Transgender Girl Scouts Sell Over 71,000 Cookie Boxes with Journalist's Help

Erin Reed's annual trans Girl Scout cookies list has enabled hundreds of scouts to reach their goals and support their communities.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:07pm

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Halfway through cookie season, transgender Girl Scouts have sold more than 71,000 boxes of cookies, with the help of a campaign started by independent journalist Erin Reed. What began in 2022 with just three girls now includes 189 scouts or their troops, allowing them to travel, camp, or give back to their communities. Reed was motivated to create the list to directly support trans youth while also getting some of the country's most beloved sweet treats.

Why it matters

The campaign has provided a way for trans scouts, many of whom are in areas that are not affirming, to feel loved, seen, respected, and overjoyed about who they are. It has also reminded their neighbors that resistance can come in many forms, as 26 states now prohibit gender-affirming care for youth, making it increasingly difficult for trans individuals to access essential healthcare.

The details

Trans scouts have sold 71,254 boxes of cookies as of January 22, according to the most recent update on Erin Reed's annual trans Girl Scout cookies list. The list started in 2022 with just three girls and has now grown to include 189 scouts or their troops. The campaign has allowed trans youth to reach their goals, whether that's traveling, camping, or giving back to their communities. In Minneapolis, the list has enabled one trans girl to participate in cookie sales despite the danger of door-to-door selling due to raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

  • The trans Girl Scout cookies list started in 2022.
  • As of January 22, 2026, trans scouts have sold 71,254 boxes of cookies.

The players

Erin Reed

An independent journalist who was first motivated to create the trans Girl Scout cookies list in order to directly support trans youth while also getting some of the country's most beloved sweet treats.

Girl Scouts of the USA

The organization that officially welcomed trans girls as members in 2015.

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What they’re saying

“It is, in many ways, much harder today than it was back then. But also in many ways, I think the community has gotten stronger, and it's become easier and more essential to find the members that you can connect with.”

— Erin Reed, Independent Journalist (The Advocate)

“Many of these kids are not in affirming areas. Many are in red states. Many are in places where they've been told that they're wrong for being who they are. Finding out that not only is the person that they are not a bad thing, but something that they can be proud of and something that people want to help, is meaningful. For once in life, being trans has actually helped them a little bit.”

— Erin Reed, Independent Journalist (The Advocate)

What’s next

There's still time to order Girl Scout cookies online. Please select "ship the cookies" instead of "deliver the cookies," and prioritize those who have not met their goals.

The takeaway

The trans Girl Scout cookies campaign has provided a meaningful way for trans youth, many of whom face significant challenges and discrimination, to feel celebrated and supported. It has also served as a form of resistance against the growing number of states prohibiting gender-affirming care for young people.