Earlier this year the Boy Scouts National Executive Board voted to implement a policy where open and avowed homosexual scouts will be expelled from all programs when they reach their 18th birthday. This includes Venturing, the Order of the Arrow (the Boy Scout's honor society), and the Sea Scouts. These all have youth programs that run until age 21. Furthermore, gay scouts are not eligible for employment as camp counselors once they reach age 18.
The current informal "don't ask, don't tell" policy makes scouts responsible for determining who, if anyone, they can safely talk to. With the exception of a handful of troops that have adopted a confidentiality policy, scouts can not safely know who to turn to for help. While immediate expulsion from the national organization is no longer a risk, a delayed expulsion is almost guaranteed.
With the current policy there is no way for a boy who is gay, or even perceived as gay, to report bullying, hazing, or abuse without risking expulsion from the program when he reaches age 18. I also believe this puts a barrier up for children reporting sexual abuse. While the boy scout's youth protection policies require that all abuse be reported to professional scout executives, these are the same professionals charged with enforcing the membership policy.
While I think the policy resolution was a step in the right direction, the half-hearted implementation of the policy continues to put children at risk. As President I think you should speak out and advocate for the Boy Scouts of America to change their membership policy. We need to let people know about the risks involved with the current policy. We need to educate our adult leaders so that all children can be protected.
Thank you for all you do for scouting.
Sincerely,
(You)
Link to letter in rtf format
Do you have any suggestions of other ways to protect youth during Bullying Prevention Month?
I'll be happy to pass them along on our Facebook page. (See link below)
Yours in Scouting,
Wendell Baker
