After review, Boy Scouts reaffirm ban on gays; six months later talk about change

[Fang]

NEW YORK – After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday emphatically reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays, ruling out any changes despite relentless protest campaigns by some critics.

An 11-member special committee, formed discreetly by top Scout leaders in 2010, "came to the conclusion that this policy is absolutely the best policy for the Boy Scouts," the organization' national spokesman, Deron Smith, told The Associated Press.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/17...m-ban-on-gays/


Sounds like a good decision to me. Thoughts?

[grggngll]

it is a private organization, so they can do whatever they want.

[reg_indy]

NEW YORK – After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday emphatically reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays, ruling out any changes despite relentless protest campaigns by some critics.

An 11-member special committee, formed discreetly by top Scout leaders in 2010, "came to the conclusion that this policy is absolutely the best policy for the Boy Scouts," the organization' national spokesman, Deron Smith, told The Associated Press.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/17...m-ban-on-gays/


Sounds like a good decision to me. Thoughts?

As a Scout Leader of 17 years (and dad to an Eagle Scout), I can tell you that I've had many more issues with horny heterosexuals on camping trips than with any gay campers.

I'm not opposed to the policy, tho a gay Eagle Scout to me would still be an Eagle Scout.

[gonzoliberal]

It's too bad, but this will continue the BSA's continuing slide into oblivion.

[SalisburySage]

NEW YORK – After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday emphatically reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays, ruling out any changes despite relentless protest campaigns by some critics.

An 11-member special committee, formed discreetly by top Scout leaders in 2010, "came to the conclusion that this policy is absolutely the best policy for the Boy Scouts," the organization' national spokesman, Deron Smith, told The Associated Press.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/17...m-ban-on-gays/


Sounds like a good decision to me. Thoughts?

I understand the Boy Scouts caution but I thinks its wrong headed thinking.
Lets use alcohol as an example. Alcohol and drunk drivers kill and hurt people a lot but yet alcohol is still legal. The abusers of alcohol are held accountable but society doesn't wish to hurt everyone who uses alcohol responsibly to have to suffer for everyone sins.

So to the Boy Scouts should not punish all gay people because of a few bad apples. The bad gay people should be held accountable if they break the law.

[Baltimatt]

So, do you think boys with gay parents should stay out of the Boy Scouts? Because you know they are going to want the parents to help out.

reg_indy--

I recall reading that James Dale was stripped of his Eagle award simply for being gay.

[Baltimatt]

Well, looks like Jennifer Tyrrell won't be back as a den leader. Too bad, Cruz, they don't want your mom.

[Baltimatt]

Scouts return Eagle awards.

Twenty years ago, Aaron Becker had just been named valedictorian of Baltimore's City College when he was also awarded the rank of Eagle Scout — the culmination of years of Scouting work, including a seven-month project to make a video about emotionally vulnerable children.

But Becker's longtime affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America came to an end recently, when he returned his Eagle medal to the organization because of its decision to uphold a ban on openly gay Scouts and leaders. He joined a growing number of men across Maryland and the nation — gay and straight, old and young — who have voiced disapproval of that decision by relinquishing Scouting's most prestigious award.

[Baltimatt]

Church tells Cub Scouts to take a hike.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church told Cub Scout Pack 4 last week it can no longer use church facilities because of the Boy Scouts of America’s reaffirmation earlier this summer of its exclusion of gay men and boys.

Pack 4 had been meeting in the St. Luke’s church hall for three years.

“We came to a unanimous conclusion that the appropriate response was to say to the institution that we as a community of faith cannot allow them as an institution to operate here and have their meetings here given that they have as part of their institutional policy discrimination,” said Rector Tim Rich of St. Luke’s in an interview Thursday.

The vestry voted unanimously to bar the pack. The cubmaster finds himself in the difficult position of finding a new place to meet, and says he does not support the Scouts' policy himself.

This is in East Greenwich, RI.

[Baltimatt]

Cub Scout packs reject exclusion policy.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...boy?source=rss
Juju yOu

After meeting last week for a discussion on the Boy Scouts of America's stance against homosexuality within its ranks, the Redlands [CO] pack plans to take a stand against the greater organization. In a meeting Thursday, Cubmaster James Rich, who leads Redlands BSA Pack No. 24, checked in with parents to see how they felt about it.


Rich said he sent several notices informing parents about last week's meeting, emphasizing the discussion was open to the public. At the meeting, Rich found that several parents spoke in favor of Rich's stance - let's not discriminate, but let's welcome everyone with open arms.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehea...#axzz25F9BOs5L

<Sorry, but I keep getting a "Forbidden" message when trying to post a quote from this article.>

[gonzoliberal]

Eagle scouts in Maryland have been returning their badges and awards in protest of the BSA's policies.

When the local BoyScouts hold their beg-a-thon outside of the grocery store, I dread the time it takes to patiently explain to them why I'm not contributing. But of late, more of the Scouts are well aware of the controversy, and hold their own opinions.

Will BSA eventually cave?

[bmore_ken]

it is a private organization, so they can do whatever they want.

Wow!!!! I agree with you? Holy Crap Batman!!!!!!!

[Jeebus]

Funny that an organization founded by a repressed homosexual (so he could enjoy gazing a young boys swimming nude) has stuck to such an hardline anti-gay agenda.

[Baltimatt]

Half a year later, Scouts consider reversing ban.

The Boy Scouts of America, one of the nation’s largest private youth organizations, is actively considering an end to its decades-long policy of banning gay scouts or scout leaders, according to scouting officials and outsiders familiar with internal discussions.

If adopted by the organization’s board of directors, it would represent a profound change on an issue that has been highly controversial -- one that even went to the US Supreme Court. The new policy, now under discussion, would eliminate the ban from the national organization’s rules, leaving local sponsoring organizations free to decide for themselves whether to admit gay scouts.

Good.

[regularguy]

How about they also relent on their prohibition of atheist and agnostic scouts and leaders?

[songfourone]

I will buy expensive popcorn again if they do overturn the ban.

[regularguy]

I will buy expensive popcorn again if they do overturn the ban.

Seriously! The last couple times I've been asked by scouts to buy their popcorn, while entering or exiting the grocery store, I told them something along the lines of "sorry, but I don't support conservative religious organizations that discriminate."

When the BSA ends its discrimination against gays and atheists, I'll definitely reconsider.

[SalisburySage]

Seriously! The last couple times I've been asked by scouts to buy their popcorn, while entering or exiting the grocery store, I told them something along the lines of "sorry, but I don't support conservative religious organizations that discriminate."

When the BSA ends its discrimination against gays and atheists, I'll definitely reconsider.

I feel the same way about the Salvation army. And that incessant Bell Ringing oi!

[Baltimatt]

The Scouts may end their national policy excluding gay scouts and leaders, but apparently there will still be a local option on the issue.

[Baltimatt]

A source who has knowledge of the situation told The Christian Post last week that the BSA's top executives had met with top leaders at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, among others, over the last few weeks to inform them of the possibility of this policy shift.

Early Monday morning, the BSA responded to CP's inquiry and released the following statement via email:

"For more than 100 years, Scouting's focus has been on working together to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Scouting has always been in an ongoing dialogue with the Scouting family to determine what is in the best interest of the organization and the young people we serve," wrote Deron Smith, BSA's Director of Public Relations.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/ga...4OZB2GCzbgJ.99