Candidate slams Boy Scouts’ plan to start admitting girls
Carlos Reyes, a South Florida Republican candidate for Congress, expressed outrage Thursday over the Boy Scouts’ decision to admit girls.
“Going down this path further waters down the foundational values and traditions that have made the Boy Scouts part of our American life,” Reyes said in a written statement.
On Wednesday, the Boy Scouts said it would admit girls to the Cub Scout program starting next year. The Cub Scout dens will be single-gender, all boys or all girls. The programming will be the same.
Coming in 2019 will be a “program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout.”
The Boy Scouts said it was responding to requests from girls and their families.
“Single-sex environments are the best way for boys and girls to learn,” Reyes said. “As grandparents and parents to boys and girls … I believe that boys learn best in an all-boy, boy-led environment and girls learn best in all-girl, girl-led environment.”
He also said it would hurt the Girl Scouts, “which have served our young girls for so long.”
Reyes dismissed the move as “a marketing ploy that will eventually fail as more families stay away from both organizations.”
Reyes suggested a different approach. “Rather than recruiting girls,” he said, “BSA should focus on attracting more Latino, black and Asian boys from lowincome households, teaching them traditional values and skills required in life.”
Reyes isn’t alone. The Girl Scouts aren’t welcoming the competition.
“Girl Scouts is the best girl leadership organization in the world, created with and for girls. We believe strongly in the importance of the all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment that Girl Scouts provides, which creates a free space for girls to learn and thrive,” the group said on its website.
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