After months of discussion and clashing of wills, the Boy Scouts of America made a monumental decision that aims to promote greater equality within its troops.
Photo Illustration by Anthony Outman | Summer Arg
On May 23, the BSA voted to repeal a 22-year ban on gay youth members. More than 60 percent of the Scout leaders who were present at the group’s annual convention in Texas voted to drop the ban. The resolution passed by the BSA council includes the statement: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.” The resolution will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
The repeal was a widelydebated issue — The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) states on their website they began campaigning for an overturn of the ban on gay youth and scout leaders in April 2012, after an Ohio mom was removed as den leader of her son’s troop for being gay.
In response, organizations such as The Family Research Council and other groups — many religious-based –began to campaign for upholding the ban. The Boy Scouts of America website states that 70.3 percent of scouting units are sponsored by religious organizations.
Kevin Woodruff, a University of Idaho student and Eagle Scout, said he thinks the repeal of the ban is a promising start.
“It may not be all the way, but at least it’s in the right direction,” Woodruff said.
Woodruff also said he knows the repeal will cause discord and burn bridges.
He said there was a gay youth in his troop but the boy could not openly state his sexual orientation, and the topic was never discussed.
“Boy Scouts wasn’t a place for worrying about political issues, it was about having fun with your friends,” Woodruff said.
Taylor Konewko, a UI student and Eagle Scout, said that the topic of sexual orientation should never be brought up.
“Your personal life is your personal life and it should stay that way,” Konewko said.
John Foltz, dean of theCollege of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UI, was involved in the BSA throughout his youth and has also been involved for more than 15 years as an adult, holding positions such as Chartered Organization Representative and Assistant Scoutmaster for Moscow Troop 345.
Foltz said that although he feels conflicted about the decision, he still supports it.
“The BSA felt that they needed to do something but it’s hard to know what to do. I think they made the right decision,” Foltz said. “It doesn’t change my opinion about the Boy Scouts, it’s a strong program and it’s great for young men.”
One issue that is still being contended is the continued ban against gay troop leaders. Organizations are now campaigning to have this ban lifted as well.
Konewko said that the remaining ban is a double standard.
“What message does that send to your kids?” Konewko said. “You have a gay member in your troop, but your parents are gay and your parents can’t participate, that just perpetuates this condition where you’re teaching kids that it’s okay to discriminate.”
Foltz said that he believes society will have to adjust to the changes and that eventually more revisions may be made but the foundation of the scouts is what is important.
“What gets lost is the focus on things that matter: allowing young men to have fun, to gain leadership skills, to provide service,” Foltz said. “All of those have nothing to do with sexual orientation.”
Azumi Smith can be reached at [email protected]