Scouts leader asked what my three-year-old son’s gender is – here’s what I told him
A MUM who was asked for her young son’s gender by a Scout leader joked: “Today he identifies as a pirate.”
Sarah Heath, 38, was signing three-year-old Jonathan up to Beavers.
She said: “I don’t have a problem with the question but it did seem a little silly watching Jonathan with his eye patch and his cutlass — he isn’t aware of gender.”
It emerged last year the Scout Association asks parents for their child’s gender.
Options to select from are male, female, self-identify or prefer not to say. Jonathan’s brother Sam, seven, is a member of the 15th Norwich Beaver group. Sarah and husband Chris, 42, were signing their youngest up early.
They said they “fell about laughing” after being asked and Sarah’s pirate response.
She added: “The local Scout leader is a great chap and does a brilliant job and I’m sure he is only doing what he is told. You have to see the funny side though.
“It is an interesting topic of debate for sure and these huge organisations will have so many things to consider.”
The gender question is one of several inclusivity moves by the Scout Association, which became mixed in 1991. In 2017, leaders were told to stop calling kids “boys” or “girls” and use phrases such as “hello everyone” instead.
It also updated its style guide last year to dissuade use of terms such as “falling on deaf ears” and has introduced a “trans fun” badge.
A Scouts spokesman said: “Scouts is open to everyone — especially young pirates.”
They added that data on kids is collected to “provide the best support we can”.