The Girl Scouts pushed back against a viral right-wing claim that the organization is teaching girls Islam by dismissing it as "misinformation."
In a statement put out on social media on Tuesday, Girl Scouts of the USA broke its silence after MAGA podcaster and self-described White House correspondent Natalie Winters framed longstanding faith-recognition programs as the "Islamization of Girl Scouts across America" in a post on her Substack.
In her Substack article, Winters pointed to mosque-based troops incorporating prayer, Ramadan observance, hijab lessons, and medals reading "Girl Scout of the Islamic Faith."
"There's misinformation circulating online today about Girl Scouts and religion," the organization's statement read. "Girl Scouts is not a religious organization and does not teach religion. For more than a century, we've welcomed girls of every faith and background."
Winters' claim had already made its rounds through the conservative ecosystem, though. Turning Point USA, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, and outlets such as The Post Millennial and WorldNetDaily amplified Winters' claim, and many paired it with calls to boycott Girl Scout cookies.
Girl Scouts has recognized faith-based awards administered by outside religious organizations since 1912, including ones recognizing Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and other traditions, according to the Girl Scouts' national faith pages.
"Our national My Promise, My Faith pin invites girls to connect the Girl Scout Law with their own faith," the Girl Scouts statement read. "Any other faith-based patches are developed by independent faith organizations, not Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts is proudly for every girl."
Others online jumped to the defense of the Girl Scouts. "As a former Girl Scout, I can vouch for this!" wrote comedian Loni Love in a post on X.
"And I'm forever grateful to the Girl Scouts for taking this project girl out of the projects during summer break and letting me experience camping," Love wrote. "That experience did more for me than anyone could ever imagine."
