A New Jersey chapter of the Boy Scouts of America will likely face legal action from the family of an 8-year-old boy who was kicked out of his Cub Scout troop because he is transgender, NJ.com reports.
The boy, Joseph Maldonado, first rose to prominence in December when his mother told media that the Boy Scouts of America's Northern New Jersey Council had informed her he could not participate in the Cub Scouts—which according to the BSA website is for boys in first through fifth grades—because of his gender identity.
According to a recent article from North Jersey.com, Maldonado had been participating in Secaucus Cub Scouts for several weeks before an official got in touch with his mom and informed her that he could not continue on with the organization.
Maldonado's mother, Kristie, has said that things were going fine for her son in the scouts until the call. She said she believes that another parent complained about Joseph—who had previously gone by the name "Jody"—because the organization itself had never sought to verify the gender identity Joseph had been assigned at birth.
Maldonado and Kristie appeared on several television stations in late December to tell their story. He said on CNN that he had wanted to join "because my friend was in the Boy Scouts and it was really fun. It was just so fun, I can't believe this happened."
"He just wants to live life normal," his mother explained. A number of individuals and organizations have come out in support of the Maldonados, including Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli. Garden State Equality also created a petition expressing support for Joe. As of Monday, it had attracted more than 2,900 signatures.
But despite Kristie Maldonado's earlier statements that she did not intend to take legal action, NJ.com now reports that she is preparing to file a discrimination complaint with the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. The complaint reportedly states that the ban on transgender participants in the Cub Scouts goes against New Jersey's public accommodation laws, which prevent discrimination against members of protected classes.
Earlier this month, Kristie Maldonado posted on Facebook stating that even if the scouts were to reconsider the ban, Joe would not be returning to his scouting troop. "I think it's a little to [sic] late they already discriminated against my child,” she wrote. "I will not have my child in Secaucus Scouts."
The Boy Scouts of America's Northern New Jersey Council did not immediately respond to Gothamist's request for comment.
