Currently, I’m a Scoutmaster in Madison, WI and grew up with Scouting in both the Atlanta Area Council and New Orleans Area Council (now Southeast Louisiana Council). From what I’ve witnessed Scouting has never had anything to do with sexuality and it still doesn’t. The request by many to change the BSA policy is also not about sexuality. It’s about allowing all Scout-age boys and all adults to become active members.

What many want is for discrimination based on sexual orientation to be wiped clean of BSA policy. From my point of view, those opposed to a potential change are making this is an issue of sexuality.

I’ve read countless blogs posts where folks assume that “open and avowed” homosexual Scouts and/or Scouters are automatically going to have sex with other Scouts or Scouters on camping trips. This is, quite frankly, irrational fear.

Though we have seen that the BSA hasn’t been free of pedophilia, we MUST remember that homosexuality and pedophilia are NOT the same thing. Sex has no place on camping trips or any Scouting event/activity.

I do agree with you, Steve, and John Dominik that we should not obsess over hypothetical, generalized sexuality statements and get along with the movement of Scouting. What I would like to see is a BSA where all parents and youth are welcomed fully as members regardless of sexual orientation.

We can argue up and down about the morality of homosexuality but if we’re doing Scouting correctly sexuality doesn’t have a place in what we do. By denying a lesbian mom or gay dad from being a leader we are effectively denying countless Scouting benefits to countless youth. The same goes for denying an Eagle badge from a young gay man.

Sexuality is not the issue. Acceptance of homosexuality is not the issue. Allowing all to be members is the issue.

I have noted that the issue arises when an individual, such as a lesbian mom or a gay Eagle Scout candidate is expelled from Scouting or refused advancement. My take on this is that this in an issue which would never have reached this level if we focused on the character and ability of the individuals instead of their announced or perceived sexual orientation.

My Unit, chartered to an Orthodox Jewish congregation, would not register or retain an “avowed homosexual.” It is contrary to our belief that this is a critical moral failing and that such a person does not meet our standards for membership in our unit.

In my professional life I am in frequent contact with clergy of many faiths and denominations, some of whom believe as I do and some who believe that sexual orientation is irrelevant as a test of a person’s moral fitness. Among those who take the more “liberal” view, there is also a stong belief that excluding anyone from participating in Scouting because of their sexual orientation is, itself, a grave moral failing.

Just as I would not want anyone to force me to register a person my synagogue feels is not appropriate to our unit, I would not want to tell another organization they may not register a person they feel meets their standards for moral fitness.

The problem is that this becomes very close to the BSA deciding dogma and belief for chartered organizations. This is contrary to BSA’s own position:

“No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.” (From the BSA Charter and Bylaws, Article IX)

and,

“Scouting does not seek to impose its beliefs upon others who do not share them.Virtually every religion is represented in Scouting and the BSA does not define
or interpret God. That is the role of the Scout’s family and religious advisors.

“Scouting respects those who do not share its beliefs and it would not ask others to alter their faith in any fashion in order to become Scouts. They too are free to follow their own beliefs. Rather, the BSA membership believes that the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to the BSA goal of teaching the values of self reliance, courage, integrity, and consideration
to others.” (REAFFIRMATION OF THE POSITION OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ON “DUTY TO GOD”, 1991)

This is basically the answer I gave in my response to the survey.

Leave this matter in the hands of the chartered organizations and let us get back to Scouting.

I feel pretty much the same way you do – a kid’s a kid. Most of them would benefit from the Scouting experience. I don’t know that it makes any difference who they love – I really don’t care. I wish this whole thing would go away so we could focus on the program again, instead of sex and sexuality…