The Girl Scouts of The USA (GSUSA) has a longstanding history & policy of supporting and being inclusive of transgender youth girls. It’s actually been going on for over a decade. Since 2011, the GSUSA has publicly defended this position despite periodic pushback from various groups.
The GSUSA’s national stance is that if a child is recognized by their family, school, and community as a girl and, “lives culturally as a girl,” they are welcome to join. The organization views its mission - to build girls of courage, confidence, and character - as extending to all girls.
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS: While the national organization provides the green light, the actual placement of transgender youth is typically handled at the local council level. They focus on the, “welfare and best interests,” of the child and the troop.
PRIVACY RIGHTS: Official volunteer resources often emphasize that every Girl Scout has a right to privacy regarding their gender identity - just like the rest of humanity.
SCOUTING AMERICA vs. GIRL SCOUTS: It’s crucial to distinguish the two; while Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts) recently faced political pressure regarding its DEI and transgender policies in early 2026, the Girl Scouts have historically maintained their independent, inclusive path.
I’m not going to have a debate in this piece at all, that can be for future articles, this article is strictly meant to focus on the cookie sales which highlights the real-world impact of these policies.
In recent years, the selling of the cookies has become more than just a fundraiser, it’s evolved into a massive show of community support for transgender youth.
One of the most significant trends in supporting transgender youth girls of the Girl Scouts, is the, “Trans Girl Scout Cookie List,” that was started by journalist, Erin Reed, around 2022.
This annual list highlights individual transgender scouts (with their families permission) to help them reach their sales goals.
As of early March 2026, the scouts on that list have collectively sold over 330, 000 boxes of cookies!! What started with just three girls a few years ago now features over 220 scouts!!
These sales have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local troops, funding everything from trips to Alaska and Japan to community service projects like building backpacks for foster children.
For many transgender girls, the Digital Cookie platform is a game-changer.
SAFETY & PRIVACY: In areas where they might face hostility or, “gender policing,” selling online allows them to participate fully without the risks associated with door-to-door sales or standing at public booths.
NATIONAL REACH: It allows allies from across the country to support a specific scout in a, “red state,” or a non-affirming community, which parents say provides a huge emotional boost to the kids.
THE BROADER CONTEXT: In the United Kingdom, late 2025, their equivalent (Girlguiding) reversed its inclusive policy, making the GSUSA’s continued support a unique, “island of inclusion,” in the scouting world.
Families frequently report that the massive outpouring of cookie orders makes the girls feel, “seen and loved,” at a time when they are often the subject of intense political debate - which nobody should ever have to go through, let alone our children.
The Girls Scouts have spent over a century evolving to meet the needs of the times. As these record-breaking sales show, the mission hasn’t changed - only the reach has. It raises the question: if a box of Thin Mints can build a bridge across a cultural divide, what else are we capable of when we choose inclusion over exclusion and in turn, choose love?
Years from now, these Scouts won’t just remember the math they learned or the badges they earned. They’ll remember the year the world rallied behind them one box at a time.
In a society often defined by its friction, could the humble cookie sale be the blueprint for how we support all of our youth?
Forever an ally,
