Girl Scouts versus right and wrong

American families have trusted the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to teach their sons and daughters about leadership and service—but the Boy Scouts last week decided to accept gay scouts, and Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) pays $1 million in annual membership fees to an organization that distributed a brochure telling girls, “There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore, and be yourself!”

GSUSA is the largest member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts (WAGGGS), and contributes one-fourth of their 10 million members, reports LifeNews.com. In 2010 GSUSA participated in a no-adults-allowed WAGGGS conference that distributed a “Healthy, Happy and Hot” brochure with graphic details on how to have “safe” sex.

GSUSA claims no previous knowledge of the brochure’s distribution: “The GSUSA’s relationship with WAGGGS is akin to the United States’ relationship with the United Nations (UN). The United States may not agree with every position the UN takes, but values having a seat at the table.”

GSUSA allows not only lesbian scouts but leaders, and announces on its website, “Girl Scouts of the USA and its local councils and troops value diversity and inclusiveness and do not discriminate on the basis of … sexual orientation.”

The GSUSA is encountering some opposition to its policies. Former Girl Scouts Sydney and Tess Volanski launched a website in 2011, SPEAK NOW. They say on their website, “We refuse to remain silent while this organization’s unscrupulous principles mislead over 2 million girls in the United States alone.”

We at WORLD would like to know more about how GSUSA policies work out in practice. Please send your experiences to arobertson@worldmag.com.