Breaking: Boy Scouts of America looks toward equality, considers lifting ban

[White Eagle]

Well, Well, Let's see just how far this will get. I'm hoping all goes accordingly to their plans. It's about time for it to end.

http://www.glaad.org/scouts

Help GLAAD end the ban on gay leadership and troops in the Boy Scouts
Breaking: Boy Scouts of America looks toward equality, considers lifting ban

January 28, 2013: News broke that the Boy Scouts of America is "actively considering" an end to the policy that bans gay scouts and leaders following a campaign by GLAAD, Scouts for Equality and others.

The policy, which is being discussed, would remove the ban from the national organization’s rules, land allow local sponsoring organizations to decide whether to allow openly gay scouts. The discussion of a possible change is reportedly nearing its final stages.

[Rolyo85]

Yeah, when major sponsors start pulling out, suddenly everyone becomes super progressive...

[GiancarloC]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[maxpowr9]

Yeah, when major sponsors start pulling out, suddenly everyone becomes super progressive...

Exactly. It's a money grab and nothing more. Just imagine the outrage if the government started to tax hate groups that are supposedly non-profits.

[GiancarloC]

Yea it's pretty obvious it's about them losing sponsors. Hey whatever works... sometimes money really does talk.

[CowboyBob]

It's about time!

Sorry to throw some blackness over this good news, but I've been reading some of the comments made by people on sites against this.

Just a couple:

Well then, mighty good time to pull the boys out...no need to play Russian roulette with the boyscout Jerry Sanduskys out there having a field day for years before gettin caught.

If the BSA wants to see their membership really decline, go ahead and change your stance. Of course, then they can change their name to The Butt Scouts of America.

They still think gay = pedophile. Sad.

[xbuzzerx]

If anyone knows "Boy Scout families", and I am around quite a few of them... my (admittedly cynical) belief about this is that even if a particular local Boy Scout troop "allows" a gay scout leader, most of the parents will just switch their kids to another troop, even if they have to drive a little bit further. They do this all the time anyway if they don't like the particular troop leaders or if their kids don't get along with the particular crowd of boys.

[tigerfan482]

If anyone knows "Boy Scout families", and I am around quite a few of them... my (admittedly cynical) belief about this is that even if a particular local Boy Scout troop "allows" a gay scout leader, most of the parents will just switch their kids to another troop, even if they have to drive a little bit further. They do this all the time anyway if they don't like the particular troop leaders or if their kids don't get along with the particular crowd of boys.

Not just that but from what I've been reading, they're giving the places that host the troops input as well, meaning many of those in churches will most likely still not allow it.

[maxpowr9]

It's about time!

Sorry to throw some blackness over this good news, but I've been reading some of the comments made by people on sites against this.

Just a couple:



They still think gay = pedophile. Sad.

Yeah, they don't realize that most pedophiles are heterosexual men. Heck, a good chunk of them will pray on their own family.

[chrisrobin]

Well then, mighty good time to pull the boys out*...no need to play Russian roulette with the boyscout Jerry Sanduskys out there having a field day for years before gettin caught.

They still think gay = pedophile. Sad.

Jerry Sandusky + BSA debate = cheap shot.

*poor choice of words (unintentional humor?)

[GiancarloC]

It's about time!

Sorry to throw some blackness over this good news, but I've been reading some of the comments made by people on sites against this.

Just a couple:



They still think gay = pedophile. Sad.

And to think... these idiots vote. Ugh.

Being gay is nothing like that. Can these self absorbed dingbats realize that most gay people are just trying to live their lives and be productive human beings? Ugh...

[layton]

It's so sad seeing people comment on this on other sites(Yahoo, the commenters there are horrible people), not only do they equate homosexuality to pedophilia as stated above they also suggest that if you're gay you are no longer a boy or some crap in numerous comments than say keep the gays away from other boys(because obviously all gays want to do is have sex) and create their own gay BSA, yes because segregation is such a great idea. Hopefully this is changed quickly.

[xbuzzerx]

It's so sad seeing people comment on this on other sites(Yahoo, the commenters there are horrible people), not only do they equate homosexuality to pedophilia as stated above they also suggest that if you're gay you are no longer a boy or some crap in numerous comments than say keep the gays away from other boys(because obviously all gays want to do is have sex) and create their own gay BSA, yes because segregation is such a great idea. Hopefully this is changed quickly.

There's definitely that too, even once you filter out the stupidity of people who think homosexuality = untrustworthy around young boys, there are still the people, perhaps an even bigger group, who do not think a gay male is a good male role model for any boy.

[tigerfan482]

It's so sad seeing people comment on this on other sites(Yahoo, the commenters there are horrible people), not only do they equate homosexuality to pedophilia as stated above they also suggest that if you're gay you are no longer a boy or some crap in numerous comments than say keep the gays away from other boys(because obviously all gays want to do is have sex) and create their own gay BSA, yes because segregation is such a great idea. Hopefully this is changed quickly.

I've learned not to pay attention to the commenters on those sites. Most of the people who comment online (especially on Yahoo) are really the bottom-of-the-barrel, non-mainstream people. They are almost always in the minority and are simply spillover from Fox "News" where commenting isn't allowed.

[GiancarloC]

Layton, AVOID AVOID AVOID yahoo comments. Any time I read what people say on there... I think are these people real? I think most of them are trolls... or at least I hope they are. I'm sure most of them won't say half the shit they say on there in person to anybody. Yahoo is a terrible site for news anyways as they mostly just repeat Reuters/AP articles. BBC and Al Jazeera English are more reputable.

[scream4ever]

Everyone take a minute to send your message of support. We can get this done!

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/01/boy...n-gay-ban.html

[layton]

Layton, AVOID AVOID AVOID yahoo comments. Any time I read what people say on there... I think are these people real? I think most of them are trolls... or at least I hope they are. I'm sure most of them won't say half the shit they say on there in person to anybody. Yahoo is a terrible site for news anyways as they mostly just repeat Reuters/AP articles. BBC and Al Jazeera English are more reputable.

Oh yes, I know Yahoo is a horrible news source and I barely read there, but it is always discouraging to know there are people like that, and I also hope there trolls, but I don't think they are.

[JockBoy87]

Yeah, when major sponsors start pulling out, suddenly everyone becomes super progressive...

That's just it; they've been reluctant to this point because of the biggest supporters in the BSA, right wing churches. Now their threats seem less credible, I believe the BSA is warming to the possibility.

[rareboy]

I would just point out that since the year 2000, Boy Scouts of Canada have had a clear policy of allowing openly homo scouts and leaders.

It has not become a den of Pederasty...at least no more than it ever would have been.

One can only hope that BSA also finally catches up.

[White Eagle]

Layton, AVOID AVOID AVOID yahoo comments. Any time I read what people say on there... I think are these people real? I think most of them are trolls... or at least I hope they are. I'm sure most of them won't say half the shit they say on there in person to anybody. Yahoo is a terrible site for news anyways as they mostly just repeat Reuters/AP articles. BBC and Al Jazeera English are more reputable.

Pic of a troll not made by men. Look at hill on right, the top of it centered in the vertical position.

[JockBoy87]

I would just point out that since the year 2000, Boy Scouts of Canada have had a clear policy of allowing openly homo scouts and leaders.

It has not become a den of Pederasty...at least no more than it ever would have been.

One can only hope that BSA also finally catches up.

Yes well you guys are also spared from two million square miles of the world's largest tent revival.

[chrisrobin]

I kinda knew this would happen: opposition by "the usual suspects"

Scout Plan to Allow Gays Ignites Debates on Local Level

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/us...it_th_20130130

But then, there is the other side of the debate:

Matt Elrod, an alumnus of Troop 236 in northern Kentucky who supports eliminating the ban on gays, said someone on the Boy Scouts of America’s Facebook page had threatened to send his medals back if gay youths were allowed to join. Mr. Elrod said he responded on Tuesday by offering to pay the man’s postage.

“That’s one less person with those kinds of views,” he said.

Way to go, Mr. Elrod!

[xbuzzerx]

Indeed. So tough you can go deal with the outdoors but not tough enough to coexist around gay people? Don't deserve those medals then. Learn 2 play kids.

[White Eagle]

I hope this finally gets the tax exempt status from churches dropped and separation of church and state finally complete.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-pol...ter786361&t=11

News & Politics
Salon / By Katie McDonough

Churches Threaten to Pull Funding If Boy Scouts Drop Anti-Gay Ban
About 70 percent of Scout troops are sponsored by faith-based organizations. Many are threatening to break ties.

January 30, 2013 |

The Boy Scouts of America announced earlier this week that they are considering an end to their decades-long ban on gay members, leaving it to regional and local councils to dictate membership guidelines on sexuality.