Why Are Pro-Lifers Targeting the Girl Scouts?

[lakhota]

They sell cookies, they earn merit badges, they—promote abortion? Alizah Salario on how two teens from Texas are accusing the Girl Scouts of creating boot-stomping, sexualized radicals.

As devoted members of their local troop, sisters Tess and Sydney Volanski once held the Girl Scouts of the USA in high regard. Even when the girls reached their teens, they intended to stay affiliated with their close-knit troop throughout high school and earn the organization's prestigious Gold Award. But when these sisters from Texas learned what they call "jaw-dropping" information about the GSUSA—an organization they say helped them develop strong friendships and hone their leadership skills for nearly a decade—their plans quickly changed.

The Volanski sisters now believe that the Girl Scouts has a "pro-abortion mind-set" and a "radical feminist agenda." It's a belief that prompted them to abandon the organization in March 2010.

"While we recognize the many good things about the Girl Scouts, we had to ask ourselves: Will we stand for our beliefs, for the dignity of life, the sanctity of marriage, modesty, purity? Or will we remain true to the Girl Scouts? We cannot see any way to truly do both," they state on their website.

To spread the word, the Volanskis started the "Speak Now Girl Scouts" blog (the name is a nod to the title of a Taylor Swift album) to document the ways in which the organization supposedly pushes its radical agenda. They say this includes everything from providing information about reproductive health and birth control, to lauding leaders like Margaret Mead and Hillary Clinton. "The core of our mission is to spread awareness of the truth, and hopefully more media coverage will accomplish that," said Sydney Volanski in an email to The Daily Beast.

Is this beloved, century-old institution really churning out sexualized radicals along with Thin Mints and merit badges? Does the Girl Scouts organization have a "pro-abortion mind-set"?

The GSUSA officially maintains a neutral position on abortion and birth control. Because the organization has a two-tiered leadership structure, however, local or regional chapters have the autonomy to partner with organizations of their choice, which may include, say, Planned Parenthood affiliates (or, for that matter, conservative organizations).

"In some areas of the country, Girl Scout troops or groups may choose to hold discussions about human sexuality and may choose to collaborate with a local organization that specializes in these areas," said the GSUSA in a statement. "The topic is discussed from a factual, informative point of view and does not include advocacy or promotion of any social or religious perspective."

Despite this, the Volanskis' opinions have slowly attracted the attention of pro-life organizations nationwide. Two right-wing pro-life groups, the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) and the Family Research Council, have joined the two sisters in condemning the Girl Scouts, elevating a personal story of two teens cutting ties with their local troop to a full-scale assault on an organization known for peddling cookies and building "courage, confidence, and character."

"We think the [Girl Scouts'] national leadership has been infected with a radical feminist agenda," says Terry McKeegan, vice president of C-FAM.

More: www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-21/girl-scouts-and-abortion-pro-life-groups-target-gsusa/?cid=hp:mainpromo7

[Deleted]

How stupid. I was a girl scout in the 60s and they weren't radical. I'll warn my kids. You libs-- you want our kids at school, at girl scouts, drag them to protests, get them all ready for college indoctrination... anything at all to make kids think their parents are stupid.

[domeasingold]

I was a girl scouter in high school.

[fairlycrazy23]

Girl scouts seem just be a machine to sale cookies now.

[lakhota]

Maybe pro-lifers are just confused about "cookies"...?

[shelby]

Yes you can find a fight anywhere if you are that much of a fundamentalist. My boys are in boy scouts which openly condemns homosexuality and is very christian fundamentalists even though I am not. I could cry and whine then pull them out but why would i expect an entire group to conform to my beliefs and condemn and attack them. Seems a bit irrational to me, in other words get over yourself.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 22, 2011 20:48:26 GMT -5 shelby said:

Yes you can find a fight anywhere if you are that much of a fundamentalist. My boys are in boy scouts which openly condemns homosexuality and is very christian fundamentalists even though I am not. I could cry and whine then pull them out but why would i expect an entire group to conform to my beliefs and condemn and attack them. Seems a bit irrational to me, in other words get over yourself.

Unless GSUSA has been hijacked in which case they're right to raise awareness and take it back.

Gay rights organizations have targeted BSUSA for decades.

[billisonboard]

May 22, 2011 20:39:46 GMT -5 fairlycrazy23 said:

Girl scouts seem just be a machine to sale cookies now.

And that is a good thing. I love my Thin Mints.

[shelby]

"Unless GSUSA has been hijacked in which case they're right to raise awareness and take it back."

I find this a bit irrational and paranoid...hijacked by what? Take it back from what? Are you saying it should be an organization based only on some members world view, didn't it say in the article every charter has it's own choice in who it associates with, GSUSA is not siding on any issue as they should not. Are you paul suggesting they should not have that right?

As far as BSUSA and gay rights groups they are protesting the exclusion of any gay members. They can have their code of ethics which is fine but exclusion of any group usually tends to piss people off.

[henryclay]

I believe the Supreme Court said the Boy Scouts can exclude any one or any group that does not meet it's membership standards.

That left everybody else to start their own organizations, adopt any membership rules they chose, and be blessed they live in a country that would allow it. I don't believe I have heard that the Boy Scouts have faced any competition as a result. At least not until now.

I am not acquainted with any Girl Scouts, but until the doctors tolsd me to stop becaue of the chocolate content, I would stockpile their cookies every year. Now it's just their butter cookies and in limited amounts. It's a torture worse than waterboarding.

[shelby]

Yes henry and GSUSA has the right to run it's organization on the way it sees fit not based on the fringe few. Why don't the girls just make there own organization if they don't like it, instead of starting a "full-scale assault".

[txbo]

I was a Boy Scout and loved every thing about it. As far as I’m concerned it’s a great organization for young men. Of course as boys, we did not care about politics only about the friendships, camping and our merit badges. I would assume the GSOfA are the same plus cookies.

[pepper112765]

Wow. My youngest daughter just bridged on Friday night from Brownie to Junior. And I will say this, the seniors that are going off to college this fall will become students at Harvard, Barnard, Penn, USC, Temple, Trinity, AU, among other colleges. And all the seniors received their Gold Award. One held a workshop about math and received a grant from the Department of Education to put it on again because it was so well-received. Girl Scouts is a wonderful organization and because these troops, as they start from Daisy and continue through Ambassador, are based out of a church, I don't know if these topics will ever come up. The older girls are wonderful role models for the younger and that is something that I want my daughter to learn to emulate so she can be a role model also. Although some associate GS with just the cookies, these girls learn to be independent as well as work together in groups through their activities, just as working with the Salvation Army, literacy programs, etc. Thanks for whoever posted this, I will be passing it on to my daughter's troop leaders.

[Tennesseer]

What Tess and Sydney Volanski really meant to say was the Girl Scouts are turning out young terrorists we should be afraid of. Very afraid.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Since Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout cookies, I always wondered why brownies didn't sell.... brownies.

[thyme4change]

Anybody who uses the words "pro-abortion" is clearly trying to piss on a rattlesnake. Please, be pro-life all you want, but unless you want to be discounted, use the term "pro-choice" when discussing the other side.

I don't know anyone who thinks that EVERY pregnancy should end in abortion.

[Deleted]

And I don't know why Girl Scouts need to be turned in to PP activists. All the grown up GS should be aware of how the organization has changed since THEY were GS.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Since Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout cookies, I always wondered why brownies didn't sell.... brownies.

Initiation into the Cub Scouts was that you had to eat a Brownie....

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]