A testimony from a volunteer who is also a parent/carer
I am a Ranger leader, and previous Guide leader.
I am agender non-binary. It has taken me many years to figure out who i am, never feeling 'right' when being labelled by others, who decide based on my genitals, my body, my voice, who i should/must be. Expectations placed upon me about how i should look, act, move, dress etc. Being true to myself and developing my beliefs took a lot longer due to not having the terminology or access to a community of people like me, because we are in the minority. The vast minority.
I have a child who is a Ranger, who has been a Guide and a Brownie also. They are living by their promise, and this year acheived their Ranger Gold Award.
My Ranger is gender-questioning.
Being a teenager is hard, dealing with body changes, neurodivergence, disability, mental health issues, education, relationships and misogyny, among other things. They need the space and support to figure out who they are and how to proceed forward in their lives. The fact that some teenagers are also having the added pressure that to be true to themselves, now means risking being excluded from the very place they find comfort, safety, friendship and support, is appalling.
They now have to choose between telling the truth and losing potentially vital support, at one of the most difficult times of their lives.
We all deserve respect, protection, connection and support. We all deserve better than to be treated like we don't belong. We have done nothing wrong.
We are just people trying to live.
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