Boy Scouts kick the "gay" can a little further out
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:56 pmLots of anticipation surrounded the meeting of the execs at the national level of Boy Scouts of America. They were expected to loosen the ban on gay members and leaders, a big step into -- well actually into the 1990's, when the Girl Scouts lifted THEIR ban on gays and atheists. But in the end, they decided not to decide. Saying they want more comments from "the Scouting family," they have set a final vote for May.
What more comments do they expect to come out to make a necessary decision? As always, leadership that fears change and the future that change brings is hardly leadership at all. I'll tell you what they are hoping for: enough loud, mindless voices to be raised in opposition to making the same move the GSA did, so that they will have an excuse to leave things at the status quo.
Forget that they have a long list of Eagle Scouts that they have had to strip of their "lifetime rank" because they have come out as either gay or atheist. Forget that their own policies have been violated for decades, allowing predatory sexual abuse by leaders while their "ban" was in full effect. They have to maintain their "moral standards" and force those they define as "immoral" to lie if they want to continue participating in the GOOD parts of their program.
As always, I"m saddened. I left after I lost my faith... but ONLY because my work life took me away from the people I had worked with and loved for many years. I never tried to go back because I lost my respect for the organization. I'd love to go back and offer my services one day. But only if they get rid of their hypocritical attitude of limited inclusion and tolerance.
What more comments do they expect to come out to make a necessary decision? As always, leadership that fears change and the future that change brings is hardly leadership at all. I'll tell you what they are hoping for: enough loud, mindless voices to be raised in opposition to making the same move the GSA did, so that they will have an excuse to leave things at the status quo.
Forget that they have a long list of Eagle Scouts that they have had to strip of their "lifetime rank" because they have come out as either gay or atheist. Forget that their own policies have been violated for decades, allowing predatory sexual abuse by leaders while their "ban" was in full effect. They have to maintain their "moral standards" and force those they define as "immoral" to lie if they want to continue participating in the GOOD parts of their program.
As always, I"m saddened. I left after I lost my faith... but ONLY because my work life took me away from the people I had worked with and loved for many years. I never tried to go back because I lost my respect for the organization. I'd love to go back and offer my services one day. But only if they get rid of their hypocritical attitude of limited inclusion and tolerance.
