On June 7th the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) reaffirmed their policy to deny membership to LGBT people. There was a chance they would reconsider but the consensus of a secret committee decided it was “absolutely the best policy” for the organization. Once again religious right bigotry trumps the actual American values that the BSA claims it is teaching to the boys.
The BSA policy is: “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.”
Scouting believes same-sex attraction should be introduced and discussed outside of its program with parents, caregivers, or spiritual advisers, at the appropriate time and in the right setting. The vast majority of parents we serve value this right and do not sign their children up for Scouting for it to introduce or discuss, in any way, these topics.
The BSA is a voluntary, private organization that sets policies that are best for the organization. The BSA welcomes all who share its beliefs but does not criticize or condemn those who wish to follow a different path.
This press release just drips with religious right bigotry code words.
…we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals…
“Avowed” is used as a slur by conservatives such as some calling President Obama an “avowed Muslim”. The dictionary definition of “avowed” means ‘to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame‘ so the BSA doesn’t grant membership to people who are open or open homosexuals. Like this policy, that makes no sense and only highlights their bigotry.
Scouting believes same-sex attraction should be introduced and discussed outside of its program with parents, caregivers, or spiritual advisers, at the appropriate time and in the right setting. The vast majority of parents we serve value this right and do not sign their children up for Scouting for it to introduce or discuss, in any way, these topics.
I was in the Boy Scouts before the religious right and Mormons took over in the late 1980’s and I was never introduced to “same-sex attraction”. There is no Merit badge or program looking for new gays. All LGBTs want is to serve as leaders or as Boy Scouts and thinking that they are looking to recruit your children is more religious right code for not wanting kids to be exposed to people who are different than themselves. There are some leaders and scouts who are gay but aren’t “open or avowed” who might benefit from knowing that others are just like they are and there is nothing wrong with being gay.
There are a couple of merit badges that might cause some bother if a scout wants to know about the LGBT community. “American Cultures” and “Citizenship in the Community” have requirements like this:
4. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following:
a. Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.
b. With your counselor’s and a parent’s approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a. Ask c. what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.
d. Share what you have learned with your counselor.5. With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on a community. Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the movie about what it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community.
7. Do the following:
a. Choose a charitable organization outside of Scouting that interests you and brings people in your community together to work for the good of your community.
b. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.
c. With your counselor’s and your parent’s approval, contact the organization and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor.8. Develop a public presentation (such as a video, slide show, speech, digital presentation, or photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community. Include information about the history, cultures, and ethnic groups of your community; its best features and popular places where people gather; and the challenges it faces. Stage your presentation in front of your merit badge counselor or a group, such as your patrol or a class at school.
What if Bobby Scout wants to use a local LGBT group for these requirements? If they allow it then it contradicts the policy about talking about “same-sex attraction”.
What kind scout are they developing to be a “citizen in the community” when they are forced to ignore LGBTs are part of their community. LGBTs exist whether the bigots accept it or not.
The BSA’s stance to maintain their bigotry toward LGBTs as well as non-Christians and atheists won’t make me rethink my boycott of all things related to Boy Scouts of America. Federal, state, and local governments also need to continue to not allow BSA to enjoy resources or special deals they use to get until they reverse their stance on homosexuality and the non-religious.
More details can be found in a blog post on ThinkProgress
