Boy Scouts reconsidering policy against gay membership

Bear wrote:

And before anyone asks, no, I don't have a religious test either.

The religious test is in the oath.

Bear wrote:
ringsnort wrote:

I bet your average scout troop probably wouldn't have a clue on how to respond fairly or sensitively to issues revolving around public displays of affection, scouts who are dating, and so on. Some things will have to change and adapt, won't they?

As the Scoutmaster of a troop chartered by our local PTO I can assure you that you couldn't be more wrong.

The sexual orientation of any of the teenage boys in my troop has never been, and never will be an issue. And before anyone asks, no, I don't have a religious test either.

My job is to mentor these young men so hopefully they turn out to be good citizens and future leaders. Their sexual preferences is none of my business, nor is it a topic for a Scout meeting.

If any current leaders have a problem with the BSA's new policy, they're welcome to get the f*ck out.

My sincere apologies, bear. My bolded comment was an unfair and inaccurate over generalization. Obviously there are many Scout leaders such as yourself working tirelessly to protect their kids from such hate and insensitivity. Again, my apologies for making such an ignorant and hurtful statement.

So is the SBC going to be honest and simply name their version of the Boy Scouts the "Westboro Baptist Scouts of America"?

Also, it's nice to see that the Girl Scouts have been so progressive. Good on them, as an organization their statements are better reflecting American values than the Boy Scouts.

[edited to clarify]

iaintgotnopants wrote:
Bear wrote:

And before anyone asks, no, I don't have a religious test either.

The religious test is in the oath.

It's also the 12th pillar of the Scout Law but it's not a pass/fail test in my opinion. I know plenty of people who are "religious", who go to church every week and still manage to be horrible f*cking people.

I believe the tenants of the Scout Oath and Law are guidelines. I don't believe they are a litmus test for who is fit and who isn't. If they were, I'd have to throw out all of the overweight Scouts because they failed to live up to their pledge to keep themselves physically strong. Hell, half of them would fail the "mentally awake" at any given moment!

ringsnort wrote:

My sincere apologies, bear. My bolded comment was an unfair and inaccurate over generalization. Obviously there are many Scout leaders such as yourself working tirelessly to protect their kids from such hate and insensitivity. Again, my apologies for making such an ignorant and hurtful statement.

No need to apologize ringsnort. I've been mired in the issue for the last year or so and in my personal opinion, the change doesn't go far enough. But, as my wife reminded me, change is often occurs in steps.

There is a piece of this whole issue that I find rather odd. Those who oppose the inclusion of gay scouts act like there is a giant village of gay teenage boys just waiting to join Scouts so they can spread the gayness. What these people apparently don't realize is that very often, these gay Scouts are their friends from school. These aren't strangers that they've never met before, they're very likely their classmates.

Sadly, this issue is more about the adults than it is the boys that Scouting benefits.

realityhack wrote:

Just aiming for a polite comment on your wording nothing more.

Thanks. A google search cleared things up. I had no idea that "gay identifying" had been so largely appropriated as code for "gay by choice."

Bear wrote:

There is a piece of this whole issue that I find rather odd. Those who oppose the inclusion of gay scouts act like there is a giant village of gay teenage boys just waiting to join Scouts so they can spread the gayness. What these people apparently don't realize is that very often, these gay Scouts are their friends from school. These aren't strangers that they've never met before, they're very likely their classmates.

Sadly, this issue is more about the adults than it is the boys that Scouting benefits.

You've hit it on the head, Bear. It's the generational fear of older people about gays or, more appropriately the generational fears of older people about what they, in their abject ignorance of all things gay, think gay people are about.

Bear wrote:

Sadly, this issue is more about the adults than it is the boys that Scouting benefits.

It's always the adults who have the problem. The kids figured out it was a non-issue long ago.

OG_slinger wrote:
Bear wrote:

There is a piece of this whole issue that I find rather odd. Those who oppose the inclusion of gay scouts act like there is a giant village of gay teenage boys just waiting to join Scouts so they can spread the gayness. What these people apparently don't realize is that very often, these gay Scouts are their friends from school. These aren't strangers that they've never met before, they're very likely their classmates.

Sadly, this issue is more about the adults than it is the boys that Scouting benefits.

You've hit it on the head, Bear. It's the generational fear of older people about gays or, more appropriately the generational fears of older people about what they, in their abject ignorance of all things gay, think gay people are about.

Yet,

KingGorilla wrote:
OG_slinger wrote:
Bear wrote:

There is a piece of this whole issue that I find rather odd. Those who oppose the inclusion of gay scouts act like there is a giant village of gay teenage boys just waiting to join Scouts so they can spread the gayness. What these people apparently don't realize is that very often, these gay Scouts are their friends from school. These aren't strangers that they've never met before, they're very likely their classmates.

Sadly, this issue is more about the adults than it is the boys that Scouting benefits.

You've hit it on the head, Bear. It's the generational fear of older people about gays or, more appropriately the generational fears of older people about what they, in their abject ignorance of all things gay, think gay people are about.

Yet,

You can make the same argument about wrestling.

Just an update on how the recent decision by the BSA is playing out in my neck of the woods.

On June 11th, an area United Methodist church voted to cut their ties with the BSA and stop chartering a Cub Scout pack (this church does not sponsor a boy scout troop). This decision flies in the face of a statement made by the Indiana Area UMC Bishop who urged all UM churches to continue to sponsor scout units.

http://www.jconline.com/article/2013...

On June 19, a Presbyterian church in the same community announced it had decided take over sponsorship of the cub scout pack dropped by the UM Church. This church already sponsors a boy scout troop.

http://www.jconline.com/article/2013...