Hurtful discrimination by the Boy Scouts
The unconscionable discrimination perpetuated by the Boy Scouts of America has a local face.
It is Eric Jones of Kearney, red-haired and clean cut, Eagle Scout and role model. Jones, a 19-year-old college student, was instructed to leave his camp counselor’s job near St. Joseph last weekend after he told the camp director he was gay.
His dismissal shames the Boy Scouts. Jones was the same reliable young man of good character after he came out to the director as he was when the camp entrusted him with a leadership position. For the Boy Scouts to contend otherwise is hurtful and sad.
It would be nice to use the insult to Jones as a rallying cry to persuade the fabled organization that sexual orientation is simply an essential element of a person’s makeup and not a threat unless one chooses to perceive it as such.
Unfortunately, the Boy Scouts slammed the door on such hopes Tuesday by announcing that a two-year review of its policies had validated the decision to exclude openly gay scouts and leaders.
Scouts should have the right to “address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” said chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca.
Perfectly understandable. What Mazzuca doesn’t explain is how the participation of gay Scouts would interfere with that process.
The suggestion is that the Boy Scouts are worried that impressionable young people might drift toward tolerance should they become friendly with a gay Scout at a campout or club meeting.
Today, the nation is moving toward tolerance, with young people leading the way. Gay youths are no longer willing to “hide who I (am) and live this second life,” as Jones explained this week. Their peers don’t expect that of them.
The Boy Scouts do great harm to their organization and legacy by continuing a discriminatory policy.
Sandra Maliwat Day
10 months, 1 week agoLet me preface this by saying all of my children participated in Scouts. They learned a lot of skills, life lessons, and values from their respective troops. I can honestly say that in the future if my children turn out to be the adults I expect them to be, it will be in part because of their participation in Scouts. The Boy Scout Law says: A Scout is: • Trustworthy, • Loyal, • Helpful, • Friendly, • Courteous, • Kind, • Obedient, • Cheerful, • Thrifty, • Brave, • Clean, • and Reverent. Nowhere in this do I read straight or gay. If my child participated in scouts with a gay child, that would never bother me.
In closing let me just ask this one question: Why is it ok to ban gay boys from Boy Scouts and keep pedophiles as their leaders?
Mark Robertson
10 months, 1 week agoWhat a stupid question. It doesn’t even deserve a comment. And just what is a “gay boy?” Our world has gone mad in many ways. I’ve got an idea, how about Boy Scouts focusing on what Boy Scouts have always focued on, such as camping, hiking and other outdoor survival skills, community service and citizenship. The radical pro-homosexual movement is using the Boy Scouts to further their sick agenda. They could actually care less about particular individuals in the Boy Scouts. Eric Jones is a troubled soul. He needs help. There are many sources and organizations that can help him. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence