Boy Scouts Pledge to Keep Antigay Ban

[William769]

The Boy Scouts of America has decided it will continue to exclude gay members following a confidential two-year review process conducted in the midst of mounting public opposition to the policy.

According to the Associated Press, the group’s national spokesman Deron Smith said an 11-member special committee unanimously “came to the conclusion that this policy is absolutely the best policy for the Boy Scouts.” The organization said that members of the confidential committee represented a “diversity of perspectives and opinions” from professional scout executives to volunteers.

In the short term, the decision ends the prospects for a resolution recently submitted to ask the Scouts to reexamine the policy. This past weekend, weekend, an Eagle Scout in Missouri was fired from his job as a camp counselor after he came out the camp director.

“This is a missed opportunity of colossal proportions,” said Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin in a statement. “With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued. These adults could have taught the next generation of leaders the value of respect, yet they’ve chosen to teach division and intolerance.”

http://www.advocate.com/society/2012/07/17/boy-scouts-keep-antigay-ban

My pledge is to withhold support including financial of any organization that supports the Boy Scouts Of America. If you don't want my Gay Brothers, I'm sure you don't want my damn Gay money!

[msongs]

1. guess what Utah based religion is the biggest boy scout sponsor in the USA nt

[Gwhittey]

6. guess which Rome based religion is second biggest one.

[mysuzuki2]

2. This makes me sad.

I was in scouts for about 7 years. My mom was denmother for awhile. I loved it and feel I learned a lot. This was the 50s and 60s. There is a lot of good things about the boy scouts. But I see no reason for their attitude on this. They are just plain wrong. The GSA has no such policy and it does not seem to have caused them any difficulties. Maybe if every former boyscout sent a letter of email to the national organization it would have an effect.

[William769]

3. I agree with you.

I was in the Cub Scouts, Weebelows, then the Boy Scouts. It made my childhood memorable. But to withhold what I cherished so much from the youths of today just because they identify their sexuality as being Gay is wrong on so many levels.

[joeybee12]

4. Same as myself...the national organization is way behind the times...

And it's going to start hurting them financially and membership-wise.

[mysuzuki2]

5. so true. And there is no valid reason for it that I can see.

I'm sure that there are many scout troops who just quietly ignore the national organization and offer a welcoming environment to all the kids. At least I hope so. I am not gay but I do identify as an athiest. They don't like me either.

[Gwhittey]

7. Strip away Government perks BSA receives.

We also need to make sure that BSA no longer enjoys the benefits of getting a "free items" from our government. Many host meetings in public places free. Every 4 years it costs the Army about 10 million dollars to let the BSA use army base for Jamboree. BSA are allowed to recruit in local schools and that also needs to stop.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Since when is bigotry something we want to teach our kids?