Boy scouting was founded in 1908 by Lord Baden-Powell in England. I know this because it was a fact that I had to learn to earn my Tenderfoot rank when I was a Boy Scout back in elementary school.
As a former scout and someone who sees the great value of the experiences and character building that accompany scouting, I believe it is time to open scouting to openly gay young men so they can have the same growth and learning experiences that their straight counterparts already do.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) currently includes 2.7 million youth members and approximately one million adult volunteers. But gay scouts or adult leaders currently have to follow something of a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding their sexual orientation.
As public opinion on this topic changes rapidly across the country, from states legalizing gay marriage and civil unions to the military’s repeal of their “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, it is time for Boy Scouting to do the same and keep up with the times.
During the summer, BSA reconfirmed its ban of gay scouts and adults in the organization, but announced at the end of January that it was reconsidering the ban.
A national Quinnipiac poll of 1,772 voters taken after this proposed change found that 55 percent of voters were in favor of opening scouting to gays and lesbians, while 33 percent opposed it.
Last Wednesday, amid public demonstrations outside of BSA headquarters in Irving, Texas, BSA announced that it would postpone its final decision on the matter until May.
The truth is that even organizations with more than a century of history behind them need to change as the world around them does.
Even though on the surface it may appear to be a digression to mention how economies and governments change over time as people and ideas change, the argument over whether BSA should change its policy to openly gay members is really not very different.
The people, ideas and general acceptance of homosexuality have changed a great deal in the 105 years since the founding of scouting, and it is time for the policies of scouting to reflect these changes.
Growing up in the 21st century, I have found that being inclusive seems to be the rule, not the exception, among youth groups that are on a mission to increase their membership and reputation. I do not understand why BSA would want to reaffirm their stance and move backward on an issue that is moving forward.
Perhaps the most ironic thing about this whole debate is that the Scout Law itself seems to imply that scouting should be open to all.
“A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent,” is the Scout Law that all of us in scouting had to recite year after year in our weekly meetings.
But how can a scout be loyal, friendly, and kind if he is unwilling to be a fellow scout and friend to someone because of just one difference between them?
I believe it is morally wrong to treat others unfairly or in a way you would not want to be treated yourself.
I learned many of these morals in my days of boy scouting, and believe it would be completely hypocritical of me to say that these morals for whatever reason do not apply to scouts who have a different sexual orientation than I do.
On that note, it is time for a quality organization driven by tradition to live up to its promise of being an inclusive, engaging organization open to all boys who have the ambition to join.
