The Boy Scouts of America, and the Homosexual Agenda.

Time for me to talk about this...

The above is an example of things generated by the "tolerant and understanding"

crowd. Probably members of "The Cereal Party." You know, the party with the

Flakes, Nuts, Fruits and Kooks." Certainly NOT the right wing crowd. 

I found this little ditty using a Google Search for "Gay Scout Leader"

People like this is who gives gays a bad name.

In the interest of disclosure, I am a Boy Scout leader in New Jersey, (recently sidelined for health issues) and have dedicated a substantial amount of time working to further the aims of Scouting in multiple roles in local, District and Council capacities. I was once introduced to the Regional staff by a Scouting professional who started the introduction with “Mario has a rather impressive Scouting resume…” so I believe that I personally exemplify the importance of the Scouting program to the community, and believe that it has great value to the lives of the youth the program touches, and makes them better citizens.

Having said that, I must now separate myself as a veteran Scouter and state that the views I present here are my own, and not necessarily those of the Boy Scouts of America. I’m writing based upon my interpretation of BSA policy, which I will address below the two sub-pieces below.

This is very interesting and I was actually going to post an entry on this subject and was in the middle of doing some research, but this is one of those issues (like the apostate church which I’m still dissecting), where you will find so much information on both sides, that it leaves your mind spinning in circles. I’ll eventually get around finishing that one up, and will most likely revisit this in the future as well, but having this placed before me today will give me an  opportunity to address the issue in a way that most people will understand it. Now I didn’t say that they would necessarily agree with me, or change their minds but my goal is to have them achieve some kind of understanding on this issue.

Do the Boy Scouts of America as a group, or I as an individual “hate” gays? Of course not, but many in the gay community are out there making this ridiculous claim. It’s like me saying that they hate non-gays because they are not gay. I often defend the BSA on the Internet via other media and on at least one occasion I was asked by a “tolerant and understanding of other peoples views” gay guy to kill myself. As a matter of fact, this time last year in Union, NJ a teacher lost her job because she posted on her personal Facebook page some opinions that while off taste offended the gays so much that they demanded that she be fired and she was. Is this what we are coming to?

SIDETRACK… Viki Knox.

Let’s look at how these “tolerance” things work, using this as an example of political correctness nun amok. Mrs. knox, black woman, school teacher and religious person worked at Union High School. The government (school) places up a bulletin board on “gay history month” which she objected to and posted her objection on her personal Facebook page. The gay community comes out of the woodwork with vile attacks on her and with the aid of disgraced Municipal Judge and convicted wife beating attorney John Paragano (do a Google search) had her fired from her job. Really? I see that bulletin board as government sponsored SEXUAL HARASSMENT don’t you? Mrs. Knox should counter sue for that! So whose rights outweigh the others? Just saying.

Back to topic…

So who is really the bigot? If you oppose the BSA policy in my view you are just as bigoted (using your choice of words) as your perceived bigotry of the BSA, but let’s look at the facts in this case.

This is the content of a forwarded email I received this morning in my personal email…

Subject: My gay son denied his Eagle Scout award

My son Ryan has been a Boy Scout since he was 6 years old, and now, a few days before his 18th birthday, he has fulfilled all the requirements to be an Eagle Scout. But because Ryan recently came out to his friends and family as gay, leaders from our local Boy Scout troop say they won't approve Ryan's Eagle award.

To me, Ryan is perfect. But not everyone treats him that way -- in fact, Ryan has been a victim of severe bullying. That's why, for his final project to become an Eagle Scout, Ryan worked with younger kids to create an anti-bullying "Tolerance Wall" at a local middle school: 288 different tiles showing acts of kindness.

That's the kind of kid my son is. Instead of lashing out, he helps others feel less alone. That's why I'm so angry that our local Boy Scout troop leaders want to treat my son as less than other kids just because he's gay.

I started a petition on Change.org asking our local Boy Scout council (near San Francisco) to approve Ryan's Eagle award. Click here to add your name.

Ryan worked so hard to earn his Eagle Scout rank. For 12 years, he has worked to attain badges, do community service, and become the kind of exemplary young man the Boy Scouts claim to produce. Gay or straight, I love my son just the same. And I don't want anyone to treat him differently or make him feel bad about himself because of who he is.

Although the national Boy Scouts have remained firm in their anti-gay discrimination, local Boy Scout councils have started to fight back. Several councils even clarified that they will allow gay scouts after they were petitioned to do so on Change.org. I know that if enough people sign my petition, our local council will give my son Ryan the Eagle Scout award he deserves.

Click here to sign my petition demanding that our local Boy Scout council give my son Ryan his Eagle award.

Thank you for helping me stand up for my son.

Karen Andresen
Moraga, California

I checked out the link on change.org and this is what I find…

It basically says a little more and I provide this for information purposes.

Petitioning Troop 212, San Francisco Bay Area

Boy Scouts: Don’t let your anti-gay policy deny my son his Eagle award

by Karen Andersen,

Moraga, CA

My son Ryan needs your help.
Ryan joined the Boy Scouts when he was just six years old, and since then, he's dreamed of earning his Eagle award -- the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.
Ryan is now a senior in high school, and just completed the final requirements to earn his Eagle Award. He's an honor student with great SAT scores, who's hoping to attend the University of San Francisco. But because he recently came out to his friends and family as gay, leaders from our local Boy Scout troop say they won't approve his Eagle award.
A Boy Scout gets his Eagle by earning many badges, completing all lower Scout rank requirements, and carrying out an approved final project. So Ryan decided to build a "Tolerance Wall" for his school, to show bully victims -- like Ryan -- that they are not alone. Ryan worked countless hours with elementary students to amass a wall of 288 unique tiles, all illustrating acts of kindness.
But when leadership in Troop 212 (San Francisco Bay Area) found out that Ryan was gay, the Scoutmaster said he refused to sign the official paperwork designating Ryan as an Eagle Scout, despite the fact that Ryan completed all of the requirements.
Many troops around the country are standing up, choosing to reject the Boy Scouts' discriminatory policy. I sincerely hope that Ryan's troop will become one of them. And with your help, they just might.
It hurts me so much to watch Ryan suffer for being who he is, because to me, he's perfect. Ryan has worked for nearly 12 years to become an Eagle Scout, and nothing would make him more proud than earning that well-deserved distinction. I hope that if enough people come together, we can convince my son's troop leaders to help him feel proud of who he is and all he's accomplished.
"Citizenship in the Community," a merit badge earned, means standing up for what is right, and I am proud of Ryan for doing just that. Will you stand with him too, and join this campaign?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I read the email, and I read the petition page posted above and yes you empathize with this mother and this young man. He has done the work required for his Eagle award and yes he deserves to receive his Eagle award, but this is where it gets tricky or sticky, or tough!

What is the official BSA policy? In a nutshell, the policy is that “We Will Not Allow Atheists or Avowed Homosexuals to Be Leaders or Members in the Traditional Programs.” Scouts are not vetted however persons applying to be adult leaders assign to the BSA, the authority to conduct a background check and that you subscribe to the Declaration of Religious Principle. The BSA DOES NOT ask for or seek information about one’s sexual orientation. As I say it, there is no sex in Scouting. Period.

The “Non-Traditional” programs such as Learning for Life requires an application, but does not include a background check, nor asks for adherence to the Declaration of Religious Principle.

Back to the topic. Let’s look at the policy shall we? Atheist is obvious. Scouting promotes believing in a higher power than yourself. While Robert Baden Powell is quoted as saying that belief should be based upon the Christian faith, the BSA permits belief in all gods, or a tree if that is your god. The BSA promotes the importance of belief, not which god to believe in. The BSA does not teach “religion.” It encourages religious participation in one’s own faith.

Now look at the wording regarding “gays.” It clearly states AVOWED HOMOSEXUALS. First, no BSA youth member has ever been expelled from the program because of their sexual orientation. Next, the key word is AVOWED, and this is where the problem lies.

In my experience, homosexual-Americans (as a former disgraced politician once called himself), often feel the need to tell everyone that they are gay. I have been greeted twice by gays who introduce themselves with, “Hi, I’m Tony and I’m gay.” Why do I need to know that? It’s none of my business. This happens in Scouting as well. I have worked with gay leaders (my opinion based upon observation) and never had a problem because they didn’t think it necessary to tell the world. To be fair, I do have gay friends and acquaintances that don’t make a habit of telling everyone, but those are not the guys in trouble now are they?

In the landmark Dale v BSA case, Mr, Dale was a homosexual activist and was asked to step down as an Assistant Scoutmaster. Avowed. Big mouth. Tell everybody. IF he just concentrated on Scouting, it would not be an issue. As an aside, in that very case have you ever heard from any sources that a homosexual organization filed an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court on the side of the BSA? Surprised? Well they did because they saw the writing on the wall. If the BSA lost, well the gays would have to allow straights into their “club” and we can’t have that now can we?

The US Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the Boy Scouts, but Liberal activists who LOVE the court when things go their way had problems with this ruling. Interesting!

  

Since that time, there have been organized attempts by groups and individuals to try to get the BSA to change its policy. The most effective way is to have major contributors stop their financial support and contributions to the BSA. I guess homosexuality is more important to these people than the youth served by the program, but it has also had a backlash on some organizations. The United Way in some areas (since apparently their National Office is useless and has no control over the local offices – so why have it?) has stopped funding BSA locally, and some have just decreased funding. As a fundraiser for the BSA, I stopped mentioning United Way funding altogether in my presentation because I could not determine if any money sent through United Way would ever reach my Council. My Council is served by several chapters of UW and some will not give a dime to BSA even if you designate that this is where you want the money to go. As an aside here, my wife and I no longer give to the United Way, and many have followed our lead as well including her employer who always DEMANDED that their employees contribute to UW. Are all UW’s bad? No, but pick your giving carefully!

Will the BSA ever change the policy? I doubt it and I support that decision whole heartedly. You see, when someone joins a group like the Boy Scouts, you join because of what THEY BELIEVE AND STAND FOR, and not for what YOU want them to believe and stand for. I have been at Recruitment nights, and some parents had a problem with GOD and want the oath changed. They were told it does not work that way and a woman once lied and stated that the Girl Scouts allow you to change their oath. Okay, join the Girl Scouts. If you are uncomfortable with the program, then it’s not for you. By the way, I checked with the GSUSA and was told that no one was allowed to change their oath, so someone was lying to someone, at least back when I checked anyway.

Most BSA units are chartered by religious organizations. Public Schools no longer support units and in NJ, an order actually came down from the State Department of Education discouraging any involvement with BSA. I know someone who actually saw the memo from the DOE but unfortunately neglected to ask for a copy. In plain language, the School District Superintendent told the Professional Scouter who was visiting that “This is what you’re up against.”

The BSA is basically caught in a catch 22 situation. If the policy stands, then the gays and their supporters remain mad and continue efforts at destroying the BSA with their willing Liberal accomplices embedded in institutions with generous purse strings.

If the policy is changed, the BSA faces the real potential and substantial loss of membership and organizations that charter units. Membership will not increase at all, but could spell the end of this great organization.

Some will agree and some will disagree but those are the plain hard facts. Some people are working hard and trying to change policy from within. Some Eagle Scouts have returned their Eagle awards to the BSA, but that doesn’t impress me. If you returned your Eagle award because of this policy, and if you truly stand for your convictions, then man up and return all of the other goodies that you received at your Court of Honor. Return as a cash gift to the BSA any money from scholarships that you received because of your status as an Eagle Scout, and remove that designation from your resume. Of course they won’t do that. It’s made their life a little easier. I’m not making light of your decision but decisions have consequences.

Everyone knows BSA policy, yet try to join as leaders and then announce that they are gay and get upset that they are asked to leave. This young man, Ryan Andersen has just done this to make a point, and is now unhappy with the reaction that he got. Is it fair? You tell me. He knew the policy and tried to be slick, and now he has a problem with being slick.

In one of my online debates on this issue, I was asked what if MY son came out as gay. What would I do? My reply was simple, and heartfelt, and based upon fact. I would still love my son. He is after all my son. At the same time, I would not be demanding that the BSA give him an award if he was obviously not following the rules established as part of that award. A Scout is trustworthy. That means honest. It doesn’t mean entitled. For Ryan to “come out” now in my opinion is nothing short of making an attempt to change the current policy and THAT is also wrong. To disagree is one thing on this issue, but to demand that others bend over for you is another.

The homosexual community has been making great strides in the last few decades. We went from them asking that we accept them, all the way to now when we are told that we should not only accept them, but change our own way of thinking and actually embrace them for what they do. This is a slippery slide people. Don’t believe me? Look at Europe. The homosexual lifestyle is embraced, and now others are demanding the same. A woman in the Netherlands demanding that the State recognize her dog as her “partner,” or the guy in England demanding that the State recognize “his four wives” who are all on welfare, or in Germany where veterinarians and animal rights activists are demanding that the government crack down on people with perverted minds who are having their way with animals which require medical attention afterwards. This is what happens. We really need to draw a line as a society.

While I tolerate gays and don’t have any issues with them, they need to understand that society does not have an obligation to accept everyone's vices and whims. When we do, then society can no longer exist as a society.

If you’re gay and a Scout, you need not tell everyone that you are. If you’re a gay leader, same advise. No one hates you or is discriminating against you. It’s what you are promoting by coming out that is the issue. Straights don’t go around telling people that their straight, but gays take a spin on that and say that “When you talk about your wife you’re doing just that.” I don’t think so, but why then can’t they say I took a vacation with my friend? If you think that people hate you because you are gay (and maybe a small minority feels that way), then you have the problem because not everyone hates you. That’s in your own mind. Remember that GOD is the one with issues on gayness, and not those who worship that GOD. I’m not going to argue with Him about it. You can do that when you meet Him someday.

You know, this is a two way street issue as well. There are communities across the nation which have benefited from Scout projects over they years yet because of this policy they have opted to distance themselves from BSA and in some cases hinder Scouting activities altogether. I’m sorry but if you are in a Scout unit in one of these cities, and you face obstacles from the city, then I personally discourage you from performing community service work in those communities. Unfortunately that is a choice imposed upon your unit. Work in a neighboring community, or with non-public entities in the “hostile” community. Somewhere that your efforts will be appreciated. After all, I have never seen a group of gays for example clean up and repair a park.

To end this, let me quote Mrs. Andersen’s email. "Citizenship in the Community," a merit badge earned, means standing up for what is right,…” There is a difference between standing up for something, and being forced to accept things that you do not agree with. I’ll stand up for you, but do not believe that your view should become mine, nor do I think that I should fight for your indiscretion of placing yourself in a situation where you were the direct cause of your problem. Criminals love to rob people, but I shouldn’t fight for them when they get caught and thrown in jail, right?