Should the Boy Scouts Allow Gay Leaders?

I AM GAY..N I AM FEMALE..KISS MY ASS IF DISAGREE

It goes against the founding CHRISTIAN principles of the organization. Why do they not form their own organization, with their own beliefs. Then parents can decide which one they would feel comfortable in allowing their children to join. Oh wait, I forgot, I am not allowed to have an opinion if I am a white, Christian, American.

While I suppose it's up to the the organization as to who gets to be a scout leader, I wouldn't have a problem with them allowing a leader who happened to be gay.

Sorry, I don't think it's a good idea.

No way!

What does sexual preference have to do with leadership qualities?

Yeah, nothing wrong with it, it'll be like South Park

He'd have been a fun Scoutmaster.

And I say that in a totally nonsexual way. It'd have been awesome.

If the man in question has good leadership skills; why not?

What if the boy scouts are against homosexuality because of their beliefs? The boy scouts is supposed to be a christian based thing so it's unfair that they be punished for refusing to allow someone who is gay be their leader. Leave them alone and let them practice what they believe is right as long as they're causing no serious harm to anyone else, why should these activist groups care?

Boy scouts are not required to be Christian. They are required to follow a religion, but that religion is not specified.

wasn't the boy scouts founded by a Gay Athiest?

There's some circumstantial evidence that Baden-Powell was homosexual, but it's nowhere near probative.

He wasn't an atheist.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), one of the largest private youth organizations in the United States, has policies which prohibit atheists and agnostics from membership in its Scouting program, and prohibit "open or avowed" homosexual people from leadership roles in its Scouting program as directly violating its fundamental principles and tenets. BSA has denied or revoked membership status or leadership positions of youths and adults for violation of these foundational principles.

The BSA contends that these policies are essential in its mission to instill in young people the values of the Scout Oath and Law.[1][2]

The organization's legal right to have these policies has been upheld repeatedly by both state and federal courts. In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the Supreme Court of the United States has affirmed that as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards. The BSA's policies have been legally challenged but have not been found to constitute illegal discrimination; as a private organization in the United States the BSA has the right to freedom of association,[3] as determined in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale.[4] In recent years, the policy disputes have led to litigation over the terms under which the BSA can access governmental resources including public lands.

Doesn't matter if they refuse to allow a gay leader that is their right.

It's their right, but it's morally wrong of them to do so.

Mmm... nope.

Yes they should. Sexual orientation should not be a factor.

I was a cub scout as a child, a member of YMCA Indian Guides. My Indian name was flying little hawk. We had to construct part of a totem pole that represented yourself and your Dad, Big flying hawk. Later I was in the boy Scouts with other young gay men like myself. The boy scouts have made me the gay man I am today. In fact, I think it is the Boy Scouts Organization itself that made me gay.

I'm.not homophobic or anything, I believe there should be gay leaders allowed but that comment adds to the stereotype the Scouts is gay which is why there has been a decline in its popularity in recent years.

If you think that the Boy Scouts made you gay then you have just given the ignorant anti-gays in Scouting crowd ammunition.
GOOD JOB!

there is the Spiral Scouts ( Pagan Version of Boyscouts we accept Everyone )

Would you accept Christians and Jews?

We Accept Everyone including Christians Jews Everyone
SpiralScouts
http://www.spiralscouts.org/

Membership in SpiralScouts, for children and leaders, is open to all who are willing to take part in this very hands-on organization, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical limitations, or any other similar condition. We believe that personal orientations are just that—personal—and that only experience, skill, and the safety of our children should determine the suitability of any individual as a SpiralScouts leader.

Sounds real nice.

The Boy Scouts of America is Anti-Gay. Ironic isn't it? Maybe the boy scouts should be shut down? If they want to represent the real boys of America, gays should be included in that. This fear comes from the absurd and inappropriate linking of pedophiles with homosexuals.

Why is it ironic? They "do not allow for the registration of avowed homosexuals as members or as leaders of the BSA." Boy Scouts of America and Monmouth Council, et al., Petitioners v. James Dale, No. 99—699 (Supreme Court of the United States 2000).
That means that if you keep your private life private there is no issue. I know of a few Scouts and Scouters who are gay. They just don't discuss it with Scouts. Don't ask, don't tell.

No intelligent person here has equated homosexuality with pedophilia. That argument is setting up a straw man.

The real reason the Scouts do not allow openly gay leaders is due, in most part to the beliefs of Scouts' main sponsors which are religious institutions. Loss of these sponsors would decimate Scouting.

How hard would it be to totally hide your family from the troop? I can't imagine it would be possible.

There is no need to hide your family. There are plenty of single parents in Scouting. I don't recall ever meeting their boyfriends or girlfriends

If the child has two gay parents, one would have to be completely detached from Scouting. And yes, I remember asking a single scoutmaster if he was married.

No.
If a child has two gay parents it's not an issue.
If a Scout leader has a same sex partner who comes around and is introduced as "a friend" it's STILL not an issue.
It's only if the leader's same sex partner is introduced as a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, etc that it's a problem.

(One of our Troop's leaders brought his boyfriend to a Troop dinner and introduced him as "my partner". Nobody batted an eyelash.)

Then your troop was more liberal than was required by the scouting rules.

Most Scouters that I know feel the same as we do. We just need to be able to say that we have no proof that someone is gay or not if the minister of our sponsor church ever asks.

With 54% of Americans tolerant of gays to the point of supporting gay marriage I would think that my Troop's attitude is not that rare.

Probably not. But it's the times when it becomes a problem that are the problems (natch).

Until the various religions accept homosexuality the BSA will need to adhere to their policy on gays.

Join the Pagan Version of Boy scouts much better
SpiralScouts
http://www.spiralscouts.org/

Membership in SpiralScouts, for children and leaders, is open to all who are willing to take part in this very hands-on organization, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical limitations, or any other similar condition. We believe that personal orientations are just that—personal—and that only experience, skill, and the safety of our children should determine the suitability of any individual as a SpiralScouts leader.

Homosexuality does not mean pedophilia.

Yes that is true.... and?

I'm not homophobic, but I prefer that my children are not subjected to that which my faith and theirs does not accept. I have enough things to explain and prefer to do it when I think it is age appropriate, not because they have a gay scout leader.

Yes, of course. I speak as an Eagle Scout who was active in Scouting for over a decade. Discrimination is not moral. It violates the basic codes of ethics which Scouting is based on.