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	The Boy Scouts of America has announced it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enrol in its boys only programmes.</p>
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	The organisation said it has made the decision to base enrolment in boys only programmes on the gender a child or parent lists on the application to become a scout.</p>
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	The Boy Scouts had previously relied on the gender listed on a child&#39;s birth certificate.</p>
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	A spokeswoman for the organisation said it had made the decision based on states and communities changing how gender is defined.</p>
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	Kristie Maldonado said she had mixed emotions when a Boy Scouts official called to tell her about its decision.</p>
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	Her son, Joe, was asked to leave his New Jersey scout troop last autumn after parents and leaders found out he is transgender.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 31st January 2017)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/world-news/north-america/us-boy-scouts-announces-it-will-accept-transgender-children-35411727.html">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/north-america/us-boy-scouts-announces-it-will-accept-transgender-children-35411727.html</a></p>
