Boy Scout Policy Change

I know this post will probably receive lots of nasty comments but remember these are my views, not yours.

It is a sad day today. The Boy Scouts of America caved to public pressure and money. It is a shame that such a great organization, in which we have become very heavily involved, chose to ignore the wants/views of it’s members and listened instead to the voices of a few and to the threats of withdrawal of money from a few corporations. I wonder what the outcome will be. How many boys/ leaders/ families will leave because of this? I bet more leave due to this decision than join. Locally we had several sponsor organizations, packs, and very involved adults (who if they left would cause some programming to not be available) say that if this was passed they would be leaving the Boy Scouts. I think this will have a bigger fallout then most people think.

My personal feelings are mixed. I was raised in a very conservative religious group. I was taught being homosexual is a sin. When I asked my friends of other religions what their church’s views were, they all told me basically the same thing (no matter what religion)- the church is open to all people, including those who claim to be homosexual. It is not a sin to claim to be homosexual; however it is a sin to act upon it. Who knows- maybe that is what the religion of my youth taught…to me it is one and the same. My religious views may differ from yours but I still believe it is a sin.

When I first heard of the Venturing program I was very excited. I thought it was great that girls were allowed in the Boy Scout program, especially since I know a lot of families who have boys in Boy Scouts but refuse to put their girls in Girl Scouts (due to their changes in policy/views). But the more I learned about the issues within the venturing group the more I don’t support it. There are so many issues that revolve around the fact that you have BOTH boys and girls in the same group. I am sure you can guess those issues without me going into a lot of details. It just isn’t a good combination.  I feel the same with this new policy. It isn’t a good combination.

My upmost concern is for the safety of my children. I fear that changing this policy changes that safety factor. My older son will no longer feel safe. He will have to constantly be on guard. People may say I am over-reacting or being judgmental, etc… but look at the Venturing issues. One of the main issues is the sex factor- flirting, touching, sex. Does gender make a difference? I am being realistic here. If a boy is homosexual…then doesn’t it make sense that if he finds a boy he likes in his Scouting group he will “hit” on him? Just as if a boy is “straight” and finds a girl he likes in his Venturing group he will “hit” on her. Why should my son have to worry about this? At one of the policy information meetings we attended someone stood up in support of this policy and said that we were worrying too much, that most boys already socialized with kids who claimed to be homosexual at school. My response is that is: 1. My son doesn’t go to their house; they don’t come to his. 2. He doesn’t spend time outside of school with them. In other words he doesn’t go camping with them. Now he will be forced to. Yes forced.

I also believe that by passing this policy (yes to homosexual youth, no to homosexual adults) they will be forced to revisit this issue again in the near future…and change it again, this time to include homosexual adults. Because if they say it is ok for youth to be homosexual, what happens when those youth become adults and want to help lead their Troop? Can the Boy Scouts then say “No you cannot become a leader because of your sexual orientation”? I doubt it. So then I will have people, who believe they are homosexuals and who possible will put their views out there, influencing my child. I do not want another adult (who my son will look up to) telling my son that it is ok to be gay when I am telling him it isn’t. Why should my child be exposed to this?

I am sure there will be a group formed because of this policy… just as the American Girls came to be because of the liberal policies of Girl Scouts. The thing is- Boy Scouts was a perfect fit for our family. While I was raised very strict conservative religious with church being the center of my life, my husband was not raised in church. They visited churches but never regularly or enough to make an impact in his life. He does not like churches. He does believe in God but says there is too much politics and money issues in church organizations. So Scouts was perfect: a little bit religious without being overly religious, it didn’t really force religion down your throat but still made you think about it. This is why Royal Rangers or other similar religious groups will not work for our family. The new group will have to be the same basic program for us to be involved. I am not sure that will happen. I think that it will become more religious than what my husband will be willing to deal with, particularly since it will be mainly supported by churches.

I believe this new policy violates the Scout Law and Oath. How can someone do their “duty to God” and be “Reverent” if according to their religion the Boy Scout policy is going against God, the Bible, or their religious teachings?   

While I do teach my children to be kind to all people, I also teach them to stand up for something they believe in…or don’t believe in. So while they can be kind to kids who believe they are homosexual they don’t have to agree with their lifestyle.

How can I continue with an organization that just passed a policy that I believe is wrong? Why must I deny MY “duty to God”? What am I teaching my children if I continue to support a group that goes against my beliefs? I am not sure what our decision as a family will be…it will depend on a few things…the first of which is will our Pack/Troop still be there? Will our sponsored organizations (both churches) continue their support? My oldest is only 6 months away from receiving his Eagle. That would be before the policy goes into effect so he may just get his Eagle and then get out. I also want to see what organization pops up for all those who are leaving Scouts…maybe that group will meet our needs better. Only the future can tell.

 Scout Oath:

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Scout Law:

A Scout is:

• Trustworthy,
• Loyal,
• Helpful,
• Friendly,
• Courteous,
• Kind,
• Obedient,
• Cheerful,
• Thrifty,
• Brave,
• Clean,
• and Reverent.