Scout Parents and Leaders against discrimination.
 

Take a deep breath...OK....exhale

 

The National Headquarters' staff has decided that the BSA's corporate membership policy barring gay adults trumps both the scout law and scout oath. They have pulled the charter of Troop and Pack 98 previously sponsored by the Rainer Beach United Methodist Church.

 

The boys affected have been denied access to the Boy Scout's organization because they can't honestly do their Duty to God by being a member of an organization that practices invidious discrimination. They can never be Eagle Scouts.

 

There are also thousands of other boys being denied this opportunity because they and their families can't support discrimination.

 

The volunteers, who should be monitoring the professionals, at the national and regional levels, and those working with the Chief Seattle Council have chosen to remain silent.

 

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

-Martin Luther King Jr.

 

These professionals and these volunteers are no longer following the Scout Oath and Law. They are misinterpreting that doing their "Duty to God" requires them to enforce a policy that excludes others who see their "Duty to God" differently. When the governmental institutions (including the President of the United States), and the laws of the communities we serve are in direct conflict with our corporate policy, how can we even pretend we are doing our "Duty to... my Country"?

 

Reverence requires respect for the religious beliefs of others and Obedience means respecting the wishes of those you serve. Surveys have clearly shown that this policy is not supported by the scouts and parents in the program. It is clearly not supported by the people in many of the communities we serve. The policy obviously isn't Kind or Courteous or Friendly or any or the other qualities we hold in high regard.

 

And the volunteers aren't being Brave

 

In working with the scouts and our community to end bullying and harassment I'm encouraging courage and bravery. When the kids see someone being mistreated they need to speak up, they need to become involved, they may need to go get an adult. They need to do something.

 

The Volunteers need to start using their voices. This silence is deafening.

 

How can you speak up

 

Currently there is a social media campaign going on, you can access it at our Facebook Page:

 

https://www.facebook.com/ScoutsforEqualityGoldenGate 

 

You can forward this e-mail to your friends.

 

You can help form and participate in your Scouts for Equality local chapter.

 

You can wear an "inclusion knot" patch.

 

But most importantly you can use your voice. You can open the discussion. You can do something.

 

Because when you stand up for what's right and your children see that, well that's doing a whole lot more than my Scoutmaster Minutes ever will.

 

 

Yours in scouting,

  
Wendell Baker
Scoutmaster - Troop 234
SFE - Golden Gate
Have questions? E-mail me at [email protected]
 

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The opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the opinions of their unit, the local council, or the national headquarters.