Should the Boy Scouts Allow Gay Leaders?

IKR...

Your hatred fuels me!

LOL...I hesitate to even mention this since you reply was logical and very reasonable, especially as compared to some on this poll, but flamboyance is not a common trait among gay men and women. I suppose you could argue we do love a good parade, but I doubt any gay parent would have shown up to the pack meeting in sequins and feathers. Even if he/she had the other gay parents would have made of him/her and it wouldn't have happened again. :-)

I suspect that is true. I'm sure I work and socialize with some gays. My "gaydar" is not particularly perceptive, I suppose. So my experience with gays that I know are gay is primarily with ones who are flamboyant. I think the ones who are not flamboyant must be the ones chastised the the more flamboyant ones as "hiding in the closet". and honestly, I don't have a problem working and associating with gays as long as we aren't focusing on sexuality. I don't even mind if it comes up in conversation. Contrary to what it seems, sometimes on SH, I am not a MILITANT straight, white, Christian, conservative, libertarian. I can be passionate, however.

Most of what you said just basic good manners. I don't want to talk about others sexuality either. Maybe it's a generational thing, but I was raised public is public and private is private. i am constantly surprised at the things total strangers will tell you in the grocery line. I have always felt having the right to say anything you want doesn't mean you HAVE to say anything. It's not about hiding it's about good manners. (I'm dating myself.)

It's interesting that the more time I spend on this site the more I find myself agreeing with the libertarians rather than the Democrats. The bottom line is there are issues we are never going to agree on. The question is how do we co-exist and it seems to me the libertarian philosophy works far better than the other two.

That is interesting and gratifying to hear. What pushed me into the libertarian camp was the recognition that when your guys are in power and pass legislation, the other guys are going to abuse when they get in power. And power always seems to swing back and forth between the 2 parties. So the obvious answer to me is to reduce the power and scope of government, especially at the federal level, so that no matter how much you want the government to do something for you when your guys are running it, you don't get screwed when the other guys inevitably come into power.

Well said. (It may be too logical for SH though.) :^D

I am an Eagle Scout. I support homosexual rights and feel that acknowledging homosexual rights fits the Scouting morality far better than discrimination.

Was it right that there was only one integrated troop in the deep South until 1954? No. That has changed dramatically, and the change was right and proper.

better than having some weird guy do it....

Nowt more weird than a queer

BRING THE HATE!

The reason the BSA excludes gay leaders is that Troops are most often sponsored by religious institutions. These religions institutions are usually anti-gay.
Should the BSA decide to go counter to their sponsors they could find themselves evicted and without an organization that regularly refers families to them.

Without a home and feeder organizations Scouting will wither.

That may be part of the reason. I don't think it is the whole reason. There is no doubt that organizations like NAMBLA have tried to use the Boy scouts as a means of recruiting. Even if they hadn't, there is always the risk and liability. They don't have the resources to deal with the kind of scandal the Roman Catholic Church has faced and they are choosing to nip that problem in the bud. The Boy Scouts vet all scouters and not just for sexual predilections. The Scouts also espouse a moral code. You don't have to like it. They do. Membership is voluntary.

Do not underestimate the influence of sponsors. Without them Scouting cannot exist.
The Boy Scouts has a strict rule of "two-tiered leadership". That means that no leader can be alone with a boy even when dropping off or picking up Scouts. They just expanded this to emails and texts; you have to cc another adult leader.
Also, with most Troops you need to have a child in the Troop or you can't even be in the Troop Committee. Gays do have children. IMHO gays are not the danger, it's pedophiles. There is a MAJOR difference.

Yes, I am Well aware. I have been a Scouter.

I still am. I serve on our Troop Committee, am an OA adviser and a leader in our Crew.

I miss it. It was a big part of my life! If and when I ever retire from my paying job and if they will have me, I'd like to work at the Scout office.

My son is 20 and goes away to college yet I still stay involved. I love the people involved. They tend to be more caring and are definitely "do-ers".
I also enjoy teaching kids skills that I know they will use for the rest of their lives.
I guess that's my attempt at immortality.

I have 3 sons, 3 daughters, 3 cats, 3 dogs, and a wife all living at home. I travel a lot on business. I keep pretty busy. My oldest will soon leave the nest (I hope! ;) ). She is dating a marine vet (A'stan) and in college, but still living at home. My boys all fell out of scouts, much to my disappointment, but they must live their own lives. We still do scouting like things outdoors and tracking integrity and citizenship and such. It isn't the same, but I do the best I can. I'm sure I have shared more than I should have and more than you wanted, but the anonymity of the Internet is great, no? ;)

Sounds like you have a wonderful family and that you do right by them. I wish more parents would.
Good job!

Thanks! All credit is due my saintly wife who puts up with all of us asking only for an occasional margarita. ;)

IF they are qualified and a good person ....I dont know why not (want to add) do they need to have blue eyes or be over 6 foot tall .....or only drink milk on fridays??? When any one goes in for a job interview,should the first question be "hi ,..come sit down and lets talk about your sex life" ? just stupid......every one should have a back ground check and be completed vetted........then go from there

Scouters are fully vetted, including a background check. The first question isn't about sexuality. How many prospective scouters are not parents of scouts? Very few, except professional scouters. How many fathers of scouts are gay? It really isn't a big deal as it is made to be by the gay community. Why would they want to make such a big deal about it?

I dont understand your post sorry

Sorry.... I was trying to point out that 1) Being a "good person" is ambiguous and some good people may not qualify. 2) the first question asked when you apply to be a scouter is NOT, "hi ,..come sit down and lets talk about your sex life?" There is a thorough background check and questionnaire and usually there will be some vetting by the current committee members. But volunteers are always welcome and needed, so if your son is in a pack or troop, chances are you will be allowed to be a scouter unless you have a questionable criminal record.

Most gay men don't have sons, so why would they want to become a scout leader?

You need to reread my post ..that was supposed to be a stupid question AND IT IS...LOTS OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS JUST BECAUSE MANY DONT EVERY REALLY READ POSTS

Hmmmm....let's look at this with logic.

Men that are attracted to penis surrounded by teens and boys....hmmm. To me that sounds frightening.

I am all for letting the Boy Scouts of America make the decision on it.

you think thats what being gay means

So it is NOT being attracted to same sex?

same sex yes. . . [...]

You mad bro?

yes because i hate child molesters and I'm tired of people saying that gays are the freaks that do it. I'm gay so if you say that gays are psycho freaks that Fu@% kids I'm gonna get irritated. would you not?

You may not be a child molester but your mouth proves that you're a fool.

how so

It seems a few of your words were removed in the post above. SH seems to be pretty tolerant but when I see the [...] I know something had to have been said that was just a tad vile.

how about this one...6 of the top 10, serial killers, were all gay...and as maybe...maybe...5% of the population is gay that would be a rather large, gay to serial killer, ratio...would it not?

wheres your data coming from

gee...Im pretty sure John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer, were in the newspapers at the time ...and for years now

source of reference please. . . or did you make up your own facts and statistics.

which statistic would you like?...you already know you dont like statistics..unless they are your...of course

http://lesfemmes-thetruth.blo...