The Boy Scouts Lift Their Ban On Gay Scout Leaders!

BIG, exciting news!

Here's looking forward to the day when, like the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts come out with a consistent, proud message that scouting is #FOReveryKID! And now we're so much closer to that.

The New York Times article brought up that the Mormon Church is still obstructing equality, still fighting for their homophobic agenda. (And there's still a loophole for churches, where "...the new policy allows church-sponsored units to choose local unit leaders who share their precepts, even if that means restricting such positions to heterosexual men.")

But for now, in the big picture, justice has won.

I'm excited and grateful to everyone who fought for this over the years, including the Eagle Scout who left the Boy Scouts because they knew me and my husband, and the prejudice against gay members and leaders felt so wrong to them.

Now, the policy has been made right. Gay kids can participate in Boy Scouts. Gay adults can be Scout Leaders.

It's a good thing.

It's progress.

Bonus Saturday Post: "Why My Son Still Won't Join The Boy Scouts" - An Excellent Article In The Atlantic by Kathy Zonana

I loved this article.

It said it so eloquently, as kids' actions often do.

Character.  Something Kathy's son has in abundance.  And something the Boy Scout still need to learn.
 
Namaste,
Lee

ps - and if you want to read more about why the no-gay adult rule is so terrible - in large part because it reinforces the stereotype that LGBTQ adults are dangerous to children - read this piece by Michelangelo Signorile at Huffington Post, The Boy Scouts: Demonizing Gay Men, Empowering Bashers on the Streets

James Dale tells his story of taking on the Boy Scouts of America

Part of the incredible Unheard Voices project,

Check out this minute and half MP3 interview with James Dale, an Eagle Scout who came out as gay in college, received a letter from the Boy Scouts saying if he was gay he couldn't continue to be a Boy Scout, and he knew it was wrong.  He started a 10 year legal battle... and ultimately lost in the Supreme Court.

There's also an accompanying Teacher Guide (with an introduction to the audio interview, discussion questions, suggested activities and assignments and student handout.)

This battle with the Boy Scouts of America over including gay scouts continues today, with recent news in July 2012 that the Boy Scouts will continue to exclude Gay people.

I love this moment from the discussion questions:

James said that “seeing those words in that letter, I wasn’t going to walk away from it.” What would you have done in James’ situation? What personal qualities do you think it takes for someone to stand up for what he believes is right?

With California's passage of the FAIR Education Act, GLSEN's Unheard Voices is an important resource for middle and high schools to tell (and discuss and learn about) our untold LGBTQ history.

Unheard Voices is a joint project of GLSEN, The Anti-Defamation League, and StoryCorps.

The Boy Scouts show their homophobia again

Here's what happened, in Jennifer Tyrrell's words:

My name is Jennifer Tyrrell. I am a devoted partner, mother, friend and community leader in Bridgeport, Ohio. I’m also a former Tiger Cub den leader with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). I was recently removed from this volunteer position, and my membership was revoked after nearly a year of service – just because I happen to be gay.

Shortly after registering my son for Cub Scouts, I was asked to assume the role of den leader and was persuaded by a platform of tolerance, acceptance and support. Throughout the year, my cubs performed volunteer service at a local soup kitchen, collected canned goods for area churches to distribute in food baskets, participated in bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, and, at the time of my removal, were working on a conservation project for a state park. My Tiger Cubs earned multiple Scout badges for service and skills, while learning and exercising the 12 Core Values of Scouting: citizenship, compassion, cooperation, courage, faith, health & fitness, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility.

The revocation of my membership came shortly after I was elected treasurer of my pack and uncovered some inconsistencies in the pack's finances. Within a week of reporting these findings to the council, I received notice that my membership had been revoked, based on my sexual orientation, citing that because I'm gay, I did "not meet the high standards of membership that the BSA seeks."

There was an outcry of support for me by the parents of my Tiger Scouts, many of whom waited for hours to voice their concerns to members of the council and the pack's charter organization, but were turned away without the opportunity to do so.

Discriminating against Gay (GLBTQ) parents and children is contrary to everything the boy scouts say they stand for... I was a cub scout when I was a child.

Shouldn't it be evident that the we-hate-and-demean-gay-people-because-that's-what-our-parents-taught-us credo is contrary to the very beliefs they're saying they hold dear?

Gay people can be TRUSTWORTHY. LOYAL. HELPFUL. FRIENDLY. COURTEOUS. KIND. OBEDIENT. CHEERFUL. THRIFTY. BRAVE. CLEAN and REVERENT, too.


You can check out this interview with Jennifer, her son Cruz, and the new head of GLAAD on MSNBC here.

And please consider signing Jennifer's petition to the Boy Scouts to stand up and say

"It is time for the Boy Scouts of America to reconsider its policy of exclusivity against gay youth and leaders. Please sign this petition to call for an end of discrimination in an organization that is shaping the future."

About a quarter of a million people have signed the petition so far, including me!

How about you?

Namaste,
Lee