Boy Scouts of America
Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 “For more than 100 years, Scouting’s focus has been on working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Scouting has always been in an ongoing dialogue with the Scouting family to determine what is in the best interest of the organization and the young people we serve. “Currently, the BSA is discussing potentially removing the national membership restriction regarding sexual orientation. This would mean there would no longer be any national policy regarding sexual orientation, and the chartered organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting would accept membership and select leaders consistent with each organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs. BSA members and parents would be able to choose a local unit that best meets the needs of their families. “The policy change under discussion would allow the religious, civic, or educational organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting to determine how to address this issue. The Boy Scouts would not, under any circumstances, dictate a position to units, members, or parents. Under this proposed policy, the BSA would not require any chartered organization to act in ways inconsistent with that organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs.”
Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 “For more than 100 years, Scouting’s focus has been on working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Scouting has always been in an ongoing dialogue with the Scouting family to determine what is in the best interest of the organization and the young people we serve. “Currently, the BSA is discussing potentially removing the national membership restriction regarding sexual orientation. This would mean there would no longer be any national policy regarding sexual orientation, and the chartered organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting would accept membership and select leaders consistent with each organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs. BSA members and parents would be able to choose a local unit that best meets the needs of their families. “The policy change under discussion would allow the religious, civic, or educational organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting to determine how to address this issue. The Boy Scouts would not, under any circumstances, dictate a position to units, members, or parents. Under this proposed policy, the BSA would not require any chartered organization to act in ways inconsistent with that organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs.”
–Deron Smith, Director of Public Relations, BSA
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(and from me (Mike Walton, settummanque the blackeagle): )
I was present at the BSA’s Annual Meeting last year when the resolution was brought up before the National Council. The resolution has been tabled until it goes through the BSA’s Membership/Relationships Group with a recommendation. The resolution will be brought before the National Council again with recommendations next spring at the 2013 National Meeting. The current BSA membership and leadership policies will remain in place.
The resolution basically request two things: the registration restoration of the lesbian Den Leader in Ohio; and to allow local chartered partner organizations to determine the suitability of any volunteer for registration with the BSA without regard to sexual orientation. It is important to note that the BSA, through our local Councils, currently has what amounts to a “don’t ask – don’t tell – don’t show” policy with regard to gay men, lesbian women and bisexual individuals of both gender. This is nothing new — this has been the way that the BSA has dealt with this issue in the past although it is not written in policy today.
As I see it, there are two issues. The first is the fact that the Cub Scout’s mom and the chartered organization both knew of the BSA’s membership policy when she registered to serve as a Den Leader. To *me*, this is “pushing the envelope a lot” and I feel that the local Council had the right and obligation to remove her as a volunteer based on that fact. This is no different than having someone with a questionable sexual history to show up as a substitute teacher. The teacher may be a great one — no doubt there — but the way that they gained entry is suspect. What saved the Den Leader and the chartered partner organization is that nobody has backed down and said stuff like “we didn’t know” or “I thought that only applied to guys” or “I was unaware of this.”
The other is the more stickier issue. With declining volunteer membership and the increasing acceptance of gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals in our nation, states and communities, most people are expressing a collective yawn at this entire issue. Not because it’s boring. While most people have moved onward since the Supreme Court decision at the turn of the century which permits the BSA and other organizations to determine their own membership standards — and which the BSA has maintained their standards over the years since — there has been a shift in many circles toward full “inclusion” in church, school and community.
By holding onto the resolution until the end of the current political cycle; and by allowing a group of BSA volunteers and professionals look carefully at all sides and angles of the issues presented, the BSA will have some options and breathing room as they work toward bringing forth a resolution which will become the “optimal solution” for the BSA as they move forward with other reforms and changes to their programming.
Settummanque!
One Response to About the BSA, Openly Gay/Lesbian/bisexual individuals, and volunteerism (28 Jan 13)