Boy Scouts Of America Continue Discriminatory Policy

We grieve the decision to continue discrimination by the Boy Scouts of America with regard to gay scouts and gay scout leaders. Not only does this continued discrimination violate the values of scouting, we believe it contributes to homophobia which fuels bullying. So, not only are the Boy Scouts failing to affirm the values of Scouting by not ending this ban, they are also missing an opportunity to teach respect for all. Therefore this is a failure by the Boy Scouts of America to address the epidemic of bullying among the primary age group affected by bullying as perpetrators or victims of bullying.
 
Michael Adee, Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians said, “I was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Explorer Scout. Both of my parents were Scout leaders in addition to being leaders in our local Presbyterian church. I am deeply saddened by the failure of the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America to do the right thing. They had the opportunity to end this ban and return to the values of Scouting which include respect for all persons. It seems clear that they ignored these values and the growing acceptance of LGBT persons in faith communities and society. I am grateful for groups like “Scouting for All” and others who continue to work to end discrimination in scouting. I have no doubt that the ban will end someday and I am concerned about another generation of boys and young men being taught wrongly about themselves and others.”
 
A secret review of the discriminatory policy was done by the executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America for the past two years. The ban was continued to appease “religious organizations that take a dim view of homosexuality” according to the Los Angeles Times.

The editors of the Los Angeles Times responded to the action by the Boy Scouts.

It’s been a sad evolution and an unnecessary one. The Girl Scouts, as well as international Scouting organizations, have carried out their similar missions without resorting to intolerance. By refusing once again this week to admit gay people to its ranks, either as Scouts or leaders, the Boy Scouts may have satisfied some of the religious organizations that sponsor many of its troops, but it risks long-term irrelevance. Participation in its traditional Scouting programs has steadily declined over the last decade, by more than 15%, and is down more than 40% from the early 1970s.

Some may believe that by banning people who are openly gay, the organization is keeping out sexual predators. But repeated studies have shown how false this assertion is. Besides, if that were the reason, what would be the point of prohibiting a lesbian woman from being a den mother, as the Boy Scouts have done?

The decision by the Boy Scouts has profound impacts on LGBT people. Take for example the story of Eric Jones, a camp counselor who came out to his camp director.

Eric Jones was a member of the Boys Scouts of America for nearly 10 years up until Sunday.

The 19-year-old, who was serving as a counselor at one of the organization’s summer camps in Missouri, sat down with the camp director to tell him that he was gay.

“I’d been working on coming out,” Jones, who is also an Eagle Scout, told the Daily News. “I thought it was time to have my life of scouting and my other life come together.”

Jones, however, quickly lost his job, as the camp’s director asked him to leave.

“He said I was deserving to be there, but he had to follow the policy of BSA,” Jones said.

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