Patti Garibay: “Why do adults feel their comfort and ‘rights’ are more important than our future — the children of America?”

August 22, 2022

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Conservatives are outraged at the recent attacks against an 80-year-old woman who protested the presence of a transgender “woman” in the women’s locker room at her local YMCA in Washington. A long-time member of the YMCA, Julie Jaman “saw a man in a woman’s bathing suit watching maybe four or five little girls pulling down their suits in order to use the toilet.” When Jaman demanded the individual (who happened to be a YMCA employee) leave the locker room for the safety of herself and the children, she was accused of discriminating against the employee by management and banned from the facility altogether. Since the incident, Jaman has been barraged by hecklers and trans rights activists.

 Patti Garibay, founder and executive director of American Heritage Girls (AHG, www.americanheritagegirls.com), recently spoke out about the unfair treatments towards Jaman, commenting that the octogenarian should be commended for her actions rather than attacked by those who put individual rights ahead of the wellbeing of children.

Garibay said, “In a culture that is engaged in a constant tug of war between individual rights and the common good, it is unconscionable that the YMCA would ban a tenured member due to her concern for youth protection. Forcing one’s personal ideology on the greater population seems to be the current trend, but who is protecting our kids? This woman seemed to act in a responsible manner, asking the adult to leave the premises where youth were undressing. There are times where one sacrifices one’s freedom, personal goals and self-interests to protect the nation’s youngest members — just as this woman did. A senior citizen should not be banned for caring about the health and welfare of our vulnerable children. The kids are not alright, as mental health statistics verify. Why do adults feel their comfort and ‘rights’ are more important than our future — the children of America?”

AHG’s mission is to build women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country. Itis dedicated to providing authentic, positive, and values-driven character and leadership development opportunities and outdoor adventure for girls across the nation.

American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 by a group of parents who wanted this faith-based, scout-type character development program for their daughters. At AHG, girls ages five to 18 meet together as a single Troop at the same time and then break out into Units by Levels. This gives AHG girls the important social experience of interacting with friends and godly mentors of various ages; members also learn leadership skills within a group setting. AHG Troops are located in local communities across the nation. If none exists in a given area, families can bring the AHG Program to their own area. An American Heritage Girls Troop Development Coach is available to provide resources to potential Charter Organizations and other families to form a new Troop. To hear more about the purpose, mission, and vision of AHG from Founder and Executive Director Patti Garibay, click here.

Today, there are Troops in all 50 states and girls being served in 15 countries around the globe. Girls can join a Troop at any time; if a Troop is not available nearby, they can become a Trailblazer and enjoy the AHG program alongside their parent. A variety of Christian denominations are also represented as Charter Organizations for Troops. Thousands of volunteer members across the country are helping girls grow in their faith, cultivate a heart for service, enjoy the great outdoors, and have more fun than they can imagine. 

The “Raising Godly Girls” radio feature and Raising Godly Girls blog shares guidance and biblically based advice on many key topics affecting girls today — from bullying and identity to anxiety and body image issues. It gives parents, educators, and faith community leaders a set of tools, resources, and Scripture-based advice to assist in raising girls after God’s own heart. The “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay airs on 1000+ Christian radio stations across the country. 

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