 Scout Parents and Leaders against discrimination. |
|
Please act today to ask the Pacific Skyline Council (PSC) to take a stand to change the Boy Scouts of America's discriminatory membership policy.
As a parent of a scout, you know well how much scouting has to offer. You are also more than likely aware that Ryan Andresen was kicked out of Boy Scouts by the National Council of Boy Scouts of America after completing his Eagle requirements, because he had admitted to his Troop that he is gay. The outcry from many, many parents and scout leaders ... has been amazing. The result is that we have an opportunity to affect changes in how future situations are addressed.
Scouting needs your help - membership is down by 25% since 2001, and funding is down dramatically this year. Many parents nationwide simply don't want to fund or enroll their sons in an organization that practices discrimination. In addition, the current exclusionary policy creates a huge discrepancy with BSA's Youth Protection standards. While the BSA allows "closeted" youth into the program - they must keep their orientation a secret. As a result, these youths cannot report bullying, violence, or possibly even sexual abuse because it would jeopardize their membership status. In this case, current policy is dangerous.
The Mount Diablo Silverado Council passed a series of resolutions on March 16, 2013. We would like our council to do the same.
A. Scouts and Scouters should be judged by their conduct, their actions, and their character, consistent with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, not by stereotypes or group related prejudices.
B. The Scout Oath and the Scout Law are foundational ideas that every person should be exposed to so that all people can benefit from the Scouting movement's principles, ideals, and values.
C. Regardless of sexual orientation, sexual topics and conduct, which include pointing out another individual's sexual orientation, are not part of the Scouting movement and should not be tolerated. Further, the Scouting movement should not permit its organization to be used as a vehicle to promote any personal, political, social or other objective that is inconsistent with the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
D. The support from our volunteers and our community has reaffirmed the role that the Scouting Movement has had and can continue to have in shaping the lives and values of young people. However the current BSA membership policy clearly excludes an entire group based on a presumption of behavior rather than on the actions of individuals. Excluding an entire group of people based on stereotypes and prejudices is inconsistent with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The current membership policy is of deep concern to many in our Council for its potential to undermine the future vitality of the Scouting movement.
E. Chartered Organizations have always and will continue to create Scouting Units that are consistent with their organizational faiths, standards and deeply held beliefs. However, we believe that the national BSA board should not pass this important decision from BSA's governing body to Chartered Organizations. Rather, we believe that the national board should adopt a standard policy, consistent with the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and the principles documented within this report, which ends the isolation and exclusion of LGBT individuals.
We believe that the council executive board should vote to support these Membership Standard Principles. Further, we believe our board should vote to advocate for these principles. Finally we believe our board should vote to encourage our national board representatives to vote in a manner consistent with these principles.
Want to help? Please:
1. Write and send a letter to PSC today. (We have provided a sample letter, but a personal letter would be even better.)
Mr. Brian Curtis
Scout Executive
Pacific Skyline Council
1100 Chess Drive
Foster City, CA 94404
650-341-5633 ext. 100
feedback@pacsky.org
Mr. Garth Pickett
Council President
Pacific Skyline Council
1100 Chess Drive
Foster City, CA 94404
Send us a copy:
wendell@able-baker.com
2. Forward this e-mail to every interested adult you know who supports ending discrimination in the otherwise great organization that is the Boy Scouts of America.
Sample Letter
Sample Letter - rtf format for Word
More Sample Letters
MDSC Membership Survey results
Yours in Scouting,
Wendell Baker (Scoutmaster - Moraga Troop 234 - MDSC)
(Scouts for Equality - Golden Gate) |
|
Notes on Mailing List
If you received this directly from Constant Contact you may use the link at the bottom of the page to "unsubscribe".
If you received this as a forwarded e-mail you will have to sign up below, or contact me directly to receive further e-mails. |
|
If you would like to join our local mailing list or become more involved:
Join our mailing list
To join Scouts for Equality (it's free!):
www.scoutsforequality.com/join
|
