Boy Scouts prepare to compromise on gay membership
Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America will vote this week on whether to ease the group’s long-standing, ironclad ban on allowing gay boys to become members and gay adults to serve as volunteers.
Under the proposal, organizations such as churches and civic clubs that sponsor Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs would be able to decide for themselves what policy to set. No local group would be forced to admit gay members and adults, in violation of its conscience or comfort zone; likewise, no group will be forced to ban or oust gay members and adults, which BSA policy now requires.
That seems like exactly the right compromise, given the range of geographic, religious and cultural communities that Scouting serves. After all, what works in Utah may not work in Minnesota. It also may not be as simple as it might sound — troops meet often in regional, state and even national events, creating the potential for continued cultural conflicts. However, part of the role of Scouting should be to teach young boys how to overcome such differences.
As a veteran of many a Scout jamboree, not to mention weekly meetings in dank church basements, I still feel a deep personal connection to and affection for the organization, and would welcome this important step forward. While others may not be as supportive, time does and must change things.
(Because some will ask, I got as far as Life Scout, one rank below Eagle, before our troop in suburban Pittsburgh fell apart quickly in what — in hindsight — may have been a covered-up abuse scandal. My military family was transferred to an airbase in Italy shortly thereafter, and that was the end of Scouting for my brother and I. But by then, to be honest, girls and other distractions had begun to pull my attention away anyway.)
– Jay Bookman
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453 comments Add your comment
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
February 4th, 2013
1:29 pm
Tom( Viet Vet-USAF)
February 4th, 2013
1:24 pm
Corbin@1:14 – “Can’t we all just get along”?
I certainly wish we could,,,
getalife
February 4th, 2013
1:33 pm
steve,
Hate much?
moonbat betty
February 4th, 2013
1:34 pm
First of all, there shouldn’t be Boy AND Girl Scout organizations.
There should only be one group -Scouts.
Call it either People Scouts or Human Scouts.
Power to the People!
FIGHT THE POWER
GO HUMANS!
Gale
February 4th, 2013
1:34 pm
What people like steve d need to understand, that before they are gay, boys and girls are boys and girls. They are men and women and like straights, their sexual appetites do not define their very existence.
getalife
February 4th, 2013
1:36 pm
Very good moonbat,
I “fixed” you.
Stevie Ray
February 4th, 2013
1:36 pm
DebbieDoRight – A Do Right Woman
February 4th, 2013
1:27 pm
As I have beaten into my 3 girls, men are all pigs…we don’t mean it as it is simply the way we are wired..
steve draughon
February 4th, 2013
1:30 pm
What is “holy” these days?
What are you afraid of? Do you happen to own a AR-15?
getalife
February 4th, 2013
1:39 pm
sanitarium said allowing gays would end the Scouts.
He is such a drama queen.
Drudge
February 4th, 2013
1:39 pm
I think we have a warped perception of “compromise” in this country. Say I have a cake. You come up to me and say “gimme that cake.” I say no, you go get your own cake. So you say “Let’s compromise. Give me half of your cake.”
So you gained 1/2 a cake, I lost 1/2 a cake and we call that compromise? Nice. So let’s compromise on taxes, gun control and entitlement programs – one side gives, the other side gets – and call it compromise.
Granny Godzilla
February 4th, 2013
1:39 pm
steve draughon
February 4th, 2013
1:30 pm
I guess they’ll have to come up with a new badges also. “Gay pride badge” or “rainbow reamers” or ” homopromo” or ” “Bend over billy” Its SICK SICK SICK. Its time we stopped bending over for these freaks and stop letting them destroy everything holy.Let them start their own club and leave the Boy Scouts alone.
.
.
.
Good Lord Almighty!
Steve….as this will not be forced on anybody your histrionics are pretty funny.
getalife
February 4th, 2013
1:40 pm
drudgey,
Let them eat cake.
steve draughon
February 4th, 2013
1:44 pm
ITS SICK and DISGUSTING and they should all be sent to the island of misfits
moonbat betty
February 4th, 2013
1:45 pm
“I “fixed” you.”
getalife,
The liberals are here to neuter America.
getalife
February 4th, 2013
1:46 pm
steve,
Those who scream the loudest turn up in gay bars.
Granny Godzilla
February 4th, 2013
1:48 pm
steve draughon
February 4th, 2013
1:44 pm
ITS SICK and DISGUSTING and they should all be sent to the island of misfits
.
.
.
So you’ve never practiced sodomy (full definition) with a woman because it’s sick and disgusting?
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
February 4th, 2013
1:48 pm
STEVE,
I think you need to powder your nose…
steve draughon
February 4th, 2013
1:50 pm
hey getalife I’m not screaming i’m just telling the truth. If they feel the need to infiltrate an organization then let them join the catholic church wher they’ll feel right at home
getalife
February 4th, 2013
1:52 pm
steve,
We, the people includes every American.
Paul
February 4th, 2013
1:53 pm
Steve
“.Let them start their own club and leave the Boy Scouts alone.”
I’ll bet you or your dad said the same thing about Catholic kids or Black kids, too, eh?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 4th, 2013
1:54 pm
If they feel the need to infiltrate an organization then let them join the catholic church wher they’ll feel right at home
Infiltrate? What if they are Baptists? Look behind that rock over there… could be one infiltrating now.
It’s fun to stay at the YMCA!
Doggone/GA
February 4th, 2013
1:55 pm
“So you say “Let’s compromise. Give me half of your cake.””
You have such a warped idea of what compromise even MEANS
Doggone/GA
February 4th, 2013
1:57 pm
“ITS SICK and DISGUSTING and they should all be sent to the island of misfits”
Well, let’s say the ones who are sick and disgusting can join you there
Aquagirl
February 4th, 2013
1:59 pm
they should all be sent to the island of misfits
I remember that Christmas special! Funny thing about childhood, you never see the subtext.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgHCZWoMwm4
Living With Open Eyes
February 4th, 2013
2:00 pm
I am not homophobic but I do believe being homosexual is a choice for adults over 21 years old like the choice to drink responsibly or not.We should not allow any deviate behavior in minors – they should toe the line and try the heterosexual life style for at least until they are legally grown. Then let them $%#&*% each other to death if that’s what they want to do.And we sure as heck don”t need to encourage deviate behavior with gay Scoutmaster or gay prom queens. If gays want to lead a pack start a gay biker club, drive to Sturgis and see how much they love you there.Leave kids alone until they grow up.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 4th, 2013
2:00 pm
s. draughon — “ITS SICK and DISGUSTING”
So’s open-heart surgery; you want to ban that, too?
Joe Hussein Mama
February 4th, 2013
2:02 pm
LWOE — “I am not homophobic but I do believe being homosexual is a choice for adults over 21 years old like the choice to drink responsibly or not.We should not allow any deviate behavior in minors – they should toe the line and try the heterosexual life style for at least until they are legally grown.”
I think it’s absolutely QUAINT how you think kids are waiting until they’re 21 to experiment with alcohol and sex.
Doggone/GA
February 4th, 2013
2:03 pm
“I am not homophobic but I do believe being homosexual is a choice for adults over 21 years old like the choice to drink responsibly or not”
Can you remember when you chose to be heterosexual and not homosexual?
CC
February 4th, 2013
2:03 pm
All of you libs will immediately condemn the source, but the content can be found from other sources:
http://patriotpost.us/perspective/16511
Paul
February 4th, 2013
2:09 pm
CC
Oh sure, that was a personal letter from a father to a son that just happened to find its way to Patriot Post (eye roll).
Is the father not aware that a driving factor in the Scout’s decision to reconsider this was input from hundreds of Eagle Scouts who pushed to end the discrimination?
Does not the father understand that his son’s flight commander at the US Air Force Academy, his Commandant, his firs squadron commander on active duty, future wing commander, future chief of staff could all be one of ‘those people’?
DownInAlbany
February 4th, 2013
2:12 pm
Thanks for the link, CC @ 2:03.
DownInAlbany
February 4th, 2013
2:13 pm
Is the father not aware that a driving factor in the Scout’s decision to reconsider this was input from hundreds of Eagle Scouts who pushed to end the discrimination?
You have supporting documentation, I suppose?
Paul
February 4th, 2013
2:16 pm
DownInAlbany
It was in Jay’s lead, same topic, last week.
CC
February 4th, 2013
2:20 pm
“Is the father not aware that a driving factor in the Scout’s decision to reconsider this was input from hundreds of Eagle Scouts who pushed to end the discrimination?”
Oh, I am SURE that a veritable DELUGE of letters, telephone calls and telegrams came from “hundreds of Eagle Scouts” demanding that homosexuals be welcomed! (Sarcasm very much intended!)
CC
February 4th, 2013
2:22 pm
DownInAlbany:
You’re most welcome!
Gale
February 4th, 2013
2:22 pm
Very likely, Eagle scouts realize that sexual orientation had nothing at all to do with their journey to Eagle scout status.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 4th, 2013
2:24 pm
cc — “Oh, I am SURE that a veritable DELUGE of letters, telephone calls and telegrams came from “hundreds of Eagle Scouts” demanding that homosexuals be welcomed! (Sarcasm very much intended!)”
And y’all were absolutely CERTAIN that Romney was going to kick Obama’s tail in November. After all, everybody y’all knew said they were voting for Romney.
Now, how’d all that turn out for ya?
Don’t be so sure that the majority of Americans agree with you. It’s pretty clear from recent elections and polling data that the majority of Americans DON’T agree with you.
Paul
February 4th, 2013
2:25 pm
Gale
And just as we saw with the controversy before the end of don’t ask, don’t tell in the military, the fathers’ and grandfathers’ attitudes were waaaayyyyyy behind that of their kids who were actually living in the institutions under consideration.
sheets -
Adam
February 4th, 2013
2:26 pm
Oh so some are now questioning that people did NOT petition for this change?
Here, DownInAlbany, and CC. This one’s for you:
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/02/04/no-gay-scout-policy-debated-as-petitions-for-change-delivered/
No-Gay Scout Policy Debated As Petitions For Change Delivered
Just as leaders with the Boy Scouts of America sit down for meetings in Irving, to discuss removing the national membership restriction on sexual orientation, gay scouts and leaders will deliver signed petitions supporting an end to the ban.
…
On Monday, Tyrrell and three other adults with ties to the Scouts will deliver 1.4 million signatures, gathered on Change.org petitions, to Boy Scouts national headquarters. All of the petition signatures urge the end of a national anti-gay policy.
DownInAlbany
February 4th, 2013
2:26 pm
So if you thought Romney would win last November, you are wrong about everything! That’s typically how it goes on this loonie leftie blog!
Adam
February 4th, 2013
2:27 pm
So if you thought Romney would win last November, you are wrong about everything! That’s typically how it goes on this loonie leftie blog!
No, it just means you are one of the ones who will swallow anything while complaining about stuff being rammed down your throat.
ZING!
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 4th, 2013
2:27 pm
After the war, he was responsible for keeping the South in poverty, including blacks of the South.
NOT TRUE. About a week after the war, Lincoln was MURDERED! that’s history 101. How could he have been responsible for something he wasn’t even around to implement?
the whole argument about Lincoln freeing slaves was a political ploy to gain support for such savagery. the emancipation proclamation only freed some slaves
More BS — Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation AFTER the south declared war. Yes it did not include all slaves, but it DID include the slaves that were in rebellion against the US at the time.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 4th, 2013
2:28 pm
DIA — “So if you thought Romney would win last November, you are wrong about everything!”
F for Failure In Reading Comprehension.
“That’s typically how it goes on this loonie leftie blog!”
Those grapes still sour, are they?
DownInAlbany
February 4th, 2013
2:29 pm
Petitions for Change.org. You mean the ones that get paid to host the petitions? Oh, OK!
DownInAlbany
February 4th, 2013
2:31 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
February 4th, 2013
2:28 pm
Naw,man. I like grapes!
Gray Area
February 4th, 2013
3:28 pm
[...] membership 2/4/13 Days of Because some will ask, I got as far as Life Scout. from AJC, Atlanta blog of Jay Bookman [...]
Debby
February 4th, 2013
4:03 pm
The Boy Scout program is the nation’s foremost program developing character and values in our youth. It is a private organization and has won Supreme Court cases upholding the banning of gay leaders. Rich history and tradition should not be thrown away just to jump on the homosexual bandwagon as forwarded by 2 activist board members. The ban should NOT be removed and the 2 activists shoudl resign.
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")
February 4th, 2013
6:09 pm
Where it is embraced, it will destroy Scouting. Check Canada – they tried it a few years ago. Is anybody going to send their son to Philmont for two weeks with a pedophile?
Tom Middleton
February 4th, 2013
6:59 pm
Now if we can get the Salvation Army to step up and do the right thing, we’ll be getting somewhere!
Dharma Bum
February 4th, 2013
7:17 pm
I don’t understand why more conservatives aren’t in support of gay marriage and abortions… there have to be some agnostic conservatives somewhere!
The government shouldn’t be telling people who they can/cannot marry
The government shouldn’t be telling women what they can/cannot do with their bodies
Why is this such a weird concept?
Tom Middleton
February 4th, 2013
7:58 pm
Dharma Bum
It’s because modern-day conservatism is mostly about those with money and their freedom, not about freedom for all of us. Add in the paranoid racists here in the South and elsewhere, and you pretty much understand the Republican Party these days. Sad, isn’t it? We in America are supposed to be so much more than this crap!
Tammy
February 4th, 2013
9:41 pm
I think I will become Cathlic or morman. They
seem to have moral values like I do. Keep the ban and god in scouting.
Gil Robison
February 5th, 2013
12:34 am
Of course, this is all about free enterprise, capitalism and freedom of choice. Intel, UPS, Merck and other big corporate donors have chosen to stop funding the Boy Scouts due to their bigoted policies, and the Scouts are scrambling to come up with something to appease them, while not alienating the Mormons and other wacked out Sharia wannabee religious nutcases who now control so much of Scouting today. Take a look at http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/04/obama-says-scout-ban-must-end/ I have never been prouder of a president for taking a stand for what America is all about.
Scouts, leaders deliver petition on no-gay policy – Minnesota Public Radio | GAYFRIENDSCHAT.com
February 5th, 2013
6:06 am
[...] and Scouts on both sides of the debate are …The Boy Scouts bigotry policyMinnesota DailyBoy Scouts prepare to compromise on gay membershipAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Parents pressed Scouts on gay banBend [...]
Joel Edge
February 5th, 2013
7:34 am
“I still feel a deep personal connection to and affection for the organization”
Good for you, Jay, because with this “compromise”, it’ll be a dead organization.