Well, I completely forgot to post yesterday, and really do not have the time to write a post now about this past weekend. Therefore, I am going to post this essay I wrote previously, but have not yet published on Boy Scouts. I also just decided on a few changes that will be coming to this blog, look forward to the gory details later this week.
As many homosexuals are aware in the United States, the BSA has tried to outlaw homosexuals within the organization. This is a mandate that has been handed down from the executives within the Boy Scouts, who happen to be extremely religious Mormons. Although they will argue this is not the case, the reason behind this policy is solely because it is against their religion. And the only way this policy will change is to either oust the current regime of the Boy Scouts of America, or wait for them to quit and get a more liberal group in its place.
I am a gay Eagle Scout and I thoroughly despise this policy. However, I also realize there is little I can do that will change it. About the only thing I can do is raise awareness of this issue.
The current regime publicly argues that the reason for disallowing gay scouts is that they are afraid the scouts would molest each other and it would be immoral. However, the definition of moral depends on ones religion. Although they are few, there are a few religions where being gay and engaging in homosexual acts is considered moral. And as I am sure you all remember from your younger years, you were not going to force someone to do something sexual. One of two things would happen; either you would say no and refuse, or you would make a ruckus and get the adults involved.
In fact, trying to exclude gays from scouting is doing more harm than good to today’s youth. First, it is teaching a lesson of intolerance towards homosexuals. Bigotry is taught at a young age and the Boy Scouts are trying to make bigots. Secondly, most do not realize they are gay until they have been involved in scouting for several years. Now, you are trying to take away a large part of ones life simply because he discovered he was gay. This causes kids to not come out, leading to depression and sometimes suicide. But that is what the BSA executive regime would prefer, over having these “immorals†in their organization.
Next, you go to the issue of banning gay adults to be leaders in scouting. The argument for this one is a harder argument to win with many. Here you have the more valid argument that you are going to have pedophiles molesting these children. And yes, I agree this would be an issue if it were not for the policies the BSA has. There is a policy that there shall never be a situation where it is one adult with one scout. The policy dictates there shall always be at least 2 adults with the scouts. Under certain exceptions, two scouts with one adult in a public area is permitted although they may be separated from the other adults.
So, the BSA has policies to prevent pedophiles from molesting the scouts, why should we allow the risk. I personally, and am sure many others found scouts to be a big part of our lives and I would love to be able to give back what was given to me. Many troops are having issues finding enough adults to help and several have gone under for this exact issue. No, allowing homosexual adults would not resolve this issue, but it would help. It is hard to express how important being able to give back is to me, which is one of the reasons this argument is so weak, but I would love to be able to give back and help today’s youth.
September 8th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Well said as a serious comment of the harm from excluding gays from scouting.
I expect to write something about scouting too someday, but my comments will probably be about my dislike of camping in a non-temperature controlled environment and the thrill of wearing a badge covered sash.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Ok I understand Chris’s point about no gays being allowed in Boy Scouts, but some points need to be straightened out.
I too am a gay Eagle Scout and I’ve also worked with some Boy Scout executives. No these executives are not mormons, infact many support the gay community. The issue is a matter of politics. Nearly half of the Boy Scout community comes from religious backgrounds that prohibit homosexual behavior (mormons and catholics). If the Boy Scouts were to allow gay scoutmasters on a national level, about half of the membership would leave Scouting, driving the Boy Scouts out of business. This is a little known secret. The Boy Scouts are not against homosexuals, rather it is political debate that involves the survival of this century old tradition known as the Boy Scouts.
However, many local councils have the ability to allow gay scoutmasters in their respective councils. The only consequence for allowing this is that the council loses part of their funding, which many councils can already do without. One such council near me has done this already and has opened up to the gay community. When I have the chance, I plan on moving to the council and becoming a scout leader myself. Scouting has given so much to me. It has taught me good morals and values as well as how to be a leader. Not once did I hear in anything that I did as a scout that homosexuality is negative. Rather I was encouraged to live the life I saw fit. For this reason, I feel a need to give back to Scouting.
I agree with Chris on the fact that councils who do encourage homophobic behavior are causing more harm than good. After all, Scouting should support kids in what they want to make of their lives. If they want to be gay, then Scouting should support them. However, as I said before, it’s all a matter of where you reside. Some councils ARE NOT homophobic; they will support youth if they choose to be gay. These councils usually are located in areas with low mormon or catholic population. It’s the sad truth that this entire debate over gay’s in Boy Scouts has to do with the survival of a business, not the morals being taught.
I know many in the gay community would object to my argument and yes I understand what you are saying. Depending on where you live, Scouting may be less gay accepting than in other locations. Where this exists, it’s not the scout executives that need to be changed, rather the scouts and adult leaders themselves. They are the ones who are responsible for making scouting a seemingly “homophobic” society.
I personally plan to reshape scouting by encouraging openess and acceptance of the homosexual community and I invite others to join me in my stance. Let’s not destroy scouting, rather let’s change it into something even better than before.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
I just want to comment on what MK said.
First, the mormon comment was probably said more out of anger than supported by actual fact. I have no evidence of what religions the scout executives may be.
However, putting that aside, their are several points MK makes that I respectfully disagree with. MK seems to be advocating a council by council approach similar to the state by state approach some are taking with gay marriage. In my own opinion, attacking this at a council by council level will never result in full equality in the BSA, or Girl Scouts. I think this needs to be approached at a national level. The homosexual accepting councils are great and I congratulate them. As is evidenced by most councils still denying homosexuals membership this is condoned at the national level.
I do understand that the decision is political. However, being honest we are never going to change the minds of the very close minded Mormon and Catholic churches. These churches are maintaining the status quo by threatening to put the scouts out of business if the scouts change policy. I do not want to see the scouts go out of business; however, the only way to cause this change is exactly what MK is doing.
To make this change happen you must stop supporting the homosexual intolerant policies in the BSA and instead support organizations that are accepting and be vocal about it. MK and I are both doing this.