"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:bUp0b.200383$Ho3.26912@sccrnsc03...
This has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that skin color or religious
preference is patently and demonstrably harmless, while sexual attraction
is
potentially and demonstrably harmful -- especially in groups of pre-teen
boys (and girls).

Skin color is patently harmless? Really? Ever heard of the Black Panthers?
Religious preference is harmless? Really? Funny...seems like a couple of
years ago, some VERY religious-minded folks destroyed the World Trade
Center.

Differences in skin color or religious preference have a GREAT potential for
causing conflict and harm. That potential need not be nearly as militant as
the examples I've given to do serious harm, either psychologically or
physically.

As far as sexual attraction being potentially and demonstrably harmful, I
suppose that depends on what you mean. If teenages are not properly
supervised, there is the potential for fraternization. However, I will tell
you this: there was a LOT more fraternization and a LOT less supervision
when I was a teenager at co-ed church retreats then when I was a teenager at
Boy Scout camping trips (and remember, I was in the Boy Scouts before it
occurred to anyone to ask someone if they were gay before letting them be in
the troop, either as a scout or a leader).

However, I fail to see what is inherently harmful about the fraternization.
Even the military is on pretty thin ice with their claim that romantic
involvements between servicemen can undermine the safety of the entire
group, and at least in their case they do have people shooting at them on a
regular basis.

I can't imagine what harm could come from a couple of gay boys in the same
Boy Scout troop having a romantic involvement (other than the usual problems
of immature teenagers being involved sexually, regardless of sexual
preference). At least you know they're not going to get pregnant.

I wouldn't want my Girl Scout daughter chaperoned overnight by a male
troop
leader, either, for fear of what might happen.

There were lots of women at the summer camp I went to when I was a Boy
Scout. For some reason, no funny business ever happened, nor was anyone
worried about mixed-gender leadership. Beyond that, as has been pointed out
multiple times already, you are more likely to find a heterosexual male
willing to prey on a teenage boy than you are to find a homosexual male
willing to do the same.

Your concern should be based on reality, not your existing prejudice and
lack of understanding of what it actually means to be homosexual.

Pete