As a Boy Scout leader my first responsibility is to the boys in my troop and their families. I don't always succeed in everything I do, indeed I've had some epic failures, but I always do my best and try to learn from my failures, make amends if possible, apologize, and move on.
I didn't volunteer to promote my political agenda and I certainly didn't volunteer to promote someone else's. But somehow, every time I wear my uniform, I feel like I'm telling the world that I'm supporting BSA corporate's anti-gay agenda.
It's time to put this sad part of our history behind us. When the business model doesn't support the values of the scouts and the parents it's time to change the model. We need to extricate the Boy Scouts from the LGBT civil rights movement. We need to get on the right side of history.
How did we become the poster child for homophobia? Why did we spend hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of dollars on court cases to keep people out of scouting? Wouldn't this money have been better spent on programs for youth? What did we achieve?
I believe the Boy Scouts of America is an American institution, not a private club for those of a particular ideology. By exempting ourselves from federal, state, and local laws using the "private club" loophole we are just setting ourselves up to be on the wrong side of history, and we aren't doing our duty to our country.
American democracy isn't always pretty. Sometimes laws are unjust and we have to fight for change, but at least in a democracy there is a way to do that. If the Boy Scouts of America voluntarily submits to follow local anti-discrimination laws we will no longer be resisting social change. These battles for change need to be fought through public discourse, not hindered by BSA's corporate policies.
The BSA employees and the chartering organizations exist to support the scouts and the volunteers, not the other way around. It's time for them to learn from their failures, make amends, apologize, and move on.
Friends of Scouting
So it's Friends of Scouting time and I'm being asked to donate money to the council. I know that the council is just an extension of national and that they have to follow national's policies, but at least our local councils supported change when they could, and some of them have publically stated that they think the policy changes should go further. They need the money to support the program and the program is great. Every kid benefits from being in scouting.
But because they've played the "private club" card I'm giving money to an organization that turns away volunteers and fires employees just because they are gay. No other employers in California (with the exception of Churches and other private clubs) are even allowed to do this. I also have to contribute more because corporate sponsors have abandoned the scouts in droves. In many cases matching funds for employee's contributions aren't even available. All because of the BSA's corporate anti-gay policy which I personally loathe.
Yes, I'll grit my teeth and write the check this year, but next year I hope I'll be giving to the Boy Scouts, an American institution, instead of the Boy Scouts, a homophobic private club.
OK so I have issues with national, but you know what, I'm proud to be American even if I am horrified by some of the things the government does. The Boy Scouts isn't about national, it's about the boys in the program and they deserve our unwavering support. We need to fund camps, we need to recruit new members and units. We need to show our communities that we share their values, we need to reach out and through scouting change the world.
The future leaders of the Boy Scouts of America are the scouts in the program now. I have no doubt that things will get better. Change is inevitable. Someday all children and families will be welcomed. Someday Ryan Andresen will be celebrated as the amazing Eagle Scout that he is. New gay Eagle Scouts will be welcomed back as the great leaders I know they will become. The future is going to be amazing.
Local Chapters
To continue the push for change Scouts for Equality is expanding their network of local chapters. The Golden Gate Chapter is a regional chapter for Northern California. We have also set up specific chapters for the Mount Diablo Silverado Council (OK, that's me too) and the Alameda Council. If you would like to set up a chapter for your council please contact me at: wendell@able-baker.com
Please forward this E-Mail
If you know anyone who would like to join one of our chapters or get more information please forward this e-mail to them. They can e-mail me or sign up at the links below.
