A petition with 64,000
signatures opposing the Boy Scout policy of exclusion was delivered to the
United Way; several petitions, with about 1.4 million signatures opposing the
Scouts' anti-gay policies, were delivered to its national headquarters in
Irving, Texas.
And so the flip-flopping Scouts
decided to survey its members and sponsors. From surveys filled out by more
than 200,000 Scouts and their leaders, 50,000 alumni, 270 councils, and about
100 religious and community organizations, the surveys revealed, according to
the National Council, that "a majority of adults in the Scouting community
[about 61 percent] support the BSA's current policy of excluding open and
avowed homosexuals [but] younger parents and teens tend to oppose the policy." The
Los Angeles Area Council, and several others in Southern California, proposes
to disregard National policy and to admit to membership and leadership roles
anyone who meets Scouting standards, whether gay or straight
Among those who oppose
inclusion of gays as members or leaders are several churches. Franklin Page,
president of the Southern Baptist Convention, says he's "gravely distressed" that
the Scouts are even considering revising their policy, and if they allow gays
as members his churches are likely to sever ties with the Scouts. The Latter
Day Saints and Roman Catholic churches also oppose removing barriers to permit
gays to become Scouts and leaders. In contrast, the United Church of Christ,
United Methodist Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Association, among
other religions that sponsor Scout packs and troops, demand discriminatory
policies be eliminated. About two-thirds of all Scout groups are sponsored by
religious organizations.
The 70-member executive
committee is now recommending to the 1,400 voting members of the National
Council that gay youth under 18 be allowed to be Scouts, but to continue to
exclude gay adults from becoming leaders.
This Swiss-hole plan, which
could be approved by the National Council, May 20, perpetuates the Scouts'
image as an organization that openly discriminates. It would allow a gay youth to
pass the rigorous tests to become an Eagle Scout, including a requirement to "serve
six months in a troop leadership position," yet not be allowed to become an
adult leader. Such a decision perpetuates stereotypes and shows that the
national leadership is buried in a morass of homophobic fear.
The proposed policy revision
implies that youth are still exploring their worldviews and beliefs, and that
being gay is a choice that gay youth make, and one they can "outgrow" if they
wish to have the BSA "core values."
If there was a Pathfinder
merit badge, the Scout leadership would be unable to earn it--they've been
wandering the wrong trail for many years.
[Dr. Brasch's latest book is Fracking Pennsylvania,
a look at the impact of fracking upon public health and environment. Rosemary
R. Brasch assisted on this column.]
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