U.S. Boy Scouts set to end ban on gay members : spokesperson

[TrogL]

Source: Reuters

The Boy Scouts of America called to end a long-standing ban on openly gay members, a spokesman said on Friday, but the organization's board must still vote in May on whether to ratify the resolution.

If the vote is approved, "no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone," Deron Smith, the organization's spokesman, told Reuters.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/19/us-usa-boyscouts-ban-idUSBRE93I0OY20130419?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

[Aristus]

1. 'Preference'.

Still hedging their bets, I see.

It's a sign of hope, though. I hope they vote to end the ban.

[Xithras]

5. "Sexual orientation or preference"

It's interesting to see that they went with both terms. An attempt to placate both sides of the fight, I'd guess.

[Occulus]

13. Key word here: "alone"

Code for: You can BE gay, but you can't act on it.

I've heard this from religious nutcases like the BSA before. That is always what they really mean when they use qualifiers like that.

[Hekate]

16. As a youth program, they emphasize "clean" behavior, meaning no actual sex anyway

The new resolution actually is consistent with BSA principles. Now, as any fool knows who has dealt with teenage boys, this is a concept not easy to attain or maintain. But at least by putting it this way, it puts all boys on an equal footing again.

The proposed resolution also emphasizes that “scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of scouting age is contrary to the virtues of scouting.”

If/when they pass this resolution, it will be a big win for our side. It puts the Scouts back where they should be in these matters. The issue of scoutmasters can rest for awhile, be taken up later, and in time, we will win that one too. For now, this is huge.

The resolution continues, “The Boy Scouts of America does not have an agenda on the matter of sexual orientation, and resolving this complex issue is not the role of the organization, nor may any member use scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda.”

And that goes for the fundies, too.

[Xithras]

18. Indeed. The BSA has always prohibited sexual behavior during any sort of scout event.

Married couples of the opposite sex who are both leaders aren't even permitted to sleep in the same tent during overnight scout events. Sexual behavior of any type during scout activities, including flirting, is strictly banned. It's been my experience that the prohibition is strictly enforced for heterosexual couples, and I'd expect that the same would apply to gays.

As for sexual activity outside of the scouts, the position of the BSA has typically been that boys should be expected to limit their conduct to activities consistent with their personal faith. Because most faiths discourage sexual activity among teens, the BSA usually falls back to the same position. That said, there are no bylaws that permit members to be excluded from scouting because of their participation in legal activities outside of scouting. While they may frown on the idea of a 16 year old scout sleeping with his girlfriend, they wouldn't punish him or expel him for doing so.

[d_r]

2. please don't let the vote

mess this up

I'm worried because the people voting will be "old school" life-long boy scout devotees, used to the mind set that exists now, if that makes any sense.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Yawn. That they had to agonize over the decison for this long tells me all I need to know.

I will find an alternative for my son, when he's old enough. To hell with them.

[joeglow3]

4. Like most large organization with a hierarchy, I find local chapters tend be MUCH different than the

top. My oldest son did 2 years of cub scouts and my middle son is in year one. They have: written letters to veterans, learned the importance of gardening, done multiple service projects, etc. I agree with the issue of providing money for the top, but if they are moving in the right direction, that is a positive step.

[Orsino]

9. Didn't they just do this a year ago or so?

If public opinion keeps forcing them to revisit the issue, they should realize that they are on the wrong side of history.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Exactly. It's a mark of bad leadership.

I would question ANY decision they made at this point. Any subject.

[Xithras]

6. Lol. I posted this to my Facebook and immediately got this reply...

"I wonder whether it was an accident that the BSA picked this morning, of all the mornings in the world, to make the announcement. If there was ever going to be a day for the BSA to make this announcement and stay OUT of the headlines, this was it."

It's an astute observation

[Botany]

7. Welcome to the 21st century BSA

[TrogL]

8. Huffington post has picked up the story

Apparently there's an age issue.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/boy-scouts-gay-ban-youth-_n_3116532.html

[johnnypneumatic]

11. it will still be a homophobic policy

gay kids will be tolerated (as long as they are celibate) and hopefully cured by being exposed to the superiority of their heterosexual role model leaders...
but no gay adults, because obviously all gays grow up to be pedophiles who want to seduce heterosexual boys
if you reach adulthood and are still gay, you will be kicked out.

[Psephos]

12. Human Nature 101: reward behaviors you want to see more of.

BSA deserves some encouragement for moving in the right direction.

[Hekate]

15. Yes, they do. This is a big win for our side.

[auburngrad82]

14. Too late, I still won't buy their cookies

Oh wait. nm.

[Politicub]

17. This reminds me of Bush's idiotic split-the-baby decision on stem cell research

I'm so sick of the Boy Scouts and their antiquated policies.

I'm also angry about their insistence about keeping some form of anti-gay bigotry in their rules.

So you can be a gay scout, progress through the program, and then not be able to be a scout leader because you're gay?

What is wrong with these people?

Bias and discrimination must end completely. Half-assed solutions are just that.