intent on infiltrating a girl's organization for their own sick satisfaction.  Now, their little girls won't be safe.  So they get one of the scouts to tell the world how wrong this is, how the GSUSA has lied to them, and been unfair to them.  People will believe a young girl.  So they make the vid to appeal to the public, to get the public's sympathy and get them to realize that "boys" shouldn't be allowed to join the Girl Scouts.

But, despite the plea being made by a young girl, it angered people.  And people lashed out.  Some lashed out pretty harshly.  No matter what this girl might believe...she is just a girl.  If this vid was indeed choreographed by adults using a child to push their agenda... they have [albeit inadvertantly], in essense, made this girl a villian over-night so-to-speak.  She will, for god knows how long, be remembered as an intolerant, bigoted little girl who tried to bring down the Girl Scouts because the GSUSA was trying to do the right thing.

The vid may have been made private to get it out of circulation after adults saw the back-lash, and no doubt...how the back-lash has affected the girl.  Unless this girl is a died-in-the-wool, hard-core, weaned-on-bigotry mini conservative...the video responses had to have affected her.

If real-time tracks the same, or similar to the scenario I've suggested...  then the adults have realized too late that their plan back-fired.  Meanwhile, there's a little transgirl who's been battered emotionally by the likes of these people.  And another little girl who will now shoulder all the crap that will be shovelled her way because of adults who used her.

This was a lose-lose situation whether things played out like the suggested scenario or not.  Except maybe that people have vowed to buy twice the cookies they usually buy.

-Michael

[MsBeth]

“Girl Scouts accepts transgender kid, provokes cookie boycott”

“A group calling itself HonestGirlScouts.com has posted a YouTube video calling for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies in response to a Colorado troop's decision to allow a 7-year-old transgender child into its troop. Gay rights and transgender rights groups have reported a grassroots LGBT movement of supporters buying Girl Scout cookies in response to the video.” - Katia Hetter, Special to CNN

Girl Scouts accepts transgender kid, provokes cookie boycott

[MsBeth]

“Anti-Transgender Rant Will Be a Boon to Girl Scout Cookie Sales”

“The latest person to troll Girl Scout with her weird social hangups thinks people shouldn't buy their signature cookies because the scouts let a transgender girl in last year, but it looks like her plan is going to backfire and cookie sales will climb. A video appeared last week, featuring a Ventura, Ca. girl identified only as Taylor, who said the organization was using proceeds from the cookie sales to promote "the desires of a small handful of people," Huffington Post reported on Wednesday. Sherry Sybesma, the chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast, confirmed to us that the girl in the video is registered as a member of the council she runs. From what Girl Scouts administrators told us, and from what we're seeing online, the boycott effort is going to lead to more sales, if anything, from indignant supporters of the scouts and their decision last fall to accept a Colorado transgender kid named Bobby Montoya as a member. The group that apparently produced the video, called Honest Girl Scouts, has already started to walk it back.” - Adam Martin

Anti-Transgender Rant Will Be a Boon to Girl Scout Cookie Sales

[UsernameOptional]

I finally found a site with that video...but it wasn't the whole thing - only about three of the full eight-plus minutes.

This year is liable to be the best-ever in Girl Scout cookie history for sales.  I haven't bought any in a couple years...this gives me a reason to go looking for some.

-Michael

[MsBeth]

“The great Girl Scout cookie row”

“A teenage Girl Scout from southern California has been thrust to the centre of the culture wars, after starring in a viral video that attacked the organisation's little-known recruitment policy allowing transgendered children to join its ranks.” - Guy Adams

The great Girl Scout cookie row

[MsBeth]

“An Open Letter to the Transphobic Girl Scout”

“This letter is a response to Taylor, the 14-year-old girl who called for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies because the Scouts allow transgender members.” - Rebecca Kling

Letter to Transphobic Girl Scout

[UsernameOptional]

Good letter...but, sadly, I seriously doubt that "Taylor" will respond to it.

Did anyone happen to read the comments under the letter?

[MsBeth]

“Jim Bob Duggar, Star Of TLC's '19 Kids And Counting,' Sounds Off On Transgender Girl Scout Controversy”

“Duggar, speaking with Buzzfeed while on the road campaigning for Rick Santorum, said: "Our family loves Girl Scout cookies and I don't think allowing a boy in the Girl Scouts is a good thing."” –  Huffington Post


'19 Kids And Counting,' Sounds Off On Transgender Girl Scout

[UsernameOptional]

I wasn't surprised by Duggar's comments, though they seemed a bit reserved - I fully expected some bible-thumping.

It is alleged that the Duggar's are "quiverfull christians," which are conservative evangelical christians who's motivation is described as a missionary effort to raise as many christian children as possible to advance the cause of the christian religion.  They believe in boys having short hair, girls having long hair and always wearing dresses or skirts and being homemakers and childbearers.  They do not believe in any form or birth control, and subscribe to the ideas of biblical patriarchy.  Some have implied that the movement harbours racism or supremacist-like ideals.

I can imagine such people having a problem with anyone who is GLBT.

[UsernameOptional]

Before I retired, I never had to worry about GS cookies - there was always an employee around who had a daughter in the scouts.  Now, the only time I see GS cookies is when I happen to be at the right place at the right time.  But it didn't take me long to figure out that they are usually camped out in front of Walmart.  

Because of all the hullabaloo with the Louisiana troops that disbanded, and especially dear Taylor and her bigoted family, friends and troop leaders' production of the infamous 'boycott' video...I definitely wanted to make sure I got some cookies this year.  But as time has gone by, I started worrying - have I missed it?  Surely not.  So I went to the GS website.  I'm in luck... sales begin in February.  

I found a page where you can enter your zip code and find out when and where cookie sales are.  If you don't have a "regular supplier,"  check out the page to see where you can get your cookies... Find Cookies Now

[Lori]

3 Brownies in NJ decided to make a video to show their support for Bobby Montoya, a transgender girl scout in Colorado. Her admission has sparked nationwide controversy leading some to boycott girl scout cookies to protest her inclusion. The video was written by the three girls in their own words! See the full story at queeringthemind.com

[UsernameOptional]

Weren't they cute!!  I hope the world never changes them.  I hope little Bobbie has friends like them nearby.

I bought my cookies...    did you buy yours??