A move forward by Boy Scouts on gay members
A dozen years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had the right to exclude gays. And while the organization won that case, the ruling — and the perpetuation of its discriminatory policy — damaged its “brand” in the eyes of many.
Now comes the encouraging news that the organization may drop the gay exclusion.
A spokesman says the national board is considering a change that would allow sponsoring organizations like churches, companies and schools to decide for themselves whether their scout units would admit gays.
Under this approach, the national organization “would not, under any circumstances, dictate a position to units,” said spokesman Deron Smith. The change could be announced this week.
That would not end discrimination for all scout units but it would mark an important step in the right direction. More, it would create momentum for gradual change throughout the organization.
It seems apparent the national board was reluctant to issue an organization-wide edict with the potential to create deep fissures in scouting as a whole. Mormon, Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist churches sponsor many scout units and those denominations have been strong supporters of the gay exclusion. Many may well continue that policy.
Yet allowing sponsoring groups to decide on their own would inevitably set things in motion. Many troops would drop the ban, as indeed some have already. Once gays are accepted at the troop level, summer camps would be expected to accommodate gays as well. As time passed, the number of troops maintaining the exclusion would shrink.
“I don’t think it matters if you’re gay or straight,” Eagle Scout Eric Jones told The Star. He’s right, yet after telling his camp director he was gay, Jones was removed from a leadership position at a scout camp near St. Joseph.
These and similar instances have been unfair to affected scouts and leaders, and have damaged scouting’s standing. The organization’s national board should follow up on last week’s announcement and rescind blanket application of the anti-gay policy.
Ray Parker
Overland Park
3 months, 2 weeks agoSodomy is a poor role model for impressionable young boys. Once compromised, a treasured institution with a hundred-year tradition of high moral standards, apparently now for sale to the pro-sodomy donors who cut off funding, will be gone forever.
Mark Robertson
3 months, 2 weeks agoThis is absolute insanity. One of the last bastions of morality left appears to be degenerating like much of the rest of society. I would bet that Obama and his goons have something to do with this as well. And the “gay” activists evidently won’t be satisfied until the destroy all of society. They are destroying the foundation of society which is marriage and the family. Can’t have those Boy Scouts not fall in line. This is all about normalizing sodomy. The condition of same sex attraction is not immoral in itself, and there is help for those who suffer from the disorder. Homosexual activity though goes against Christian principles. As I understand it, the Boy Scouts were founded on Christian principles. The sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church was largely a homosexual problem. As a John Jay study points out, over 80 percent of the abuse cases involved postpubescent boys. You know, like boys in the Boy Scouts. It’s hard to put into words what a totol disaster it would be to end the Boy Scout policy of disallowing homosexual Boy Scout leaders and Boy Scouts.(Just what is a “gay” 12 year old Boy Scout) The Boy Scouts would essentially be over. Our world has gone mad. Eric Jones needs help, and it is out there. He should check with the International Healing Foundation. By the way, the Boy Scout National office was not answering its phone last week. I wonder why. I’ve got a novel idea, how about making he Boy Scouts about camping, hiking, swimming, Indian lore, archery, survival skills and so much more that it is known for. Let youth have their youth. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Mark Hastert
3 months, 2 weeks agoRelax, stop hyperventilating. The Boy Scouts have had gay scouts for as long as they been in existence albeit closeted. I doubt that there is a sodomy merit badge in the works.
Interesting that it’s not the gay scouts but the pedophile leaders that have caused all the problems yet the BSA covered all that up.
Mark Robertson
3 months, 2 weeks agoPedophilia involves very young children. Boy Scouts are not young children. As mentioned, the priest sex abuse scandal was largely a homosexual problem. As also mentioned, it would be a disaster to allow homosexuals into Boy Scouts.
This is all about agenda and normalizing homosexual sex. If a person who called themselves “gay,” really wanted to be a Boy Scout leader or Boy Scout,(Just what is a 12 year old gay Boy Scout?) they could, all they would have to do is be like most of the rest of the scout leaders and scouts and not talk about sexuality. As also mentioned, let the Boy Scouts be about what it has always been about, and let youth have their youth. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence