Members aged 10 to 17 of Boy Scouts of America will now be called Scouts BSA instead of Boy Scouts in February 2019, according to USA Today. Cub Scouts, members aged 7-10, will retain their name because it is already gender neutral.
These name changes come just a few months after the organization allowed girls and transgender youths into their program.
"It is important that all youth can see themselves in scouting in every way possible," said Michael Surbaugh, chief scout executive, according to Business Insider. "That is why it is important that the name for our scouting program for older youth remain consistent with the single-name approach used for the Cub Scouts.”
The change has only increased the existing tension between Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts CEO, Sylvia Acevedo, told Business Insider, "We are, and will remain, the first choice for girls and parents who want to provide their girls opportunities to build new skills, explore STEM and the outdoors, participate in community projects, and grow into happy, successful, civically engaged adults.”
Girl-led. Girl-tested. Girl-approved since 1912. https://t.co/iXkXC8fm2Opic.twitter.com/ijV3STKj81
— Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) May 2, 2018
Many men’s rights activists took to Twitter to complain about the change, but for much different reasons than the Girl Scouts.
This is nonsensical. The Boy Scouts have now chosen to drop "Boy" from their name. Now it's just going to be the "Scouts" because masculinity is so toxic now. They've also launched a new initiative called "Scout Me In" to attract all genders to the program. The youth is screwed.
— Joey M. (YourVoice™ America) (@JTMYVA) May 2, 2018
The war on boys and men continue!
It looks like we have reached the end of the road with the Boy Scouts.
The organization has decided to drop “boys” from its name.
The war on masculinity continues. There are no places for boys or men to escape the scourge called feminism.
— Jake Highwell (@JakeHighwell) May 2, 2018