In defense of scouting: Why protests are right

The Nov. 7 Tech News featured an article in its opinion section on the topic of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). I wish to rebut: Discrimination is wrong. This is the underlying truth behind the First Amendment, all Civil Rights Law, America's policy of freedom and equality, and the BSA's beliefs of tolerance. No matter whom you exclude - whites, blacks, gays, straights, women, men, short people, or left-handed one-legged lesbian Eskimos - your group is diminished.

Many have spoken out about the BSA's exclusion of atheism, but this is a slightly different matter than their exclusion of gays. The Boy Scouts have always been a religious organization. It is written in the Scout oath and law, every ceremony and every event. The discrimination against gays, however, is a recent thing.

This discrimination has always been a subtle undercurrent in societies since the dawn of time. Gays are one of the most universally persecuted groups in history, and while it is safe to be openly gay in most parts of the country, discrimination against gays continues in business, school, and government. As you should very well know, being an Eagle Scout, the Scout Oath and Law and everything else make no mention of homosexuality, despite what your hyperlink may claim. Even the Scout Oath's reference to "morally straight" is defined in the Boy Scout Handbook (page 46) as "You should respect and defend the rights of all people."

Unfortunately, no two troops are created equal. Many troops, especially in Utah and other points west, exist only due to heavy funding from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, BSA's heaviest contributor. Considering that this is an election year, it should be at the forefront of the mind that when you receive heavy contributions from a particular group, your own policies sway in their favor. The Mormon Church was threatening to remove its funding if the Boy Scouts did not ban gays, and the BSA is hoping that it can survive despite the funds it is losing from other groups.

While they do not inquire as to your sexuality, BSA's policy on gays could not be farther from the military's. The military's policy is a reaction to the simple fact that homosexuality removes the simplicity of their segregated-sex barracks. Due to the precise nature of the BSA's policy, however, they can remove anyone from the organization, including your Eagle Scout rank, simply for supporting gay rights. Thus anyone supporting equal rights for all could have their rank removed and be banned forever from the organization.

The BSA has every right to restrict gays if it so chooses, and organizations have every right to not fund it for any reason. In fact, most of the people protesting were supporters of the BSA, as it was one of few positive influences for young men. Everyone who stops donating their money knows full well what will happen to the organization: it will suffer. Is this a reason to continue donating money to the Boy Scouts? Individual troops will flounder and may die, but the BSA has chosen this path by obeying an outside interest instead of its principles. Equality, tolerance, and heart espouse just a few Boy Scout virtues, but none of these say anything about inequality, intolerance, and discrimination.

"Forced inclusion" as you call it could limit Scouting effectiveness, but no one is trying to force gays into the group. People are begging the BSA to allow gays into their troops because a gay boy is first and foremost a boy. A gay man is above all else a man. And a gay Scoutmaster is no less effective than a straight one. No one is trying to force the BSA to change, we're asking its leaders to reverse its recent change not because we support gay rights, but because we believe the Boy Scouts of America always has. In the troop of every person I know, including yours, homosexuality has never before been an issue.

In the end, we must effect a solution, and the one you suggest cannot be done. How can you attempt to espouse change in an organization by volunteering "without violating Scouting's policies or your personal beliefs?" How can you support gay rights while simultaneously supporting a group that can throw you out if you do? It is unfortunate that you assume that anyone wanting the BSA to reverse its change would not be involved in scouting. I was involved myself for almost a dozen years, and continue to see its positive influence. I just want this positive influence to benefit gay boys, and people who believe in gay rights.

The problem must be taken to the national level, instead of just wringing your hands. It is unfortunate that you did not see our table in the Wedge about a month ago. BiLAGA was looking for signatures for a petition I wrote, asking for change. We did not spread word much or chalk or such, so I must apologize. It was a rather spontaneous thing. To make it up to you, I'll arrange for a table on Wednesday, November 15th, so that anyone who wishes may sign before I mail it off the BSA's national leaders.