1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Boy Scouts may soon welcome gay youths, leaders

Discussion in 'Current Events, World News, & LGBT News' started by BradThePug, Jan 28, 2013.

Thread Tools

Thread Tools

  1. BradThePug

    BradThePug
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,573
    Likes Received:
    288
    Location:
    Ohio
    Gender:
    Male (trans*)
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Boy Scouts may soon welcome gay youths, leaders

     
    #1 BradThePug, Jan 28, 2013
  2. FranklinK

    FranklinK
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2012
    Messages:
    0
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    I heard they were losing funding over their discriminatory decision to not allow homosexuals into their troops and councils. So in order to keep the funding they are going to appease their resources.
     
    #2 FranklinK, Jan 28, 2013
  3. PeteNJ

    PeteNJ
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    855
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    NJ
    I sure hope so... not holding my breath.

    I'm a Boy Scout leader, and once I'm out of the closet completely (next few months), I'm wondering what will happen.
     
    #3 PeteNJ, Jan 28, 2013
  4. Chip

    Chip
    Board Member Admin Team Advisor Full Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    Messages:
    16,560
    Likes Received:
    4,757
    Location:
    northern CA
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    That's really incredible if it actually happens. What I'd heard is that a huge amount of the funding has historically come from the Mormons, who as we know, are about as bigoted and anti-gay as it gets, so it was considered unlikely they'd shift.

    But I also read that one of the new board members, soon to be president, is from Levi Strauss, or one of the other large corporate supporters, and made it his goal to eliminate discrimination.

    The lifting of the national ban is a step in the right direction, and probably a political move to appease the various bigoted boy scout troops sponsored by conservative churches. Sort of like don't ask-don't tell was a bridge to full acceptance of LGBT servicepeople in the military.
     
    #4 Chip, Jan 28, 2013
  5. speedboy3

    speedboy3
    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2012
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    columbus, ohio
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    This is awesome news! As a boy scout it infuriates me to see when someone works so hard to achieve eagle, or another goal in scouts, only to be denied just because they're not straight. Glad to see the council finally moving in the right direction. :icon_bigg
     
    #5 speedboy3, Jan 28, 2013
  6. Ticklish Fish

    Ticklish Fish
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2012
    Messages:
    3,372
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Internet; H-town
    you know...
    just because they reverse decision of letting gay people in, it doesn't mean like, some of the leaders are not homophobic..

    like.... idk how to explain it
     
    #6 Ticklish Fish, Jan 28, 2013
  7. Chip

    Chip
    Board Member Admin Team Advisor Full Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    Messages:
    16,560
    Likes Received:
    4,757
    Location:
    northern CA
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Drawing again on the analogy of the military, I completely agree with you. If the national group lifts the ban and allows local troops to have gay scoutmasters and gay scouts, then there will still be plenty of ignorant, bigoted scoutmasters at various troops... in much the same way that DADT didn't say to military officers "You have to accept and embrace gay servicemembers" but instead said, in effect "You have to allow them to be as long as they're silent." But it was still discriminatory. And so would the currently-proposed action be.

    But it's a huge step forward. It opens the door for younger gay boys to say "Yes, I count as a person and I'm just as important." Maybe not in Utah or Mississippi... but it's still a great start. And I would guess that, within a few years if not before, the Scouts will adopt a full non-discrimination policy... perhaps after the worst of the bigots die off or retire.
     
    #7 Chip, Jan 28, 2013
  8. Linthras

    Linthras Guest

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    Messages:
    2,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Leeuwarden (FR), the Netherlands
    Better late than never.
    Was changed here long ago, before I was born. Strange to see it's still an issue over there.
     
    #8 Linthras, Jan 29, 2013
  9. inthedark4eva

    inthedark4eva Guest

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2012
    Messages:
    0
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts USA
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Not out at all
    After reading a few articles on this, I have come to realize that the BSA isn't becoming more accepting but rather passing the buck. Deferring the decision to the local councils isn't going to fix anything.

    I came across this poll in the local paper this morning. I was disheartened by the results and some of the comments.

    Should the Boy Scouts allow gays to become Scouts and leaders?
     
    #9 inthedark4eva, Jan 30, 2013
  10. Yamato

    Yamato
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2012
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    England
    I'm pleased they are doing this, I know many troops will still not allow it buts it a step in the right direction. I don't think that here in the UK there has ever really been a ban on gay leaders and scouts. The UK Scout Assosiation is alot more accepting of LGBT rights than the BSA.
    The Uk scouts did this sort of thing a long time ago but instead of gay members it was girls. In 1976 they allowed girls over the age of 15 to join and from 1990 girls of any age could join but the scout troop could opt out. Now it is composory to let girls join. Hopefully something like this will happen in america for the gay members, it won't end discrimination but it will help.
     
    #10 Yamato, Jan 30, 2013
  11. Minx

    Minx
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2013
    Messages:
    1,293
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    It sounds suspicious to me.

    I think it'll give them more power in dismissing gays they disapprove of.

    -Oh, we're not bigots at all anymore, we have gay youth leaders now. You can't say we discriminate anymore... just because some locals choose to delegate and let a few of them go....- :dry:
     
    #11 Minx, Jan 30, 2013
  12. Emberstone

    Emberstone
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2008
    Messages:
    6,680
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Oregon, USA
    I will believe it when i see it.
     
    #12 Emberstone, Jan 30, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)