Chicago-area advocates for LGBTQ equality on Tuesday commended the Boy Scouts of America’s policy change to allow transgender youth to join the organization.

"We knew that eventually this would come up and this would bubble to the surface, and when it did, we were prepared to march back into battle," said Cate Readling, co-founder of the Oak Park chapter of Scouts for Equality, which advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer inclusiveness.

But there was no need for a big fight, said Readling, who is also a registered volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts.

"In my opinion, clearly the BSA has a greater understanding of the direction of our country, of our communities and of the public," she said.

The Boy Scouts announced Monday that it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys-only programs after an 8-year-old transgender child from New Jersey was asked to leave his Scout troop last fall when parents and leaders found out he is transgender.

The statement issued Monday said the change was made because of the larger conversation about gender identity going on around the country.

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

If you like Boy Scouts’ new transgender policy, speak up Heidi Stevens

If you’re cheering the Boy Scouts’ decision to allow transgender kids to join their ranks, consider doing so out loud.

The century-old organization announced Monday it will now base enrollment on the gender listed on the application, rather than the gender listed on a child’s birth certificate.

…

If you’re cheering the Boy Scouts’ decision to allow transgender kids to join their ranks, consider doing so out loud.

The century-old organization announced Monday it will now base enrollment on the gender listed on the application, rather than the gender listed on a child’s birth certificate.

… (Heidi Stevens)

Chicago’s Center on Halsted was thrilled to hear about the change and is considering renewing its efforts to start a Boy Scouts group at its Lakeview facility. In 2015, the center discussed starting a Boy Scouts troop but pulled back on submitting paperwork to get approved as a charter because officials thought they had bonus veren siteler to have a religious affiliation — but community-based organizations also qualify, according to Kim Fountain, the center’s chief operating officer.

"The Boy Scouts have really been wrestling with LGBTQ issues over the last several years," Fountain said. "Our community has been waiting for something, this kind of positive moment. We’re hungry for the collaborative moment and collaborative opportunity with an organization like the Boy Scouts of America, where there’s been movement toward fuller inclusion."

Boy Scouts leaders lifted a blanket ban on gay troop leaders and employees in July 2015 amid intense pressure. The group had, after heated internal debate, decided in 2013 to allow openly gay youths as Casinovale Scouts. The national Girl Scouts organization, which is not affiliated with the Boy Scouts, has accepted transgender members for years.

Mary Anderson, who wasn’t allowed to be a Cub Scout leader in 2012 because she is gay, said she was saddened to hear about the Boy Scout leaving his New Jersey troop but pleasantly surprised to find out the Boy Scouts responded fairly quickly in handling the matter.

"I’m incredibly proud of the Boy Scouts of America for doing this basically on their own. There was no lawsuit filed, no major petition campaigns," said Anderson, who helped start Scouts for Equality in Oak Park. "I think (the policy change is) creating a culture of acceptance."

On the Scouts for Equality website, parents are able to see which troops are considered to provide fully inclusive environments for youths and adult leaders, she said. Additionally, the group provides anti-bullying resources.

Kristie Maldonado, mother of Joe, the transgender youth from New Jersey who had been asked to leave his troop, told The Associated Press that a Boy Scouts representative called her Monday to tell her the organization would allow her son to re-enroll in his troop. "I’m so grateful. I really am that they’re accepting and that there won’t be any issues. They (other transgender youth) won’t have to go through what my son went through," Maldonado said.

Boy Scouts will allow transgender children who identify as boys into programs Tribune news services

The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys only programs.The organization said it had made the decision to begin basing enrollment in its boys-only programs on the gender a child or parent lists on the application…

The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys only programs.The organization said it had made the decision to begin basing enrollment in its boys-only programs on the gender a child or parent lists on the application…

(Tribune news services)

As a leader of a Cub Scouts unit at a local church, Readling said she has a lot of control over her pack, including ensuring that it’s open and inclusive as possible. She said she has never asked to see a birth certificate so a child could join.

"For me, it was not about specifically inviting transgender people. It’s more about making sure anyone and everyone feels welcome," she said.

The next step is to make sure implementation of the new policy is smooth and accompanied by dialogue and education, Fountain said. "It’s one thing to say, ‘Yes, we welcome you with open arms.’ It’s another thing to have a set of practices that make people feel included, because that’s where things often go awry," she said.

Fountain said she found it gratifying to see the Boy Scouts aligned with the views of organizations like Center on Halsted and others that have worked toward inclusiveness.

"This is a reflection of the changes in our country toward greater inclusion around gender identity," she said. "To me, that is remarkable because LGBTQ organizations have been working so hard on the ground to talk to people at the grass-roots level to national level on the importance of gender inclusion and health and wellness and the feeling of belonging in our community."

Associated Press contributed.

lvivanco@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lvivanco

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.