Despite protests, Boy Scouts of America reaffirm ban on gays

Just a query, but if the lesbian scout mother kept her sexual identity private, as 99% of people do, how would they every know? I think people shoot themself in the foot by constantly having to trumpet their sexuality.

Why should they hide? Coming out in the public is the most important thing that gay people can do (provided they don't put their own lives in danger, which is sometimes the case), because it shows that gay people exist, they're normal people living normal lives, and there's a lot of discrimination that needs to stop. "Trumpet their sexuality" ...? So they want to be honest about who they love and have built a life with? They have every right to do that, just as straight people have every right to not be ashamed of who they love.

"The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” Mazzuca said

Boy Scouts are aged, what, 12-18? Really think in this day and age that those young people aren't aware of gay people and gay issues? Boy Scouts of America, wake up.

Meh. It's a private organization, they can do what they want. Maybe a third group can be organized- we have Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, how about having Gay Scouts?

Meh. It's a private organization, they can do what they want.

No they can't... it would fall under the anti-discrimination law and it's a violation of human rights.

How would most parents feel about having a straight 16 year old boy, or a 40 year old male ahem supervisor joining the Girl Guides/Brownies? Knowing they would be going camping, swimming and enjoying other outdoor events with a group of young girls, including theirs? I am sure the girls parents would be a tad concerned?

How is that any different compared to allowing gay men / boys to join the boy scouts???

I know it is not PC, but I can sympathize with the parents.

Lots of groups discriminate all the time- look at the NAACP, la Raza, etc. I have no problem with a private group choosing who can and cannot join. Next thing, you'll say that the Girl Scouts are violating human rights by not allowing little boys to join up.

One big problem is, many public schools allow the Boy Scouts to come into the schools and actively recruit - that really shouldn't be allowed for a private, religious, bigoted organization. But then again, this is America.

How would most parents feel about having a straight 16 year old boy, or a 40 year old male ahem supervisor joining the Girl Guides/Brownies? Knowing they would be going camping, swimming and enjoying other outdoor events with a group of young girls, including theirs? I am sure the girls parents would be a tad concerned?

Being a gay adult does not mean you're sexually attracted to teen boys, for goodness sake, or are going to sexually take advantage of them. It's not like naked pillow fights are on the curriculum of a Boy Scouts outing.

So, if a 17-year-old Boy Scout comes out, they would actually throw him out of the Scouts?

How would most parents feel about having a straight 16 year old boy, or a 40 year old male ahem supervisor joining the Girl Guides/Brownies? Knowing they would be going camping, swimming and enjoying other outdoor events with a group of young girls, including theirs? I am sure the girls parents would be a tad concerned?

In England, they've had boys and girls in mixed scout troops for years now. I've never heard anyone complain.

“Scouting believes that good people can personally disagree on this topic...."

But some people are more good than others, right? That seems to be the message here.

The land of the free eh? Ridiculous.

This all too common comparison of homosexuality with pedophilia is really unhealthy and ignorant.

And tokyokawasaki's point about the sexes not being able to coexist without resulting in rampant sex in the canoes, sexual abuse and rape, only reflects rather badly on tokyokawasaki.

As aliasis and lucabrisi say, homosexuality does not lead to pedophilia any more than heterosexuality does; and boys and girls have managed to get along in classrooms and summer camps and in all kinds of ways, for years and years.

Ass backwards and country.

Its about freedom of choice and like it or not they are exercising their right to choose who can a cannot be a scout, all power to them i say.

So Akela and Baloo remain in the closet.

Why do gays always have to mention and push who they are, when hetro people dont need to run around saying they are straight, seems to me alot of these gays are very insecure to start with.

Why do gays always have to mention and push who they are, when hetro people dont need to run around saying they are straight, seems to me alot of these gays are very insecure to start with.

Are you joking? Every day, straight people shove their straightness in my face. All over TV, radio, movies, song lyrics, even (gasp!) in public, on the trains. Straight people love to show off the fact that they are straight. I don't think you really have the right to get mad when gay people want to live out of the closet, too.

Proof that the association is outdated and as discriminatory as ever.

Good going BSA! Don't need les and gays in your ranks. Let the les and gays form their own group. Like the rest of the loosers, they want to join a successful organization to get the benefits. Hey, come out and go out and form your own outfit!!!

Great for the Boy Scouts to stand up for freedom and the right to have rules, I am proud to have been a boy scout. It is wrong for others to discriminate aginst the Boy Scouts for not allowing gays into their private club.

How many Paul Sanduskys the the Boy Scouts want to attract?? Bunch of young naive boys, go out camping etc..hey if you are a sick child molester predator type, guess where you would want to be?? So, sorry, if gays want to scout, get your own organization, as a parent, I do not want any more Paul Sanduskys near my kids.

@Maria, sorry but sure homosexuality may not be a direct link to pedophilia but if older boys/men are GAY and they are around a bunch of other boys/men, guess who is going to get sexually excited??

A bit of a joke really. The Boy Scout motto is "Be prepared", but the boy scouts don't seem prepared for the 21st century at all... all they seem prepared for is to lurk back in the 1900's when the scouts started. Of course what else can one expect from the pre-cursor to the Hitler Youth.

LAcajun

Great for the Boy Scouts to stand up for freedom

But not for the freedom for the gays?

It is wrong for others to discriminate aginst the Boy Scouts for not allowing gays into their private club.

Nobody is actually discriminating against Boy Scouts, nobody is not hiring people for being in the Boy Scouts, for example.

No they can't... it would fall under the anti-discrimination law and it's a violation of human rights.

No its not a violation of humans rights. You cannot have rights based on any characteristics likes sexual orientation. There are only individual rights. These scouts are free to draft up what ever criteria they want in order to gain membership. Its private property rights.

A bit of a joke really. The Boy Scout motto is "Be prepared", but the boy scouts don't seem prepared for the 21st century at all...

Private property rights does not go out the window just because its the 18th,19th,21st or the 22nd century. Of course I'm sure you would not have made similar comments if an all gay scouts were created.

"Good going BSA! Don't need les and gays in your ranks."

Really think there aren't closeted gays in the Boy Scouts now?

Elbuda Mexicano, by the same token:

sure heterosexuality may not be a direct link to pedophilia but if older boys/men are straight and they are around a bunch of girls/women, guess who is going to get sexually excited??

So what you're saying is, strict segregation of people by gender, sexuality and age is the only way to go? To argue otherwise is to suggest that gays are somehow less able to control themselves than straights. Crime statistics may well suggest otherwise.

I don't know what the big deal is. Back in school we had 2 gay teachers(one was our phys-ed). Nothing happened.

Same why is no-one worried that a male coach gets excited about the female he coaches and vice-versa. They should get just as sexually excited, not so?

And, yes, I went to mixed camps but the on-goings were between the teens and not the adults and teens.

Seriously? Has anyone seen their uniforms? Added to that, I just don't get the fascination with it. Why would anyone want to be part of a Jamboree? There are way too many innuendos associated with the Boy Scouts to not be a pro-gay movement. Just pure silliness.

More's the pity in that, in the end, it's the kids that'll lose out most. A darn fine BSA leader I knew was gay. He was a role model, a positive influence on many kids and young adults. Guess we'll lose those folks.

Are men allowed to manage girl guide troops?

Would it be acceptable for a man to take 10 girl guides out camping and sleep in a tent with them?

Why or why not?

If openly gay men can join the boy scouts then by extension straight men should be allowed to coach girl guides

I'll probably get thumbs down but...I don't see why they don't allow gays to be a boy scout. If I had to choose, I'll let kids hang out with gay guys over a pedophile. Gays like ADULTS who are the same sex as them. Not kids.

I guess they have two option: they keep it segregated into boy scouts and girl scouts, and the only way is to create gay scouts, or they mix girls and boys together and allow gay as well.

There is just no way to make it work with homosexuals leading boy scouts. So, if I homosexual man can change clothes (i.e. to go swimming) with young men 16-17 years old, can a male heterosexual girl scout leader change clothes with 16-17 year old girls? Young people of that age are pretty well developed. Will these homosexuals voluntarily segregate themselves in certain activities? I doubt it.

Still don't know what the big problem with gay and lesbians are.

They tend to stick to their own circles, worked with quiet a few and NEVER was approached. They accept I am straight the same way I accept they are gay/lesbian.

To be honest those were/are some of my best friends and came through when my straight friends bailed.

What happens behind the bedroom door is no ones business besides the parties involved. As long as it is legal of course.

In England, they've had boys and girls in mixed scout troops for years now. I've never heard anyone complain

Same in Scotland... one of my colleagues has a grand-daughter in the cubs.

Unfortunately, this speaks for most of America.

What are they (the scouts) afraid of?

Just a query, but if the lesbian scout mother kept her sexual identity private, as 99% of people do, how would they every know? I think people shoot themself in the foot by constantly having to trumpet their sexuality.

Reckless-san,

Totally agree.

I don't go around with a T-shirt that says "Hetero-Pride!"

Sex has no place in the scouts, gay or hetero.

I am an ex cub and boy scout and I am pleased with their decision. If my son wants to be a boy scout I would not be worried that someone might try something. I agree with the comment that SEXUALITY HAS NO PLACE IN ANY OF THE SCOUT PROGRAMS. If a little boy is treated as a little girl THAT is not the scouts I remember. We learned how to be boys and later on I joined the US Marines to be what I am now. The last thing we need is a gay scout leader, a gay counselor or a gay scout.

I dont understand all the false outrage here. The BSA is a private organisation and they should be allowed to have whomever they like within their ranks.

No gays? Well too bad gay people, go find another hobby.

Meh. It's a private organization, they can do what they want.

No they can't... it would fall under the anti-discrimination law and it's a violation of human rights.

Actually, they can. It IS a private organization and can set their own rules about their volunteers. They also don't allow athiests because BSA is a quasi-religious organization. You MUST acknowledge the existence of God in order to be a member of the BSA. Their thinking goes something like, "If you don't believe there's a God, then you are morally corrupt and have no business in our organization." There's no law that requires organizations to accept members regardless of sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Those laws only are aimed at employers and employees. Volunteers and memberships are not covered. Otherwise, Augusta National Golf Club (a private club) would have to allow women to join.

I was a Scout "back in the day" but grew disenchanted with it after one summer camp when the Assistant Scoutmaster held an event after dark with a strobe light. The Scouts would stand in arms-reach of the scoutmaster and attempt to avoid getting their face slapped in the darkness between the strobes. The stupidity of it just astounded me and I left the organization shortly after that camp was over.

<the-grouch>

Lucky you, you probably served alongside one of my last managers that I had before retirement. He was as tough a Marine and boss as anyone could want, but completely fair. But after he allowed us (his staff) to get to know him, he was as gay as they come when he was at home. It is your loss and the loss of the Boy Scouts and other organizations that they refuse to accept him. His knowledge and leadership are what the Scouts say they are looking for, a great loss for future scouts.

Just a query, but if the lesbian scout mother kept her sexual identity private, as 99% of people do, how would they every know?

I get it, so she should have kept her same sex partner a secret. Then by the same token any hetero couple should keep their partner a secret? You see how silly that sounds?

I am an ex cub and boy scout

So am I, as well as an Eagle scout, OA member and a long time adult volunteer but that's neither here nor there for argument's sake.

If my son wants to be a boy scout I would not be worried that someone might try something.

You should always be aware but any sense of security you would have with regard to your son's safety would have more to do with the proper training of adult leaders and openness and the weeding out of the nefariously motivated, straight or gay. When you think of it, even just alittle, the policy you approve hurts rathers than helps BSA do that.

If a little boy is treated as a little girl THAT is not the scouts I remember. That has nothing to do with the policy. Nobody's suggesting anything of the sort.

The last thing we need is a gay scout leader, a gay counselor or a gay scout.

Why? any of the above could be better leaders, role models, friends, and mentors than you've ever known. A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, Courteous , kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

From the nature of many of the comments it's pretty obvious and the vast majority are not parents of young children.

Good for the BSA! Don't stoop to the LGBT propaganda BS!

The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization. As such it is perfectly free for the BSA to set its own rules for inclusion in its organization.

In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the Supreme Court of the United States has affirmed that as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards

@CrazyJoe

In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the Supreme Court of the United States has affirmed that as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards

So, no fags is cool? Bunch of fascists.

It's been speculated that those who are the most afraid of the gay community are closet homosexuals themselves, and the fear of their own sexuality fuels their violent reactions. So are the BSA really admitting that they are secretly gay? All I know is that some of the scoutmasters in my home town were likely peepee touchers anyway. And would any self-respecting person in the gay community really want to be involved in scouting? Even way back in my day only the geekiest of kids in my school made it all the way to Boyscout. The rest of us quit after the novelty of wearing our Hitler Youth-like uniform shirts in cub scouts wore off.

Although frankly I don't think Baden Powell would have had issue with gay folks in scouting.

@lucabrasi

I only stated a fact, not an opinion.

The individual rights of homosexuals must be respected.

Tigermothil - It is rare to find so many misrepresentations of reality shoved into one poorly written paragraph.

Like watching a car accident, its not something you want to polite company to see, yet it is hard not to stare at the carnage.

I am an ex cub and boy scout and I am pleased with their decision. If my son wants to be a boy scout I would not be worried that someone might try something. I agree with the comment that SEXUALITY HAS NO PLACE IN ANY OF THE SCOUT PROGRAMS. If a little boy is treated as a little girl THAT is not the scouts I remember. We learned how to be boys and later on I joined the US Marines to be what I am now. The last thing we need is a gay scout leader, a gay counselor or a gay scout.

You're a sad example of humanity. Just chug drano, thx.

Am glad to see that the BSA unlike so many other groups, is not bowing to what is politically correct, and acceding to the homosexual agenda.

I dont understand all the false outrage here. The BSA is a private organisation and they should be allowed to have whomever they like within their ranks.

The right do so isn't the question. It's whether BSA should or not have the ban. See the difference? Many BSA members feel it's the wrong decision, more, possibly, feel its the right one. Expressing one's opinion either way is also a right; whether you're a member, former member, or just interested.

Specify DentShop - what's so poorly written? Particularly funny since you followed that with:

"Like watching a car accident, its not something you want to polite company to see"

You 'want to polite company to see'? What exactly goes that gem of wisdom mean? My simple statement is basically a known fact in the world of those that study sociology and human interaction. Those who get the most angry about 'gays' are the ones that are the most insecure in their own sexuality. Think about it - otherwise why would you possible care? True, I don't like it crammed down my throat by the openly flamboyant. But I don't in any way feel threatened about people being gay. I don't feel my children or my way of life is threatened by people who are gay. It's not a 'disease that will rub off'. I don't need to hide behind the fear that is organized religion to insist that 'God meant man and woman to be together'. While I am very far from perfection, how is that a misrepresentation that you so claim? And poorly written paragraph? I think not. Sorry my scribbling aren't as poorly crafted as the beautifully written jewels of homophobic wisdom that you espouse. Get over yourself.

Yes, the BSA is entitled to let whomever they want into their ranks, and do dis-allow whomever they wish as well. Personally I don't think that teaching your children to prejudge another person by their sexual preference is indicative to creating a well-rounded member of society that scouting espouses as their aim. But hey, that's just me.

oh god, I have a few misspelling to further perpetuate my inability to string words together. That's what I get for hanging out with those wretched gays!

BSA claims it is a "private" organization, and therefor does not need to comply with publically funded organizations.

But the BSA does enjoy many subsidies from the American tax payer.

Since they insist on violating the rules that go along with getting Fed Tax dollars they should give up all their govt funded perks.

LAcajun Jul. 18, 2012 - 01:09PM JST Great for the Boy Scouts to stand up for freedom and the right to have rules, I am proud to have been a boy scout. It is wrong for others to discriminate aginst the Boy Scouts for not allowing gays into their private club.

Then, they should pay same tax as everyone else. Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest non-profit organization, which benefits substantially from paying tax. Since Boys Scouts openly discriminate against certain people, they should be classified as profit organization and pay same tax as other companies. In comparison, the Government agencies cannot legally "own and operate" a youth group that excludes people for their religious views and/or sexual orientation. Boy Scouts went to court over their right to exclude atheists and gays, in spite of the fact that no public school in the U.S. can practice such discrimination. If they have this view, pay fair tax.

I just can't believe people don't think gay people (ahem men and women) aren't already in every organization. But seriously the cub scouts? Nah, not a safe place. What kind of man wants to wear those clothes and command little boys? Pedofiles. (Surprisingly the plural is wrong as if it doesn't exist in multiple numbers ... check you spell check JT just for logic.).

I should check my spelling... gee that was an oops moment. Hey! Join a club and don't shower with anyone! I wonder how many horror stories of camp there are out there? Mind you this JT comment list must be quite young and not understand what it was like to have camp, weird camp counsellors, or real friends - and not online. Onternet is a disease. Yes, Onternet. Trademark. And I don't care if someone is gay or not... not an issue. The issue is the organization of youths into a troop and then herded to be young prey for aspiring volunteers. Nothing to see here. Move along.