One mother reflects on why ending the ban on gay scouts isn’t enough.
One of the first words my son said before “Mama” or “up” was “outside.” This child could be throwing a toddler tantrum on par with the Incredible Hulk, but as soon as we brought him into the sunshine, he’d become as mild-mannered as Bruce Banner. I thought that someday, the Boy Scouts might be a natural fit for his high energy and outdoorsy disposition. However, now that I know what I know about the Scouts, I’ll never let him join.
Last Thursday, the National Council of the Boys Scouts of America voted to no longer deny membership to a youth based on his sexuality. (The ban on gay leadership remains in place.) However, although the new policy allows gay youth to participate, a recent communication from one of the Boy Scout chapters makes it clear that they are not welcome.
An acquaintance of mine forwarded an email sent out Thursday, May 23, from Pete Smith, Council President, and a regional board member in response to the voting outcome. The email explains the results of the vote “to no longer deny membership to a youth solely on the basis of a feeling or claim [emphasis added] of sexual orientation or preference.” The email goes on to say that the BSA disagreed with this change and spoke and voted against it, consistent with their personal beliefs.
As my eyes scanned the words of the email, disdain turned to disgust when I encountered the following:
First, be assured that any member, youth or adult, who in a Scouting setting, in any way promotes, advocates, or acts out a same-sex attraction status or lifestyle will have their membership revoked…Second, if a youth who claims a same-sex attraction does join one of our units, you can continue to be a positive example of “morally straight.” By this example you can help guide such a youth as they develop and form their preferences, with the hope for positive change.
So, let me get this straight. Gay boys can join the Boy Scouts, but they can in no way talk about being gay, act gay, or show any form of attraction to another member otherwise they will get kicked out? Oh, and on top of that, they should be prepared for leaders and members to try and straighten them out. In other words, BSA wants its gay members to stay in the closet.
The BSA have not been quiet about their opposition to allowing gay people into their organization. They have vocally opposed the change, but somehow 61 percent of Council members voted to reverse the policy. For a lot of gay youth, this represented hope—a stepping stone, a move in the right direction. Many expressed hope for continued change, that gay leadership would soon follow. But this email proves the BSA are not interested in change.
To me, this is a particular kind of malice. BSA pretends to serve the interests of the majority of its members while circulating a policy that clearly undermines the vote. It’s wrong, and it shows that I, as a parent, really can’t trust the public word of the Scouts.
I hope that any parent of a child, gay or straight, takes these words to heart when they consider enrolling their child in the Boy Scouts. Do they want to support an organization that will actively work to suppress homosexuality in its ranks? Do they want their child to participate in the suppression, or worse, experience sanctioned prejudice from the very people they thought they could trust?
BSA may have voted to change its policy, but that doesn’t mean they’ve changed their minds. I’m sorry, but I guess my child will have to learn about honor from an organization that actually has it.
Photo: Eric Gay/AP
