Speak Out: Boy Scouts to Continue Banning Out Gay Kids, Leaders
What are your thoughts on this decision?
The Boy Scouts of America recently voted to uphold its traditional policy of banning out gay members and LGBTQ leaders, The New York Times reported.
“The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca said in a statement. “While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, we fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society.”
This decision served as response to a resolution asking the BSA to reconsider its ban on gay members and leaders. Former Cub Scout Leader Jennifer Tyrrell, a lesbian, delivered a petition with 300,000 signatures to the BSA today asking them to change this policy. Zach Wahls, a 20-year-old Iowan Eagle Scout with two lesbian moms, also supports ending the ban.
What are your thoughts on this continued ban? Do you think the BSA made the right decision? Were you a Boy Scout or do you have children or siblings who are Boy Scouts?
Vinny Darby
12:05 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
That's really a shame. I was a Boy Scout for a decade, and I will never forget the evening, when I was 12 years old, before I knew exactly what gay was or that I was gay, when my scout master called a special meeting of the troop. There had been some national headlines about the BSA forcing out gay scouts and parents. Our scoutmaster said to us, I don't care what what the national organization says, I don't care if you are straight or gay or anything else. If you are a good scout, you are a good scout, and I am proud to have you in this troop. I don't want anyone to be afraid of being kicked out or afraid of being treated differently if you are gay. You deserve the same respect no matter what. I can't even describe what that meant to me as a kid. It was very difficult to come out a couple years later. If it wasn't for the support that was offered to me that night by the leadership of my troop I may not have been able to withstand the constant bullying and harassment of my youth. It was never spoken of again (at least not to us kids), but I will be forever grateful to that man for what he did. I believe that other kids deserve the same respect that I was shown. The BSA is an organization that builds not just personal character and moral standards, but also teaches boys how to relate to their peers. This is not the place to teach discrimination.
reston on my laurels
4:36 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
As a mother of a young son, I am saddened by this and will be looking for alternatives to BSA for my child.
The BSA is a private organization that has the right to their (hateful) beliefs. And I, as a parent, have my right to not support their beliefs and their stance.
Sandra Helig
9:54 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I reiterate the comments of reston on my laurels, and vinny... People are people no matter what the race, religion, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation. Everyone has their 'difference'. ( I practice no religion but believe -->.. judge not, lest thee be judged). I know what I used to believe the boy scouts stood for, am not so sure now, I will rethink encouraging my daughter to put my grandson into cub/boy scouts when my grandson comes of age. It is dismaying to me that rather than build character they encourage and practice this kind of predjudice.
Sandra Helig
10:00 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I think I meant to say that it is diamaying to me that rather than build character by encouraging tolerance they would exhibit this kind of prejudice.
Laurie Dodd
10:43 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I am saddened that the Boy Scouts of America retains its intolerant stance.
Skip Endale
11:03 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Creepy. Like BTK their scout leader and church council.