The Boy Scouts of America has kicked an 8-year-old New Jersey boy out of the organization after learning that he is transgender.
Joe Maldonado had been living as male for more than a year before he joined the Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts Cub Scout Pack 87 in Secaucus. His mother says that after someone complained to the local Boy Scouts council office, a Scouting official told her that her son would no longer be allowed to participate. The story was first reported by The Record.
A spokesperson for the Boy Scouts says the organization adheres to the sex listed on a scout's birth certificate.
Justin Wilson is the Executive Director of Scouts for Equality, an advocacy group for gay scouts. He says the Scouts have no formal policy on gender identity, and he believes this is the first case of the organization rejecting a child over their gender.
"There's nothing on the youth application that mentions needing a birth certificate." he said. "I would recommend they follow the lead of the Girl Scouts and welcome any young person that identifies, and lives their life culturally and socially, as a boy."
Wilson spoke with WNYC's David Furst.
Updated at 12:15 p.m.: