Should Boy Scouts Change Policy on Gay Leadership?
A Land O' Lakes Cub Master says policy is policy, but eventually that policy will catch up the times.
Boy Scout leaders from across the nation will gather in Orlando today for the organization’s national meeting, where they will be asked to re-evaluate a longstanding policy banning gay youth and leaders from serving.
An Ohio woman recently was removed as a den mother for her 7-year-old son’s Cub Scout troop because of her sexual orientation. Jennifer Tyrrell started a petition on Change.org, garnering more than 275,000 signatures asking the Boy Scouts of America to reinstate her and to end their policy banning gay youth and leaders from serving.
Eagle Scout Zach Wahls, whose online video in support of his two gay moms went viral last year, will deliver the petition to Scout leaders.
Do you think the policy should be changed? Tell us in the comments.
Cub Master Bryan Gifford of Land O’ Lakes Pack 323 said Scout “law” requires that a scout be “morally straight.”
And regardless of what government or its members believe personally, the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization that can abide by the policies it chooses, Gifford said.
“Where is she bringing sexuality into scouting? She’s not.” She’s just a dedicated mother exposing her child to the great values that Scouting teaches, he said.
Policy is policy, but eventually the times will catch up and these types of policies will change, he said.
Sometimes uneducated people will equate homesexuality with pedophelia and that's not the case, he said.
A background check is performed on all leadership applicants and a youth protection training course is required of all Boy Scout leaders every two years, though Gifford requires local leaders to take it annually. In addition, Boy Scout policy requires that no child is ever alone with just one adult, so if something inappropriate is said or done, someone else is always around.
“If the unit is adhering to the rules, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Gifford said.
In the meantime, Gifford said sexual orientation is not asked about on any leadership applications locally.
If someone is willing to put in the tremendous amount of time it takes to be a Scout leader, “I’m not going to add another layer unless it’s a problem,” Gifford said.
Peter Castellani
8:30 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Boy Scouts should absolutely not change their policy because of popular opinion or because "times have changed". It was popular to have slaves, it was popular to kill Jews, it is popular to kill babies. That doesn't make it right because it's popular or public opinion. We need to go back to the good book as there is an absolute right and wrong.
Bud Beck
11:59 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
Right on Pete !!
Tracy Gifford
8:56 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Seriously? You are going to compare someone's sexual orientation to KILLING BABIES?? The "only absolute" wrong I see in this world is using the "good book" to spread complete ignorance and hatred.
Larry Bush
9:09 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Many Boy Scout organizations use public property to hold meetings or receive donations from public entities (money that is procured by the state from taxes), therefore, they should welcome all law-abiding citizens. If they continue their discriminatory policies, they should be barred from using public property and from receiving public funds. It is that simple.
Mark S. Hankins
12:09 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution includes the freedom to decline to associate with those whom one chooses not to associate with. It doesn't have to be a good thing to be protected as a freedom. The Boy Scouts are free to ban homosexuals. Perhaps someone will form the Rainbow Scouts and be more focused on inclusiveness and people will be free to decide which organization their children should associate with. Having openly gay role models in Scouting can only make it less attractive to many.
Stephanie W
7:45 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
That goes both ways. By excluding people, you make BSA less attractive to many. I'm a 5th year Webelo Den Mom. Our Pack (in a bible-belt state), has lost several great families (all of whom were straight) because they found the Boy Scout policy to be in conflict with the lessons they were teaching their kids. People have gay friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers they love and respect. No one wants overtly sexual leaders, gay or straight, around kids. There are a lot of parents, former scouts, and community leaders who may happen to be gay, but more importantly, are great role models. Unilaterally EXCLUDING some of the most engaging, talented, committed, and sympathetic adults (of any variety) is a great disservice to our boys. It certainly doesn't make the organization stronger. At recruiting meetings the issue always comes up. BSA (not the gay scouts and leaders) are forcing the conversation. Trust me, it is AWFUL to sit in a room with an excited 1st grader who happens to have a 2-mom family and tell him that we'd love him to become a Tiger Cub, but that neither of his moms are welcome to volunteer.
Eleanor Cecil
8:39 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I definitely agree with Stephanie! When are we going to become more accepting and tolerant of others with differences? Of all organizations, the Boy Scouts who teach such fundamental values, should be one of the last groups caught up in such negative fear mongering. It breaks my heart to not support the Boy Scouts in my neighborhood, but in good conscience I cannot donate to a group that discriminates. To me the saddest aspect of this is that it grows out of religious groups. I am so grateful the Girl Scouts do not have such discriminating policies.
Eleanor Cecil
Bud Beck
12:16 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Would you have boys and girls sleeping in the same tents while camping ? When you have boys that are attracted to other boy sounds the same to me !
I was Scoutmaster of a large troop (average about 55 boys), sometimes a man would want to help out on camping trips, even though he had no sons. We always allowed this after checking them out as much as possible this applied to all male leaders. No adult was allowed to share tents with boys. This worked well for us.
Can you say PEDOPHILE ??
Scoutmaster
1:51 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
You left wing liberals just don't get it! We don't want gay leaders or gay scouts living and sleeping together. In the field, Scouting is living a close contact existance. Parents don't want gay scouts sleeping with their straight sons, nor do they want gay scout leaders in charge of a Troop. Even with the BSA "no alone" rule leaders find themselves in situations where it would be extremely easy for child abuse. Leave the Boy Scouts of America Alone!!!
Bryan Gifford
3:52 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
There is a simple solution to that ... If there is any member in a unit that you do not like, leave that unit, find one that fits your ideas of what a unit should be, or start your own. Units are plentiful, in Land O Lakes there are are least 3 Cub Scout Packs and 4 Boy Scout Troops. If one does not fit your needs, check out a different one. There is no need to discriminate against anyone, there is more than enough room for everyone that wants to be involved.
Tracy Gifford
12:59 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Oh Mr. "Scoutmaster" and "Bud"...
So, basically what you are saying is that because someone is gay, they are going to be child molesters? I know of a lot more straight men in history that have abused and raped children than gay men! Pedophiles are, on the average STRAIGHT MEN, NOT GAY! You guys should really get your facts straight before posting. And, if a boy is gay, that DOES NOT MEAN he will proposition your son..
I am straight, my boys are straight, that does NOT mean I wouldn't want a homosexual leading them. If a person is a good, kind and dedicated person, that is what matters, not their sexual orientation! So, does that also mean you will railroad a teacher if he/she is gay, and not let your child stay in their class??
It is this kind of hatred being spewed that causes so many young people to make the decision that their only option is to stop living!
Thank God the troop my son belongs teaches kindness to ALL! If he had found your troop instead and heard this kind of ugly, ignorant hatred being spewed, that would have been the last meeting he would have gone to. (And, I can only imagine how the boys you are leading behave)
Also, why is it, that those people who choose to speak like that online always hide behind fake names? Could it be because you are ashamed of speaking like that? Hmm, something to think about..
Bud Beck
1:18 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
To bad you can't see the difference in "CLASS ROOM " and sleeping in a tent in the woods ! If you are refering to me Bud Beck is my name would you like my address ?
Bryan Gifford
1:36 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Bud, you are creating a Strawman argument. Allowing a Gay leader or a Gay Scout to participate in Scouting is not going make anyone gay, it is not going to result in boys having sex in tents, it is not going to harm anyone. What it will do is prove to the boys that they are all boys and not different at all from one another, or the leaders are just leaders, good and dedicated. Beyond that it will teach diversity, acceptance, and compassion. Values that scouting should be teaching across the board. Discrimination has no place in Scouting.
Tracy Gifford
1:34 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Actually, I was referring to "Scoutmaster". And, isn't scouts another place we take our boys to learn? Gay, straight, black or white.. bigotry is bigotry.