Transgender woman Diane Schroer, a former Army Special Forces commander, won a discrimination lawsuit against the Library of Congress in September 2008. She will speak about equality during the GSHOM conference on Nov 17.
YPSILANTI – The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan is in the business of helping girls grow up to be confident and courageous.
"We felt that we have to, as an organization – me personally (too), I have to be courageous myself – be a role model for all those assets and competencies we expect girls to obtain. As an organization, our entire leadership team feels it is really important that we model courage. One way to do that is by assertively reaching out to find ways to be more inclusionary and more open," said Jan Barker, CEO of GSHOM.
By way of the Supporting Inclusiveness in Girl Scouting conference, the GSHOM council leadership and staff will springboard the development of new resources. The one-day event on Nov. 17 is the first of its kind in the nation. It will be held from 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Marriott at Eagle Crest, 1275 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti.
While some might view the conference as a risky position to take, Barker said, "We are going to help girls succeed in ways society hasn't been able to figure out on its own. This accumulation of 20-plus years of watching people struggle over things that are so simple that don't deserve struggle – we have an opportunity to change that. My staff sounds just like me. It's really simple. We love girls. We love the people who care about girls. I want girls to grow up and rule the world and whatever it takes, that's what we do."
The Girl Scouts have a long history of ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, safe and supported. Since the 1920s, when the first Native American and Mexican American Girl Scout troops formed, to the early 1950s – when Girl Scouts pressed for racial equality – to embracing girls and adult volunteers regardless of sexual orientation, GSHOM is proud of their commitment to full inclusion.
We're passionate about learning and understanding the right vernacular, the right vocabulary, so we can truly have a meaningful, safe harbor. I felt a real need to learn about some of the issues. – Jan Barker, CEO of GSHOMToday, GSHOM is eager to affirm this commitment for their transgender girls and volunteers. They know that, across the Girl Scout landscape, leadership, staff and volunteers alike need to build a better understanding of the issues.
GSHOM is learning language that is correct and appropriate and that lets transgender girls and their families know they're welcome within the Girl Scouts organization, where they can have the life-changing experiences Girl Scouting brings to every girl.
"We're passionate about learning and understanding the right vernacular, the right vocabulary, so we can truly have a meaningful, safe harbor. I felt a real need to learn about some of the issues," said Barker. "I think it's imperative since we're in the business of healthy girl development that we do something. We are incredibly grateful that people have embraced us and wanted to help us learn so we could in turn help the families and the girls that need us."
Diane Schroer, a nationally recognized pioneer in transgender issues, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. In September 2008,a federal district judge ruled that the Library of Congress illegally discriminated against Schroer, in a groundbreaking decision that found that discriminating against someone for changing genders is sex discrimination under federal law. Schroder interviewed for a job as a terrorism research analyst at the Library of Congress and her job offer was rescinded when she told her future supervisor she was in the process of gender transition. In April 2009, the judge ordered the government to pay nearly $500,000 in compensation for the discrimination, which was the maximum to be awarded in the case.
"Equality and inclusiveness are key to everything we do. It's fundamental to the concept of fairness," said Schroer, an honor graduate of the National War College and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. "It is especially important for our young adults, because the concepts we practice when we are young become our everyday life as we tackle the really critical challenges."
The "Introduction to Inclusiveness and Inclusive Language" session will be facilitated by Sojn Boothroyd, an educator, social justice activist and award-winning interdisciplinary artist with 20 years of experience working with K-12 youth in schools and community centers throughout the state of Washington, Chicago, Boston, New York City and Michigan.
Jay Maddock, executive director at the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center, will discuss "Supporting Inclusion in the Troop Setting." Attendees can also learn more about updating or upgrading facilities to ensure girl safety and privacy. GSHOM will look at some examples and ideas for retrofitting shower and bathroom facilities that are affordable and meet the needs of all Girl Scouts and their friends and families.
The Spectrum Center at the University of Michigan will feature their My Voice Program to provide panels of trained LGBTQA+ speakers to share their personal stories with audiences. These panelists help "put a face" on LGBTQA+ communities and experiences and facilitate vibrant discussions about topics of attractionality, sexuality and gender.
Girl Power
Girl Scouts have a 100-plus year history of empowering girls. Building women leaders has led to generations of Girl Scout leaders and influencers such as Michelle Obama, Sandra Day O'Connor and astronaut Sally Ride. However, GSHOM has recognized girls and women are still not equal in U.S. society.
"We can prepare our girls to acquire all the leadership skills in the world, but when they get out in the bigger world it's not a level playing field," said Barker. "It's not a level playing field on a college campus when a girl is at a higher risk of being raped or assaulted. It's not a level playing field when only 20 percent of U.S. senators, 19 percent of house representatives, 24 percent of state legislators and 5 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women."
There are 26,000 Girl Scout members in the GSHOM council throughout 34 counties in southwest, central and northeast lower Michigan. Regional headquarters are located in Saginaw, Lansing, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Jackson and Kalamazoo.
Together they are headed in a new direction to directly confront the issue of structural and cultural sexism in America. Titled "Equality for Girls," the new initiative and theme launched nationwide in August.
"Our organization can have a huge influence in someone's life. We are preparing girls to gain self-confidence, problem solving skills and critical thinking skills. They can be leaders wherever they land in the world, but the world doesn't see Girl Scouts as a powerful leadership organization. We are more than cookies and camping and crafts. We are showing girls how to change their community for the better," said Barker, adding that the highest achievement for a Girl Scout is the Gold Award.
"Girls need to know that they can do anything. We decided that we wanted our girls to talk about this stuff and give choices to our girls about making social change and taking social action."
The initiative is focused on gender equality and equal treatment for girls in Michigan and the U.S., including promoting girl programs and gender-neutral programs often seen as "for boys," such as rope climbing and hiking. Leaders and volunteers are being trained to identify gender bias and help girls understand their influence and analyze or reject those biases. They are building leadership roles for older girls more directly so "Girl-Led" has meaning and practical applications. They are also recruiting leaders and volunteers, both women and men, who are passionate about helping girls develop as equal partners in society.
"I do think that empowerment of young women is really important," said Angie Martell of Iglesia Martell Law Firm, PLLC in Ann Arbor who will speak during the conference.
"It's about being out and feeling comfortable about being out. Not to feel that we have to be in the closet. If you can't be who you are, how are you going to talk about empowerment?"
Martell is a holistic lawyer working in divorce and family law, business, criminal defense, estate planning and elder law, LGBT issues, civil litigation, employee rights, workers' compensation and immigration law.
"Inclusivity is important, not only from an LGBT perspective, but also from a multi-cultural one," said Martell. "All identities need to be supported."
This falls in line with what it has meant to be a Girl Scout for decades.
"It means girls are stepping out. They can play basketball and don't have to wear bloomers and do not have to be confined to the tea room – because historically, girls playing sports was unacceptable as was hiking in the woods without petticoats, for example. We're not taking it anymore and are not going to be held hostage by a small minority who wants to discriminate. I'm really proud of that," said Barker.
But GSHOM will need continued support to keep trailblazing.
"Half of our income is from selling cookies. The rest comes from donors, both individual and from companies," said Barker. "We're always trying to find a way to welcome more girls, welcome more leaders and look for ways to find more resources for the girls."
To participate, there is a $250 conference fee which includes conference space, workshop costs and meals. Registration is required and can be completed online. For more information about GSHOM, visit their website or call 800-49-SCOUT.
