Let me be clear: I don’t speak Scout. I have one brother who wasn’t involved in Scouts, and as a child/youth I didn’t have too many friends who were actively involved in BSA. That being said, my husband is very involved in Scouting. He received his Eagle (do you receive your Eagle or become an Eagle? Is Eagle capitalized? I don’t even know) at age 13, and throughout our marriage has been an active Friend of Scouting, even dressing in his uniform to attend meetings. He once attended a training (or something) in Southern Utah, and a few years ago spent a week at Philmont (BSA Scout Ranch in New Mexico). It’s a program which has enriched his life, which he enjoys, and I support him in that.
I should also maybe confess that we have donated financially to the Scouting program. And I should maybe also tell you that the only way I’ve felt justified in making this donation is to also make an equal donation to our ward’s Young Women program.
Last year’s clarification from the BSA that having gay leaders in the organization wasn’t in the best interest of the scouts left me more disinterested in the Scouting organization than I had been before. As my son gets older I’ve realized that I have to take an interest in this conversation because he’s almost old enough to join Scouts. And where we live, and as a member of an active LDS family, there is an expectation that he will join Scouts. Not that he couldn’t, but if he didn’t, how would that affect him socially amongst his fellow Young Men? How many Young Men activities are Scout-centric? Most? All? If he didn’t participate would he be considered inactive?
Earlier this week the BSA announced that their ban on gay leaders and scouts is in line for elimination. What does this mean for the LDS church? I had a conversation about this yesterday with a close friend who is very conservative. We’ll call him CF (Conservative Friend). CF wonders if the church will continue to align itself with an organization which doesn’t take a firmer stand on where the line is drawn with homosexuality. I mention that Scouting is beloved by many, not the least of whom is our dear prophet, President Monson. We agree that this has potential to be a storm, the substance of which is not pleasant.
CF takes the position that he wouldn’t want gay leaders attending to the scouts. He says there are reasons we have leaders of the same gender with the youth, and he would not be comfortable with a male leader who is attracted to males taking his sons on any overnight campouts. CF clarifies that he isn’t saying that gay men are pedophiles. He simply doesn’t think it’s a good idea for men who are attracted to males to be alone with young men.
I say that my understanding is that being gay doesn’t mean that one is engaging in homosexual behaviors and in fact, if one is engaging in such, one is ineligible to hold a calling and so one wouldn’t be called to be a scout leader, so maybe the point is moot. CF points out that scout leader is only a calling in our church; elsewhere it’s volunteer work.
I also point out to CF that in one ward I attended, a scout leader – a married man with a family – was arrested for exactly what you think he was arrested for. All the youth in that ward (young women, too) were questioned by the police. From the outside, that man was a ‘perfect candidate’ to be a scout leader; in reality, he acted as the worst kind of monster, and I know plenty of gay men who would never do that to a child.
So what do you think? When the BSA comes out with an official statement, I can only guess we will all look to the LDS Newsroom to learn about how the church will move forward with the Scouting program. What are your thoughts on this situation?
I feel that allowing “gay scouts and leaders” together is a lot like a co-ed campout. Most parents wouldn’t allow this. The same sex attraction that may overcome a leader or a scout might be too much to handle and this is openly inviting a chance for child abuse. I don’t think this is a good idea.
Not related to the issue of gay members or leaders – you can see my other comment on facebook – My husband is the Varsity Scout leader in our ward. But we stopped donating to the Friends of Scouting program when I found out that the money does not stay in your local ward or troop it goes to the national Boys Scouts of America office. I prefer to make a donation on the other category on my tithing slip.
John Gunter – that’s like saying that we should ban gay teachers for the same reason – the scouting system already has a very comprehensive policy to protect children and adults from being alone together – not that they have a great track record of enforcing it. I watched the training session for scout leaders with my husband. No adult and child should ever be alone together. Ever. Regardless of the sexual orientation of the leader or member. If those policies are adhered to the sexual orientation shouldn’t matter.
I think the Church policy regarding gays has been more liberal than the scouting rules for a long time. I’m glad the scouts are catching up. It’s about time.
The issue with having gay leaders is not about the sexuality at all. Scout leaders are to be role models for the young men they lead. Many scouts may not have a male role model in their lives and their scout leader becomes that male role model. If their scout leaders are gay, as good as a person as they may be, it may not be the role model that the boys need in their lives to become the men and fathers they need to grow up to be.
Girl Scouts and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Agenda
Position Statement
We recognize the basic human rights of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. All citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have the right to housing, employment, and to be free from violence and harassment.
While we condemn violence or harassment of anyone, we do not accept that individuals should be given special rights based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
We have provided the information in this section to make parents aware that Girl Scouts of the USA is increasingly promoting LGBT issues to girls by featuring prominent LGBT rights activists as role models at Girl Scout events, in Girl Scout materials, and by referring girls to websites that aggressively promote special LGBT rights.
We believe it is inappropriate to promote LGBT issues to children.
Oh. But. We’re discussing boys. And that’s different.
My boys are non-member scouts. They are a minority, and unfortunately it affects their social life in quite the opposite direction from the author’s concern for her son. I think organization leaders here in Utah fear this change because it may cause a huge, overdue change in the culture here. It may open the possibility to voluntary leadership, rather than someone “called to the position”, from non-LDS families, be they traditional or non-traditional families, where ideals and belief systems beyond LDS culture can be explored.