Girl Scouts Turn Down $100K After Donor Demands Trans Discrimination

In May, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America announced that their organization is officially open to transgender girls. Soon after, the Girl Scouts of Western Washington received a large donation of $100,000 with this caveat: “Please guarantee that our gift will not be used to support transgender girls. If you can’t, please return the money.”

With a heavy heart, council CEO Megan Ferland sent the money back to the donor. “Girl Scouts is for every girl,” she told Seattle Met. “And every girl should have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout if she wants to.”

Ferland has kept the donor’s name private, but says that a donation that large could have been used to send 500 disadvantaged Girl Scouts to summer camp. To make up for the loss, the Girl Scouts of Western Washington have launched an Indiegogo fundraiser, stating, “$100,000 is a lot of money. 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 the gift is such a big deal.”

The statement continues:

Our vision at Girl Scouts of Western Washington is that EVERY girl in our region — regardless of her race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or geographic location — is empowered to unleash her potential, build her future and transform her world.

Through fundraising, the Girl Scouts of Western Washington seek to raise back the full $100,000. “Your donation to our #ForEVERYGirl Campaign will go to our financial assistance program and be awarded directly to girls who qualify for the federal free-and-reduced-price meal program at their schools and whose families request help to cover the costs of participating in Girl Scouts,” they write.