Boy Scouts Under Fire For Barring Gays, Possibly Shielding Molesters

The Boy Scouts headquarters in Philadelphia. (AP)

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that for over two decades, the Boy Scouts of America at times hid allegations of child molestation from local law enforcement authorities, allowing some volunteers and employees suspected of abusing scouts to leave the organization for bogus reasons.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Eagle Scouts are returning their badges in protest over the Scouts’ longtime policy of banning openly gay members. Last month the Boy Scouts of America re-affirmed that policy after a two-year evaluation.

Eagle Scouts Returning Our Badges: Letter To Boy Scouts of America

Guest:

Burke Stansbury, who started the Tumblr blog “Eagle Scouts Returning Our Badges“

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

Arnobius of Sicca

Alternately, one could speculate that their policy on gays was based on their experiences. That doesn’t justify their silence of course, but what I am seeing in this column is the fallacy of either-or thinking.
It

What I read in the article was that this was an organization that was doing more than most in a time before instant information could be accessed over the internet. The article said that the only reason these files exist is that the BSA was trying to keep a list of those unfit to serve. Little did they know their efforts to protect kids would be held against them in the future but lawyers looking for deep pockets to raid and media with an agenda to push. Yes there were some bad individuals who made very bad decisions, but to me it appears the organization was ahead of the curve.
cwgmpls

I really wish you would keep the gay membership issue and the child molester issues separate. They are two different things. BSA also teaches boys how to tie knots, but does anyone include knot-tying in an article about BSA child molesting? Of course not. Please don’t link two things together that are not related.
- Coyoteb1
  
  and who, exactly, was doing the molesting, if not gay pedophiles?
  - cwgmpls
    
    All of the molesters were “avowed heterosexuals”. They would not have been barred by BSA’s no-gays-allowed policy.
J__o__h__n

I haven’t returned mine but the policy disgusts me. Despite my great exepriences with this group, I will not contribute any money to them until they end this discrimination.
Nevogel

I am a former Cub Scout Leader (Parent, Den Leader, Assistant Cubmaster, Recruiting Chairman) and Boy Scout parent and a former Boy Scout who arrived just short of the Eagle rank. I find the Boy Scout official policy on homosexuality reprehensible and antithetical to the spirit of scouting. I have been embarrassed many times when speaking to parents of prospective scouts about this policy. While I could honestly say that on our local level, we have always welcomed everyone and that I would resign and take my boys out of scouting at the the least pressure to do otherwise, I never felt that this was really enough. This was a short term rationalization. I felt I could do more for scouting in the short term by helping to run a good program than to spend my energy at a national committee which had little effect on our program.

Now that the issue is up front and center, my boys are finished with scouting for unrelated reasons. I am very proud to see my fellow scouters showing their disdain for the national policy of discrimination.
- Pwhite
  
  Nevogel – I know where your coming from – I lived through the “atheist” problem several years ago, and I think I handled it quite successfully. But in the process, I discovered a book titled “On my Honor” and I have recommended it to every Scouter I know. A very interesting read. P. W. – Troop 39
Erik

I have thought about returning my Eagle Scout medal to the BSA, but ultimately decided against it. As a gay Eagle Scout, I am troubled by the attitudes of the organizational hierarchy, which essentially institutionalizes discrimination. The policy of the BSA runs contrary to EVERYTHING I was taught as a member of the organization, especially respect for the differences of others and the value that all persons add to country and society. Instead of returning my medal, I will wear it and my old uniform (if it still fits) to the next gay pride parade I attend, while holding a sign that says, “Yes, Virginia. There ARE gay Eagle Scouts.”
- It
  
  I agree Erik. Returning your Eagle would like saying you are not a scout because you are gay. A far more inclusive message to portray is I am an Eagle Scout and I am gay. You earned that Eagle, wear it with pride.
- Pwhite
  
  Erik – Don’t give it up. I only made first class (back in 1957) and I have always been proud of you top achievers, and even though you are quite correct, keep your honor and keep the fight. If you want an interesting read, get several editions of the handbook and see how they have changed the “A Scout is Reverent” over the years, and now how they take this stand on Gay Scouting. Also, if you can get a copy, read “On My Honor”. it’s a good read on the national policies and how the local Scoutmasters deal with reality. P.W. T-39
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003000884786 Navin R Johnson

There is nothing more gay than becoming a boy scout.
ParallelLine

How much of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stance is because it’s headquartered in Texas? The Girl Scouts of America does not take the BSA stance. The United States Military does not take the BSA stance.
m577a2

Hand in hand, the church and the boy scouts.
Bastions of conservative values revealed as nothing more than safe
havens for pedophiles. It is absolutely disgusting that the very
organizations who are the most vocal about the proper and safe ways to
raise and educate children are the biggest threat and continue to
actively foster that environment. Both very vocally anti-gay because,
lets face it, they have no interest in adult same sex relations, they’re
strictly interested in the young stuff!
Scouter1

I am an eagle scout, the parent of two current boy scouts and have been a den leader and cubmaster when my boys were in cub scouts. When I was cubmaster, we had a boy in the pack who had two moms. Not a problem for us. Or was it? When I was a scout, it was male only. Now women lead along with men. Scouting does not discriminate against a boy’s religion nor physical/mental ability. The discrimination against sexual orientation needs to be eliminated.
BHA_in_Vermont

Perhaps they should rename to “Man Scouts”, nobody can join until they are old enough to know their sexual orientation. That way they won’t have to worry about some of those cub scouts becoming “undesirable” and a problem to be dealt with.

Pathetic group of people in my mind. Doesn’t matter what sort of character you have or what sort of social responsibility you show. Wait, aren’t those values the BS of A strives to instill? I guess it only counts if you prefer women.
Scouts for Equality

We’re standing up against the BSA’s discriminatory policies:

http://scoutsforequality.com
Phil White

Ms Young – I have listened to your noon-time show for quite some time, and I have been disturbed by your constant effort to try to impress your listening public with your very vast knowledge of everything in general. Consequently, I have listened quietly while you have at times shown your not so illustrious understanding of what is going on around you. Today in one article ( the one about the Boy Scouts of America and their treatment of the Gay-Lesbian situation as it pertains to the BSA) you made at least two glaring mis-statements. One – The Eagle Scout Badge has never been worn on the shoulder (in my experience, and I’m sure that my experience is probably twice as long as yours) and the Eagle Scout Rank is not easily discarded since it is not an “award”, but is a recognition of an “accomplishment” that is earned, not awarded. The knowledge and service required to “earn” the rank is not un-done. Therefore, the removal of the badge from the uniform is simply an Eagle Scouts expression of dismay with the national movement, and I suspect that it is more a disavowal of a certain policy of that movement and not of the entire movement. Check it out. (for the next time you try to give the impression that you know something that you actually don’t.) Phil White a long time scouter since 1952.
- Robin
  
  Well, ouch, but as with all feedback I’ll take this under consideration! So thank you for that.
  
  But in this case I was making a reference to a Boston Globe article that showed a picture of a Scout removing the badge from his shirt (as opposed to his sash) and had the following copy:”..To earn his Eagle Scout badge, Ned Coltman built a 65-foot handicap access ramp out of renewable materials for a conservation center in Reading. In 10 years as a Boy Scout, he learned how to lead, endure hardship, and live honestly.But now he is quitting the Scouts.
  He is among dozens of Scouts from Massachusetts and across the country who are returning their Eagle Scout awards to protest the organization’s longtime policy that bars openly gay members.Coltman sent a letter to the Boy Scouts of America Aug. 24 that rescinded his affiliation with the organization, accompanied by his Eagle Scout medal and badges.”
  With all due respect to your Scout status,
  I think these Scouts are leaving the movement. Sincerely,Robin