My brother just became an openly gay Eagle Scout. But we're still 'unfit' to be leaders.
Unfit for duty. That's what the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) would've told me if I had revealed my sexuality before last May's landmark decision, and it's what they would say to me today if I wanted to lead a troop. Both my brother and I are gay Eagle Scouts. We are out to our friends and family, and we've been fortunate enough to face universal acceptance. Well, near universal.
I was aware of the anti-gay policy as a Boy Scout and chose to keep my sexuality private when among the members and leaders of my troop. Though I am confident none of them would have had issues with my sexual orientation, merely knowing about it would have put them in the awkward position of being aware of a gay scout. I progressed quietly for seven years and earned the rank of Eagle in June 2010. Silence kept me safe.
In July 2012, when my younger brother, Pascal, was working on his Eagle Scout, the organization reaffirmed its ban on gay scouts and scout leaders, and I began to think about acting on his behalf. Pascal opened up about his sexuality in 2013. When a local council leader said, "It would be impossible for him to get his Eagle," I knew the time had come.
I want to be clear that the campaign I launched was not the first challenge to the BSA's policy. A few of the brave members of scouting who have tried to set things right before me are former Scoutmaster James Dale (BSA v Dale, 2000), Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted from her position as a den leader in April 2012, and Ryan Andresen, an Eagle candidate who was denied his rank in early 2013 because he too is gay. The bravery shown by these and others inspired me to take action.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/16/gay-boy-scout-eagle-award-unfit-for-troop-leader
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