The absurd 103 year ban on gays in the Boy Scouts of America may be coming to an end, but with one unfair (and even more absurd) caveat: gay kids can participate, but gay adults cannot.
Now, I am unsure what they expect to accomplish here. Really, I am not. ?What happens after you get your Eagle Scout badge at 18? They then kick you out because you are now legally an adult? It makes no damn sense, but it also ?makes me damn mad. There is no “middle ground” when it comes to hatred, BSA.
Now, apparently, the ban is on gays and lesbians as Scout leaders and Den Mothers. So, that means that good folks like the lovely and brave Jennifer Tyrell would not be able to participate in their?children’s? scouting activities. The BSA might see this nonsense as a compromise on a heated, divisive issue, but it is not. It is still bigotry; it simply disguises itself to the?naive. Make no mistake: this organization is still inherently hateful.
Now, the BSA is organized and backed by many conservative organizations, namely churches. The Roman Catholic Church, The Southern Baptist Association, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) all have heavy dealings with the BSA. This also means that if they do something that the churches do not agree with, they risk loss of funding, and we all know how the aforementioned churches feel about LGBT people. As someone who has dealt with non-profit organizations for a very long time, I certainly understand that fear. However, sometimes, standing up and doing what is right is often much more important than worrying about money. This is one such instance.
However, there is?good?news in all of this, namely the fact that there are other scouting organizations to go to that welcome all. The BSA is an inherently hateful, discriminatory organization, and, even if their policies change on paper, it will likely take years to eradicate the bigotry within, specifically where units run by ultra conservative churches are concerned. If you want your child involved in scouting minus the bigotry, try Spiral Scouts, which currently has a statement on its homepage denouncing the anti-LGBT policies of the BSA, and commending the bravery of all who stood against said policies.
BSA, you’re on the wrong side of history. Your so-called compromise is still unacceptable.
Shannon Barber is a self- described queer feminist and activist for LGBT rights, women’s rights, and secular rights in America. She is a lifelong lover of words, though her educational background is in computer science. She currently writes for 3 liberal websites, and keeps her own humor blog for lesbians. She hopes to change the world, one mind at a time.
