"Gary L. Drescher" wrote in message
news:VQJ0b.206533$o%2.95221@sccrnsc02...
| "C J Campbell" wrote in message
| ...
| The BSA does not throw out kids who are homosexuals. The policy applies
to
| adult leaders only.
|
| That's just false, CJ. The BSA does not have a policy of waiting until a
| boy scout reaches majority age before expelling him for being openly gay.
| Can you cite any statement of Scout policy (or any other evidence) to
| support your claim?
|

The Broward County case that I cited earlier acknowledged that the problem
was discrimination against adult leaders, not youth. There is no written
policy from the National Council telling people to not accept gay youth in
their units.

Units that expel gay youths (especially 14 year olds, who can hardly be
expected to know whether they are gay or not), do so in error.

OTOH, there are those who are expelled for being disruptive who later claim
that they were expelled for being gay. Your anecdote gives only Matt Hill's
account, which is likely to be distorted to say the least. You might
remember that the people reporting on the Boy Scouts and their admission
policies are the same ones that believe that airplanes crash because they
did not file a flight plan. The news media are highly selective in their
reporting, including only those 'facts' that support their particular
agendas.

The Boy Scouts do not discriminate against youth and anybody who does is
doing so against national policy.

This is from BSA's own web site:

FICTION


The Boy Scouts of America sued to have members and leaders who are avowed
homosexuals kicked out of the organization.
FACT


The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization that has the right to
set its own standards for membership and leadership. We have only defended
ourselves in court when others have chosen to attack our standards by taking
the BSA to court.

The Boy Scouts of America makes no effort to discover the sexual
orientation of any member or leader. Scouting's message is compromised when
members or leaders present themselves as role models whose actions are
inconsistent with the standards set in the Scout Oath and Law.

Rarely, if ever, has a boy expressed opposition to any of the values of
the Scout Oath and Law. In the event that were to happen, we would encourage
the boy to seek counsel from his parents or religious leaders to make sure
that his expression was the product of a mature decision.

Scouting's record of inclusion is impressive by any standard.

We respect other people's rights to hold opinions different than ours and
ask that they respect ours.
The Boy Scouts have also published the following position paper on
diversity. There is nothing in these papers requiring the expulsion of youth
who are gay. In fact, BSA policy is that youth are incapable of knowing
whether they are really gay or not. Those who insist on turning every
meeting into some kind of gay rights political forum, though, are likely to
be asked to leave. We have a program to run, and it is not fair to the other
boys to have that program usurped by a single issue simply because some
member or leader decides that is not only the most important thing in the
world, it is the only thing in the world:

More than 90 years ago, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded on the
premise of teaching boys moral and ethical values through an outdoor program
that challenges them and teaches them respect for nature, one another, and
themselves. Scouting has always represented the best in community,
leadership, and service.

The Boy Scouts of America has selected its leaders using the highest
standards because strong leaders and positive role models are so important
to the healthy development of youth. Today, the organization still stands
firm that their leaders exemplify the values outlined in the Scout Oath and
Law.

On June 28, 2000, the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed the Boy Scouts
of America's standing as a private organization with the right to set its
own membership and leadership standards.

The BSA respects the rights of people and groups who hold values that differ
from those encompassed in the Scout Oath and Law, and the BSA makes no
effort to deny the rights of those whose views differ to hold their
attitudes or opinions.

Scouts come from all walks of life and are exposed to diversity in Scouting
that they may not otherwise experience. The Boy Scouts of America aims to
allow youth to live and learn as children and enjoy Scouting without
immersing them in the politics of the day.

We hope that our supporters will continue to value the Boy Scouts of
America's respect for diversity and the positive impact Scouting has on
young people's lives. We realize that not every individual nor organization
prescribes to the same beliefs that the BSA does, but we hope that all
Americans can be as respectful of our beliefs as we are of theirs and
support the overall good Scouting does in American communities.



The Boy Scouts' policy on school access is similar:

For more than 90 years, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has complemented
youth education with a program that teaches boys skills and values that will
help them throughout their lifetimes.

Scouting has become an American institution, a natural element in most
communities. Scouts exemplify the values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law
and dedicate themselves to serving their communities.

On June 28, 2000, the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed the Boy Scouts
of America's standing as a private organization with the right to set its
own membership and leadership standards.

The BSA respects the rights of people and groups who hold values that differ
from those encompassed in the Scout Oath and Laws, and the BSA makes no
effort to deny the rights of those whose views differ to hold their
attitudes or opinions.

The Boy Scouts of America aims to allow youth to live and to learn as
children and enjoy Scouting without immersing them in the politics of the
day. However, people dissatisfied with the Boy Scouts of America's
membership policies and the moral views on which they are based have
suggested that the BSA not have the privilege of meeting in public schools
or distributing recruitment information at public schools.

Just as other student or community groups are permitted to have access to
public school facilities, the Boy Scouts of America aims to have the same
access.



The Boy Scouts also suggests these points should be made whenever there is
any discussion of our values.

a.. The U.S. Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the right of the Boy Scouts
of America to freedom of association. They made the right choice.


b.. Those who disagree with the Scouts are free to do so, but all
Americans living in our free society should respect the rights of a private
group to establish guidelines for what they believe is best for their
membership and leaders.


c.. Scouting aims to immerse America's youth in character-building
experiences without subjecting them to the politics of the day. No youth
organization or club should ever be used as a vehicle for promoting a
political or social agenda. Childhood is too important.


d.. A key tenet of the Scouting program is respect; respect for different
ideas, customs, and cultures as well as the recognition of the right of
individuals to subscribe to other beliefs. Respect for others, however,
doesn't mean the forced inclusion of people whose values, ethics, or morals
are contrary to your own.


e.. In a time of eroding morality, I applaud Scouting's resolve to remain
a beacon of values and ideals. Our children are in desperate need of
meaningful experiences, values, and character-building lessons that are
critical to a happy and successful life.


f.. Our children are forced to deal with very difficult issues and
problems every day: violent television and video games, teen pregnancy,
increased childhood obesity, juvenile crime, to name a few. I suggest that
we focus on the roots of these problems instead of attacking a group such as
Scouting that tries to solve them.


g.. The Boy Scouts of America symbolizes what is right with our country,
an organization whose Oath reads: On my honor I will do my best to do my
duty to God and my country. Thankfully, these youth will continue to have
the right to join a group that promotes faith-based values, instead of one
that condemns them.


h.. I appreciate the Boy Scouts' unwavering commitment to helping develop
the future leaders of this country. We need more groups, not fewer, which
understand that America's youth will always be the cornerstone of a
successful and responsible society.


i.. Scouts come from all walks of life and experience diversity in
Scouting that they often cannot see elsewhere in their lives. Scouting helps
children from cities, suburbs, and rural areas, and from all faiths and
races regardless of economic status. Parents look to Scouting to support
their efforts to raise their children, reinforcing the values taught in the
home, school, and church.

BSA has no real choice in the matter, either. If BSA is forced to abandon
its values then the organizations (mostly churches) that sponsor most of the
units will bolt. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the
Catholics, and the Methodists have made this quite clear. Funding will dry
up completely and membership will be reduced by as much as two thirds. BSA
regards homosexuality as a spiritual matter and aims to support the
spiritual values of its chartered organizations. BSA's policy statements
were not authored by committees from these organizations, either. They were
authored by a committee of National Board members headed by Steve Fossett.

No doubt you will still insist on misrepresenting what I say, the nature of
the Boy Scouts' position and policies on values, and what is really going on
in a full-scale assault to destroy a fine youth organization. Fine. Be
dishonest if you must. But don't expect me or anybody else to swallow the
tripe you have been pushing in this thread. Your arguments and the arguments
of others posting here boil down to advocacy of using the armed might of the
federal government to suppress an organization that you have a political
disagreement with. Because that is really what it is: you want the Boy
Scouts to change their values, by force or the threat of force if necessary.
And you have the unmitigated gall to suggest that you somehow support
diversity.