Patti Garibay, a mother of three from northern Cincinnati who led multiple Girl Scout troops and served as an area delegate in the 1980s and early 1990s, left the organization in 1995 to found American Heritage Girls, a faith-based scouting alternative. The move came after what Garibay described as discovering in 1993 that Girl Scouts USA had removed reference to God from its Promise without notifying local delegates.
The departure of Garibay and subsequent growth of competing organizations highlight ongoing tensions between some conservative families and the national Girl Scouts' policies on LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity programming, particularly during Pride Month activities.
What the Right Is Saying
Garibay argues her decision to leave Girl Scouts stemmed from lack of transparency about governance changes she said affected volunteers' religious expression. American Heritage Girls, which reports tripling its membership since 2019 to over 60,000 members across all 50 states, requires girls and adult volunteers to sign a statement of faith.
Conservative commentators have highlighted Girl Scouts USA's publicly available Pride Month programming, including fun patch activities for various age groups that include suggestions such as studying LGBTQ+ historical figures. Some parents argue that optional activities still represent organizational endorsement they prefer to avoid.
The Family Research Council has argued that allowing biological males who identify as female into girls' overnight facilities raises safety and privacy concerns. Several state legislatures have considered bills restricting minors' access to sex-segregated spaces based on gender identity, with implications for youth organizations.
What the Left Is Saying
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and progressive commentators argue that Girl Scouts' inclusive policies reflect broader societal recognition of gender identity. The Human Rights Campaign has praised organizations that affirm transgender youth, stating that exclusionary practices cause measurable harm to mental health among LGBTQ+ young people.
Girl Scouts USA says its policies ensure all girls feel welcome regardless of background. A 2023 organizational statement said the group 'has been and will continue to be inclusive of all girls' and noted that local councils set their own programming priorities within national guidelines.
Progressive parents who support the organization point to decades of leadership development, entrepreneurship through cookie sales, and outdoor education. They argue that scouting should reflect America's demographic diversity and that families uncomfortable with inclusion policies can choose alternatives without characterizing standard practices as problematic.
What the Numbers Show
American Heritage Girls reports more than 60,000 members in over 1,200 troops across all 50 states as of 2025, up from approximately 20,000 members in 2019. The organization was founded in 1995 and operates under a Christian worldview framework requiring volunteer adherence to a statement of faith.
Girl Scouts USA reports approximately 2.5 million active members as of 2024, down from 3.8 million in 2003 according to IRS filings reviewed by Chronicle of Philanthropy. The organization attributes declines partly to competition from extracurricular activities and changing demographics rather than policy disputes.
A 2023 YouGov poll found that 44% of American adults view Girl Scouts favorably compared to 6% unfavorable, with 50% expressing no opinion. Among Republican respondents, favorable views stood at 39%.
The Trevor Project's 2024 survey of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-24 found that 41% reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. Organizations advocating for inclusive policies cite such data when supporting youth-serving organizations' non-discrimination protections.
The Bottom Line
The debate over Girl Scouts reflects broader national tensions around LGBTQ+ inclusion, religious liberty, and parental rights in youth programming. Families seeking faith-based alternatives have multiple options including American Heritage Girls, Trail Life USA (for boys), and other organizations with explicit values statements.
Girl Scouts USA has maintained that local councils control programming while the national organization sets broad policies on non-discrimination. The organization's 501(c)(3) status requires it to operate without discrimination based on protected characteristics in many jurisdictions.
Parents evaluating youth organizations should review each group's specific policies, as practices vary significantly between local councils and competing alternatives. Both American Heritage Girls and Girl Scouts USA remain active recruiting members with different approaches to identity, faith, and programming.