Will Boy Scouts accept gay youth? Vote is imminent

May 18, 2013 @ 7:22 am


FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2013 file photo, James Oliver, left, hugs his brother and fellow Eagle Scout, Will Oliver, who is gay, as Will and other supporters carry four boxes filled with petitions to end the ban on gay scouts and leaders in front of the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Dallas, Texas. With its ranks deeply divided, the Boy Scouts of America is asking its local leaders from across the country to decide whether its contentious membership policy should be overhauled so that openly gay boys can participate in Scout units. The proposal to be put before the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA's National Council on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at a meeting in Grapevine, Texas, would retain the Scouts' long-standing ban on gays serving in adult leadership positions. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) | Zoom

(AP) - With its ranks deeply divided, the Boy Scouts of America is asking its local leaders from across the country to decide whether its contentious membership policy should be overhauled so that openly gay boys can participate in Scout units.

The proposal to be put before the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA's National Council on Thursday, at a meeting in Grapevine, Texas, would retain the Scouts' long-standing ban on gays serving in adult leadership positions.

Nonetheless, some conservatives within and outside the BSA community have denounced the proposal, saying the Scouts' traditions would be undermined by the presence of openly gay youth. There have been warnings of mass defections if the ban is even partially lifted.

From the other flank, gay-rights supporters and some Scout leaders from politically liberal areas have welcomed the proposed change as a positive first step, but are calling on the BSA to go further and lift the ban on gay adults as well.

The Scouts' national spokesman, Deron Smith, said the policy toward gays had become "the most complex and challenging issue" facing the BSA at a time when it is struggling to stem a steady drop in membership.

"Ultimately we can't anticipate how people will vote but we do know that the result will not match everyone's personal preference," Smith said in an email.

In January, the BSA floated a plan to give sponsors of local Scout units the option of admitting gays as both youth members and adult leaders or continuing to exclude them. However, it changed course, in part because of surveys sent out starting in February to members of the Scouting community.

Of the more than 200,000 leaders, parents and youth members who responded, 61 percent supported the current policy of excluding gays, while 34 percent opposed it.

Those findings contrasted with a Washington Post-ABC News national poll earlier this month. It said 63 percent of respondents favored letting openly gay youth be Scouts, and 56 percent favored lifting the ban on gay adults.

Over the past several weeks, numerous public events have been staged by advocacy groups on different sides of the debate.

A group called Scouts for Equality has organized rallies in several cities aimed at urging local BSA councils to support an end to the ban on gay youth. Rallies opposing any easing of the ban, for youth or adults, have been organized by a group called OnMyHonor.net, which claims the pending proposal "requires open homosexuality in the Boy Scouts."

Both groups plan to have their leaders and supporters on hand in Grapevine as the vote takes place.

Among those heading to Grapevine to lobby for an easing of the ban are Tracie Felker and her 16-year-old son, Pascal Tessier, who, though openly gay, is on track to become an Eagle Scout as a member of Boy Scout Troop 52 in Chevy Chase, Md.

"We are absolutely dedicated to restoring integrity to Boy Scouting and reinvigorating the program," Felker said. "That can only be done by removing the stain of discrimination."

Passions also run deep on the other side, as evidenced by a live online event titled "Stand With Scouts Sunday" presented May 5 by the conservative Family Research Council. The council opposes lifting the ban on gay youth, saying such a change "will dramatically alter the culture and moral landscape of America."

Among the participants was Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who lauded the Scouts' tradition of character-building.

"For pop culture to come in and try to tear that up because this happens to be the flavor of the month ... that is just not appropriate," Perry said. "Frankly I hope the American people stand up and say, `Not on my watch.'"

Also appearing on the webcast was Jeremy Miller, a Scout leader from Ohio who said the proposed change "will open the door to boy-on-boy sexual contact, bullying and older Scouts being predators on younger scouts."

The BSA's national leadership has rejected such warnings as ill-founded. "The BSA makes no connection between the sexual abuse or victimization of a child and homosexuality," a new background document says. "The BSA takes strong exception to this assertion."

Of the more than 100,000 Scouting units in the U.S., 70 percent are chartered by religious institutions. While these sponsors include liberal churches opposed to any ban on gays, some of the largest sponsors are relatively conservative denominations that have supported the broad ban _ notably the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Southern Baptist churches.

Knowing these churches oppose scouting roles for gay adults, the BSA leadership hopes they will be willing to back the easing of the ban on gay youth. As part of this effort, the BSA is emphasizing that sexual conduct by any Scout _ straight or gay _ would be considered unacceptable.

"We are unaware of any major religious chartered organization that believes a youth member simply stating he or she is attracted to the same sex, but not engaging in sexual activity, should make him or her unwelcome in their congregation," the Scouts say in their new background document.

Southern Baptist leaders were outspoken earlier this year in opposing the tentative plan to let Scout units decide for themselves if they wanted to accept gays as adult leaders.

Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, said the new proposal "is more acceptable to those who hold a biblical form of morality," but he nonetheless favors its defeat.

"A No vote keeps the current policy in place, an outcome we would overwhelmingly support," Page told Baptist Press, the SBC's official news agency.

Baptist Press reported that the Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., was considering ending a nearly 75-year sponsorship of a Boy Scout troop if the policy change prevails. The church's senior pastor, Ernest Easley, echoed warnings from other Southern Baptist leaders that any BSA accommodation of gays might prompt defections and trigger an expansion of the SBC's own youth group for boys, the Royal Ambassadors. According to BSA figures, Baptist churches sponsor Scout units with about 108,000 youth members.

Leaders of some smaller conservative denominations _ including the Assemblies of God and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod _ have signed a statement opposing the proposal to accept gay youth.

Some larger sponsors have either endorsed the proposal, or _ in the case of the United Methodist Church and Catholic Church _ declined to specify a position. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting issued a statement describing the membership debate as "difficult and sensitive" but stopping short of any explicit recommendation for how Catholic delegates to the BSA meeting should vote.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced in April that it supports the new proposal, saying the BSA made a good-faith effort to address a complex issue. The Mormons sponsor more Scout units than any other organization, serving about 430,000 of the 2.6 million youth in Scouting.

The United Methodists are the second-largest sponsor, serving about 363,000 youth members; the Catholic Church is No. 3, with a youth membership of about 273,000.

Several regional Scout councils already have declared their position on the membership proposal.

In Tennessee, the Nashville-based Middle Tennessee Council and Jackson-based West Tennessee Area Council said they oppose the proposed change and support the current broad ban on gay youth and adults.

"We are continuing to uphold the standards, beliefs and traditions Scouting has held for over 100 years," said Lee Beaman, board president of the Middle Tennessee Council, which says it serves 35,000 youth and adults.

The day after that announcement, Bill Moser, a longtime Scout leader in Clarksville, Tenn., announced his resignation, saying he couldn't support a policy that would force openly gay youth out of Scouting when they turned 18.

The Greater New York Councils, which serve about 43,000 Scouts in New York City, is supporting the proposal to accept gay youths, calling it "a positive step forward." It is among the councils urging the Scouts to also accept gays as adult leaders.

The Los Angeles Area Council said it follows a nondiscrimination policy that extends to sexual orientation and it proposed that the BSA adopt a similar policy nationwide, opening its ranks to openly gay adults as well as youth.

However, the BSA leadership says no such alternative proposals will be put to a vote at the Grapevine meeting _ only the single proposal to lift the ban on gay youth.

If the proposal is approved, the new policy would take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. A task force already has been created to oversee its implementation.

___

Online:

Boy Scouts: http://www.scouting.org/

___

Follow David Crary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CraryAP


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (40)


  • Add A Comment

  • flipper wrote...
    Reasonable
    January 28, 2013 2:51 pm
    Puts the policy on membership based on sexual orientation on the local troop. Don't see how that's wrong.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Unless of course
    January 28, 2013 6:56 pm
    They say no. Or yes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    So much for morally straight -
    January 28, 2013 6:44 pm
    might as well give them real Guns too!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    CH
    January 29, 2013 9:30 am
    we had real guns. Used to shoot single-shot bolt action .22's at summer camp every year on a range.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    ex-priests to become
    January 29, 2013 6:41 am
    scout leaders?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    It's a cop-out
    January 29, 2013 7:29 am
    Don't do it. You're a great example of morality and decency. Don't follow the crowd... right over the cliff.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    I've notified the national leadership
    February 6, 2013 6:54 am
    that I intend to turn in everyone of my awards if they follow through with this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Denco25 wrote...
    What A Shame
    January 29, 2013 9:15 am
    Too bad they might have to do this just to keep corporate donations coming in. I was a boy Scout many years ago, as was my son. If my son's troop had openly homosexual parent leaders, I would pull him him out of that troop and find one that shared our values.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keitho wrote...
    NAMBLA is salivating
    January 29, 2013 9:47 am
    So, they are pressured to bend to the gay lobby due to lawsuits. I fail to see how this resolves the lawsuit issue. 2, 5, 10 years from now when stories come out about boys being abused where are they going to point the finger? At the boy scouts for their policy allowing gay scout leaders. This is not a healthy thing for the boy scouts. Scouting is supposed to help in the development of young boys into godly, strong men. I fail to see how allowing gay leaders would help in either the godly or strong men development objectives. Shame on the scouts for caving
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Look at the picture and how much Lezzy cares about the Scouts.
    January 29, 2013 9:53 am
    You can tell by the way she keeps that uni all clean, pressed and - Oh come on, lady. Did you pick that up at a Goodwill for this meeting? You could have at least tucked in the blouse. What a disgrace.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • UncleLou wrote...
    Why fight to uphold intolerance?
    January 29, 2013 10:09 am
    Homosexuality does not predispose someone to being a pedophile any more than the priesthood or parenthood exempts someone from being a pedophile. What a truly short sighted and ignorant argument.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Why?
    January 29, 2013 2:26 pm
    Because homo behavior is unnatural in addition to being revolting. The recent wave of homo activism (especially gay marriage) is not about 'tolerance' but rather legitimizing behavior. Homo behavior is not a value I wish to be legitimized. It is unhealthy (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), and while does not predispose one to being a pedophile, the instance of pedophilia among homos is MUCH higher than the population in general. It's a fact, not fear. We discriminate against people all the time, and for most of humanity have discriminated against homos. There is a reason for it. If you want to stop discrimination, fine. How about we force churches to perform abortions and sell cigarettes to children.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    I love the idea, negro!
    February 7, 2013 1:59 pm
    Let's put an old-school cigarette vending machine in every church! God knows we all need a smoke after all those glorious sermons where our pastor tells us to shoot all them queers and terrorists to make sure we get into Heaven! Better make sure we stock the machine full of Kools at them thar Baptist churches! And Hey! While we're at it, let's start ordaining ministers everywhere with the authority and ability to perform abortions! That way, when our children sin in the eyes of the Lord our God, we don't have to worry about a demon offspring poppin out of her womb! After all, if mommy and daddy aren't married to each other, that baby's doomed to heck anyway! Why make Grandma and Grandpa suffer through that shame?! Did ya finish readin that, negro? That's you. That's what you sound like to everyone else. Just thought I'd bring it to your attention.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    uh, I don't think so
    February 7, 2013 3:46 pm
    Nice try, doofus abides.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keitho wrote...
    UNCLELOU
    January 29, 2013 3:28 pm
    Nooone is accusing every homosexual of being a predator but NAMBLA (national man-boy love association) is an association of hpomosexuals who feel it is normal to have sex with little boys as their title states. Also, I would say a priest who commits homosexual acts with a minor male is also a predator and also homosexual given the same sex predisposition. We should be vigilant about women preying on little boys as well but that is extremely rare.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    UncleLou
    February 6, 2013 6:59 am
    short sighted and ignorant or not I also would not allow a son to be a member of a troop with openly homosexual leaders, anymore than I would let me daughters be led/mentored by a pack of men claiming to be "leaders". Homosexuality DOES predispose pedophilia towards boys. Ya think their there because they want to molest squirrels?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JohnQEveryman wrote...
    meh.
    January 29, 2013 10:14 am
    It kinda seems like there are more worthwhile ventures for people to put their kids in, if you have to sue the ba-jesus out of an entity to get equality. I certainly don't agree with their policy, but I won't ever allow my kids to join the Scouts if nothing more than their obstinance. Maybe if we all voted with our membership (as it were), they would take note... it works for businesses/boycotts.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    You are so right!!!
    January 29, 2013 10:38 am
    Don't you think that next or soon, will be suing churches to FORCE any one of their choosing to marry them? The handwriting is on the wall. Sodom and Gomorrah all over again...tsk tsk tsk...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Better to see them disband
    February 6, 2013 7:01 am
    than to allow homo leaders.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    As a former scout, now a scout leader with four sons who have been.are/will be scouts
    January 29, 2013 10:30 am
    I think this was the right move, and it is completely in line with President Obama's stance on gay marriage, with nearly the same timing of "evolution" of thought. Personally, I am not surprised at all to learn this as the top levels of BSA have been working hard for the past several years to evolve the national program to become more relevant and exciting for modern youth, from the construction of the new high adventure base, The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, with its extreme sports activities designed under consultation from the top X-Games athletes, to integration of modern personal electronics to enhance the traditional scouting experience. I do not feel that the safety of our kids will be compromised by this change as the BSA has one of the most comprehensive youth protection programs of any youth organization on the planet. Every child, parent, volunteer and employee are given age and participant-context training so that every participant is aware of the BSA policies regarding youth-interaction. Additionally, my pack's sponsoring organization, a local Catholic Church, requires all parent volunteers to attend an additional four-hour youth protection training where adults discusss, in a very frank manner, the issues of child molestation and how to identify, deter and report threats to the children. I am confident is stating that children in today's BSA are most probably safer than in any other youth organization in the country. Also, I think, particularly in our area and other gay-friendly areas this policy would be a good thing for scouting as it is aligned with the civil discussion and education that our kids get in other aspects of their lives while still allowing other localities to self-manage their evolution based on community support. Finally, to Luke Burbank's proclamation on this morning's show that he thinks that scouting in the US is "on the wane", I would direct him to the BSA's media page at http://www.scouting.org/Media/MediaKit/AtaGlance.aspx where he can see that, with nearly four million youth and adult members in the US alone, he couldn't be any further from the truth.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Wrong: Citizen of Krazy Town
    January 29, 2013 2:33 pm
    By definition, when you allow a group of people known to have a higher instance of pedophilia around potential victims, the number of 'incidents' will rise. Training doesn't stop pedophiles any more than 'Gun Free Zone' signs stop mass shootings. Also, in case you didn't realize it, homo behavior is a sin in the Catholic church, so an openly practicing homo should be loved, but should not ever be put in a position of authority.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    @Imanegro: A few thoughts:
    January 29, 2013 4:15 pm
    1) Lifting the ban isn't going to materialize more homosexuals. These people already live among us and interact with us daily.

    2) There is no scientific or empirical evidence that gay people are more prone to pedophilia and, in fact, the opposite is true based on several thoroughly vetted studies.

    3) The BSA training teaches kids, parents and volunteers how to identify, confront and report dangerous and illegal behavior like grooming, inappropriate interactions and assaults as well as level set everyone on BSA policies that are distinctly designed to make a scouting environment hostile to a pedophile like two-deep leadership as an example. Pedophiles are not attracted to organizations where the children and adults are alert, and uninhibited about demanding appropriate behavior. Pedophiles are more likely to be your neighborhood babysitter, or your relative, than a volunteer in scouting or church.

    4) Your final comment is intriguing as it seems to imply that no individual, who is a sinner, should be in a position of leadership. I'm fascinated how one person can be so unecumbered with facts and logic!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    @crazytown: A few thoughts:
    February 6, 2013 8:06 am
    Good reply. I don't agree, of course, but good reply. #1. Agreed. #2. This is false. Homos are known to have higher instances of pedophilia among their ranks. #3. As I said, training does not stop pedophilia, period. It may slow it down, but where do you draw the line? Under 10 rapes per county is OK? Pedophiles are attracted to all organizations that attract kids, regardless of what training is provided. #4. I don't mean to imply, I mean to state: Homos should not be given authority over kids, period. Same way an arsonist should not run a match factory. When you are an openly practicing pervert (and yes, the homo act is perverted) of any variety, you should not be put in a position of authority over potential victims. That's called common sense.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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